OUR PRESENT REALITY -Charitable giving increased by 5% in largest increase in giving since the 2008 recession -Rise in Number of Non-Profits -1996: 650, : 1.28 million -Decrease in percentage given to religious causes -1987: 52% -2012: 32% -Presbyterian giving…about the same. -1% to religious causespseigenerosity.wordpress.com

pseigenerosity.wordpress.com  GROUNDED IN GRATITUDE  Invite people to spend time reflecting on what they are thankful for before ever presenting anything else.  Have people fill out gratitude cards.  Express gratitude often for the many ways your congregation gives of their time, energy, and money (pledges). #1 BE MINDFUL OF GOD

pseigenerosity.wordpress.com  REVEALED IN PRAYER  Create opportunities and space for people to pray about their giving (prayer vigil, labyrinth, etc.).  Make sure leaders are praying and setting an example for everybody.  Pledged prayer for stewardship campaign. #1 BE MINDFUL OF GOD

pseigenerosity.wordpress.com  LIVED IN FAITH  Ask leaders to model giving.  Share testimonies of people.  Don’t be afraid to ask. #1 BE MINDFUL OF GOD

pseigenerosity.wordpress.com  Take back the power that money has over the church!  Let pastors know what people give…and not just pastors but other leaders as needed.  Encourage pledging.  Initiate a personal finance program such as Dave Ramsey or Crown Financial.  Talk about money with session and congregation.  Recruit good stewards to serve in leadership. #2 END THE SILENCE

pseigenerosity.wordpress.com  “If your church leadership is not financially supporting God’s work through your church, why would anyone else be compelled to support it?”  Establish bold and clear expectations of church leadership.  Covenant Agreement  Book Study  Pastor needs to lead from the top down. #3 ENCOURAGE LEADERS TO LEAD

pseigenerosity.wordpress.com  Talk about Tithing  Don’t get caught up in details.  Tithers have a different view of the world; they are changed. We don’t meet ex-tithers.  Let tithers share their stories.  Don’t treat tithers like everybody else; they aren’t like everybody else.  Thank them for their support—others are asking for their donations as well.  Pastors should meet with them often and keep them in the loop. #4 TREAT TITHERS DIFFERENTLY

pseigenerosity.wordpress.com  Proportional Givers (give % of income):  Encourage a trial tithe and share stories from tithers.  Flat Amount Contributors (give flat amount regularly):  Compare giving with other expenditures and encourage them to focus on what they are thankful for.  Token Contributors and Zero Contributors.  Largest Groups  Help connect them on faith journey by finding God’s blessings in their life. #4 TREAT TITHERS DIFFERENTLY

pseigenerosity.wordpress.com  Stop printing giving amounts in the bulletin.  Stop treating everybody the same.  Stop printing only a line item budget.  Stop talking about money only once a year.  Stop putting the church in debt.  Stop using only music during the offering—tell a story.  Stop treating stewardship as only an adult issue. #5 STOP USING THESE PRACTICES