church finances

Emerging from the pandemic, most churches don’t seem to be underwater financially. But many are treading water, according to new a Lifeway Research report.

When it comes to how to start a church, two things are certain: (1) God can provide, and (2) people matter more than money.

Many years ago, I remember reading an article in our local paper about a pastor who was day trading using church finances. The church lost a significant amount of money. At the time I thought how does this happen? Now I understand.

I don’t want to minister in a church in which people don’t trust each other. And I refuse to work with leaders I can’t trust. But trusting each other doesn’t mean we shouldn’t put proper financial checks and balances in place.

Here is a strange trend that may affect your church finances: While more than half of all churches are in some form of attendance decline, a segment of these declining churches experiences either stability in giving or an increase in giving at the same time people are leaving.