The power of ‘entrepreneurial faith’

It’s the dream of every stewardship committee and pastor serving struggling congregations: Sunday by Sunday more new people fill the pews – and the collection plates – to bring stability then growth.

Sounds great, but how do you get there? Incredibly, not by focusing on numbers of congregants and dollars. That’s the advice of two pastors who led turnarounds in their churches. They are profiled in separate articles linked to SOLI’s website this week.

Community Church of Joy was a struggling 200-member congregation in 1979 when Walt Kallestad arrived as pastor. Today, it’s an 11,000-member megachurch with a budget of over $3 million due to what Kallestad calls entrepreneurial faith:

“The goal of entrepreneurial faith is not more land, not bigger sanctuaries, not a larger congregation,” says Kallestad in article in Church Executive magazine. “Entrepreneurial faith is not about numbers, not about growth plans, not about increasing the offerings. It's not just for those who are looking for a way to convert their small congregations into megachurches.”

Instead, it's about seeing the needs and brokenness around you, and doing something about them – recognizing the opportunities for ministry and service.

A similarly dire situation faced William Hurst when Trinity Lutheran Church, White Plains, N.Y., gambled with the rest of its meager savings to hire the pastor on his first call 12 years ago. Hurst held his first service for just 15 souls, but now 120 people worship every weekend and the church finances are stable.  Like Kallestad, Hurst said the success came by not focusing on numbers or money.

"Sometimes I think — and this is my mysticism taking over — that it isn't really about a cause-and-effect relationship," Hurst told the Journal News. "You get the sense that God is waiting for a congregation to say, 'Let's risk it all.' Then more people come visiting, more people hear about you. You get out there and do it. And you fight the demons, inside and out, that make you think that it won't work."

Inspirational stories we all can learn from.

-Rob Blezard, editor and webmaster (webmaster@stewardshipoflife.org)

 New This Week, October 11 - 17:

Four steps to better online communications
Most churches launch websites with high expectations for evangelism and publicity only to find disappointment. This article gives basic tips to help. "The most frequent complaint I hear about nonprofits’ Web sites is that they are too difficult to use. I’ve heard it time and time again." From OnPhilanthropy.com.

More than balancing the church's books
 "I have been hearing and reading what I have already recognized:  There is a disparity between what stewardship leaders want to teach and lead and what congregations want. Congregations are looking for a plan to increase the amount of money they take in every week so they can balance the budget and keep the doors open. Stewardship leaders want to talk about generosity as a way of life."

Entrepreneurial faith: It's not church as usual
"Entrepreneurial Faith" is how Walt Kallestad transformed a sleepy 200-member congregation in 1978 to a megachurch that today has 11,000 members and worships 3,000 a week?  "The goal of entrepreneurial faith is not more land, not bigger sanctuaries, not a larger congregation. ... Entrepreneurial faith is not about numbers, not about growth plans, not about increasing the offerings. It's not just for those who are looking for a way to convert their small congregations into megachurches." An inspiring MUST READ profile in Church Executive magazine.

 Stewardship, Faith and Life
"Although we profess a wider understanding of stewardship, we have allowed it to be primarily focused on the given of money. Even when we add time and talent to our discussion, the message we hear is related to money. We need to focus on the 'need of the giver to give' versus the 'need of the institution to receive.' " By Duane Englehardt in The Lutheran Laity Movement

Capital Fund Drives & Debt Reduction Programs: What to Ask and What to Expect.
Looking for some solid answers to your questions about a congregational capital campaign? Philip Reitz, deployed DCM stewardship specialist, provides some essential answers. Posted on  ELCA Region 1 website. (This week's Recycling Bin item from SOLI archives.)