Beryl Jantzi is the director of stewardship education for Everence. This is the second in a series of posts based on the book Contagious Generosity by Chris Willard and Jim Sheppard.
The role of leadership in a congregation is to move people from good intentions to actual strategies.
This is according to Chris Willard and Jim Sheppard in their book Contagious Generosity. Churches that are able to move beyond good intentions have plans in place to guide their process.
Below are some steps to help your church develop a culture of contagious generosity.
- Create (or update) a vision statement for your church that identifies who you are and where you are going.
- People will not give with enthusiasm without a compelling vision.
- Build your budget or giving plan around your vision.
- Develop a narrative budget that explains how the money people give connects with your vision and is building the Kingdom.
- Establish strategies to address the needs of those who are struggling financially
- Host a personal money management class and invite the local community
- Establish a policy on how your benevolence funds are dispersed.
- Include an expectation that persons who receive regular gifts from the benevolence fund will be expected to attend a money management class.
- Develop a preaching and teaching rhythm that includes topics on how giving, saving and spending practices tie into our walk of faith.
- Address consumerism and materialism and what the Bible has to say about it.
- Make talking about faith and finances a normal part of church life.
- Create a policy that outlines how the congregation will receive bequests from members of the church and promote legacy giving among your members.
Since the Bible speaks about money and possessions more than heaven or hell combined and only second to the topic of the Kingdom of God – maybe it really is important for us today!
“You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.” 2 Corinthians 9:11
For more information on practices and strategies addressed above contact beryl.jantzi@everence.com. Beryl Jantzi serves as the Everence Director of stewardship education.