Home Outreach Leaders Articles for Outreach & Missions 7 New Rules for Raising Money in the Church

7 New Rules for Raising Money in the Church

There is a lot of discussion about how we’re going to spend the money wisely…how much time are we taking to talk about where the money is going to come from in the first place? It’s great that we work so hard to create a SPENDING plan, but is anyone going to work to create a FUNDING plan?

This is a huge opportunity for most churches. It’s a huge opportunity to help the finance team grow, from simply protecting expenses to helping increase the generosity capacity of the congregation.

If you don’t have a funding plan, every bad offering will feel like an emergency.

Without a strong financial plan, you’ll simply try to preach harder on the topic of money, even though that’s a temporary fix.

Remember, your financial plan does not negate the need for the Holy Spirit.

Plans aren’t for God’s benefit; they are for ours. God can do whatever He wants whenever He wants.

But good plans will help you lead your congregation.

Rule #5: Help people with 100 percent before you ask for 10 percent.

I’ve heard pastors say this…

  • We’re really reaching the lost and those who are far from God…they aren’t ready to give or tithe yet. And that’s why we struggle financially.
  • We’re not in a very wealthy area and our people don’t have a lot of resources. We’re blue collar, rural, in an area hard-hit by fill-in-the blank, and that’s why we struggle financially.

There are many variations of this statement, and you know what—it’s all true.

Those are real limits.

But a leader with a growth mindset never looks at limits as excuses. That’s the stuck mindset.

Instead, great leaders embrace these limits and lead anyway.

Despite your church size, zip code or past history, God has given you something to lead. You’re called to be a great steward of that influence. There are resources in your church.

So instead of resigning yourself to the fact that your people can’t give for one reason or another, take the long-term view. Start asking a different set of questions.

  • How can we help people get out of debt?
  • How can we help people with budgeting, saving and personal finances?
  • How can we help people start businesses?
  • How can our church get involved in the economy of our city?
  • How can we help people with non-cash giving?
  • How can we help people turn their time into money?