Like the cardiac patient who winds up with a heart attack after ignoring both his deteriorating health and his doctor’s urgent advice, many congregations wait until there’s a crisis to start thinking seriously about stewardship and finance. You don’t want to be that congregation, writes Rob Blezard, SOLI web editor. (Photo: Aaron | Dan , […]
Help your youth understand money and finance
How are you equipping youth in your congregation to talk about, manage, and steward financial resources? Instead of avoiding the topic, try this youth group lesson that uses Matthew 6:19-21, 24 along with games, teaching time, and discussion. You might also want to adapt this lesson for an intergenerational learning opportunity. (Photo: Creative Commons, Thanks!)
Preaching and teaching about money can be fruitful
Breaking the taboo about money talk can be fruitful for congregations, a new study shows. The more congregations talk about money, the more likely they are to see a corresponding increase in giving, according to the National Study of Congregations’ Economic Practices. (Photo: Bev8200, used by Creative Commons license. Thanks!)
Living the best life possible amid illness
Stewardship of our physical and emotional health is important, yet what is one to do when the diagnosis is difficult and chronic? Clinical psychologist and professor Joseph Trunzo offers some suggestions, including considering ACT therapy (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy). “You might not have a choice about your illness,” says Bruno, “but you do have choices […]
Challenge your church with disruptive questions
Asking disruptive question can help leadership teams navigate both challenges and opportunities toward growth and new vision, says leadership expert and coach Mac Lake. “There’s nothing like a great disruptive question to lead to great strides in development in those you’re equipping,” says Lake. Watch this short video to learn more. (Photo: marcoantoniotorres, Creative Commons)
Teaching and forming healthy money relationships
What is your relationship with money? How does your faith community collectively view their relationship with money? Having a faith-based understanding of money is essential for cultivating generous congregations and for growing faithful stewards. Demi Prentiss of the Episcopal Church Foundation writes about ways for your congregation to begin a fruitful conversation. (Photo: Ron Mader, Creative […]
The oceans are taking a beating under climate change, U.N. report warns
Climate change is destroying the world’s oceans, according to a U.N. report that says unless governments take action there will be dire consequences for the sea life and people who live in coastal areas. A drop in fish harvests, coastal flooding and increasingly violent storms are just some of the consequences. From the L.A. Times. […]
What you need to know about the vaping crisis
Across the nation hundreds of people are developing a severe lung illness due to vaping, and doctors are struggling to find out why. Mistakenly considered a safer alternative to smoking tobacco, e-cigarettes are now linked to a growing epidemic of problems, this New York Times article explains. (Photo: “31202” by SmokeTastic is licensed under CC […]
Ban ‘budget talk’ when making your appeals
When it comes to asking God’s people to give to your congregation, avoid any mention of the general budget. Why? Because people simply aren’t inspired by appeals simply to end the year in the black. In this brief video from Horizons Stewardship, Joe Park explains that its more effective to focus on mission plans. (Photo: […]
Climate change and poverty in the household of God
Living in Africa for an extended period afforded an American Christian the opportunity to look at climate change from a much different perspective than we typically see in the United States. Brian Konkol’s observations are challenging to us, who live in a nation that has contributed greatly to the problem. (Photo: Roberto Rizzato, Creative Commons)
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