Here is an archive column from 2004. Enjoy!

 

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.

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 a newspaper reporter. "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, webmaster and editor

Reprint rights gladly given for congregations for nonprofit, local use. Just include this notice: Copyright (c) 2004 The Rev. Robert Blezard, www.stewardshipoflife.org. Used by permission.


New This Week:

100 Stewardship Ideas and Verses
Here is a resource that will jump start your creativity when it comes to stewardship for your congregation. It lists sound ideas about stewardship and then backs them up with quotations from the Bible. How can you go wrong? Click here for “100 Stewardship Verses and Ideas,” from the Christian Stewardship Association.


Of Storage Bags, Shower Curtains, Stewardship and Stuff
Our columnist is learning much just in her second week of a year of buying nothing new. “To be an effective steward of all this stuff, I’m taking a four-pronged approach. I’m beginning by going through closets, drawers, and boxes to see just what lives here with us. Believe me, it’s a daunting process!” Click here for “Of Storage Bags, Shower Curtains, Stewardship and Stuff,” from SOLI stewardship writer Sharron Lucas.


Cultivating Church Health
In this article Rick Warren, the “Purpose-Driven” pastor, explains that balance is one often-overlooked key to church health. Click here for “Cultivating church health,” posted on Building Church Leaders.

A real step forward
The beginning of the year is a great time to stir things up and get things going again, says Tuck Aaker, stewardship columnist. “Consider beginning a Discipleship Training course for some of your people. Begin with your leadership and then add as many as possible.” Click here for “A Real Step Forward,” from ELCA Stewardship Resources