Surprising things happened when a church took mission giving dollars out of its regular budget and instead raised money for those important ministries. It got people involved and active, and now there’s more money for mission — and the regular bills. Read how they did it. From the Center for Steward Leadership at Luther Seminary.
Debt lures us in with a promise: You can have what you want NOW, and pay for it later. And you pay dearly. The typical American family has about $15,000 in credit card debt, which costs $2,700 in interest at a typical interest rate of 18 percent. And that’s just on credit cards. It does […]
This brilliant and insightful workshop by former ELCA Presiding Bishop H. George Anderson helps bring church members into a fuller understanding of holistic stewardship. “Stewardship is like a magnet passing over the jumbled pins and needles of our life, organizing them into a meaningful pattern. Stewardship is the Christian lifestyle.” (Photo: Mimi_K, Creative Commons)
Get ready for Faith Climate Action Week, April 17th- 23rd! The theme of the 2017 Faith Climate Action Week is “Act on Climate” and will focus on how we can protect our climate and energy policies. Check out the Faith Climate Action Week website, brought to you by Interfaith Power & Light, for sample sermons, worship resources, and other […]
It happens to too many of our colleagues and associates: they are creative, strong, dynamic, and working harder and harder. And before you (or they!) know it, like a match that started out with a burst of flame, they’re burned out. Spent. Out of fuel. The pattern is not inevitable. Here are some tips for […]
Lent is the time when Christians pray, fast, and slisten more intently for God. This year, have your church join with many others in heeding the call to be stewards of God’s Creation. The calendar suggests a simple action each day to help preserve God’s great gift of Creation. Produced by Interfaith Power & Light and […]
Next to maybe Christmas (maybe) Lent/Holy Week/Easter is the time that gives church leaders the most anxiwety. So this informative booklet guide on stress and stress management may come in handy! It covers the basics and gives you “52 Proven Stress Relievers.” From the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Make copies for everybody in church! […]
The Lord takes the gifts we give and uses them to further God’s work. When we see giving as commissioning resources to serve God’s purpose, our attitude about giving should change from one of drudgery to one of enthusiasm. Stewardship is a kingdom investment, not an expense. So when the offering plate reaches us, let’s smile as […]
Money gets a bad rap in some churches. The thinking goes something like this: Even though we ask for money every time we collect an offering, the truth is, we shouldn’t need it; we shouldn’t want it; we should be able to get by without it, just like Jesus did. After all, money is the root […]
Through the discipline of generosity we engage in the subversive kingdom ways of Jesus. The kingdom of God is more than just a simple reform of a flawed system. Jesus is calling us to move beyond mere improvements to existing structures. The kingdom of God is an entirely new way to live. It is altogether […]
