Capital campaigns can help inspire giving and achieve ministry milestones, but they require careful thought and thorough planning. Joe Parks of Horizons Stewardship identifies questions that church leaders should consider before a campaign. (Photo: Stephen Yeargin,Creative Commons)
Compared to older people, younger adults carry significant debt, much of it from student loans, and some of it due to economic factors beyond their control. Some churches are helping their members understand and do something about the debt gap. (Photo (c) Supe87, Fotolia.com)
In most churches, the offering is plain-vanilla ritualistic, and nobody pays much attention. Such an approach misses an opportunity to use the offering as a time for instruction, inspiration and faith building. Joe Parks from Horizons Stewardship. (Photo © James Steidl – Fotolia.com)
Philanthropy has taken an interesting turn because of the Covid-19 crisis. Responding to their neighbors in financial hardship, donors have increased giving to efforts that directly meet the needs of families and individuals, the Stanford Social Innovation Review reports. (Photo: Staffs Live, Creative Commons)
Where can you find the most generous Christians in the United States, whose Jesus’ followers give an average of 2.5 percent of incomeAnd, generally speaking, who are they, anyway? The answers revealed in this Christianity Today article may just surprise you. (Photo by Lisafx, via Bigstock.com)
The global pandemic has caused plenty of stress in our churches, and not the least of these is a downturn in giving. Instead of fretting, church leaders should get busy, says consultant Margaret Marcuson, in this essay from Luther Seminary. (Photo: Images of Money, Creative Commons)
Though poverty is a real affliction for those who do not earn a living wage, many families with decent incomes experience chronic financial trouble because they don’t know how to manage their money. Dave Sanford suggests some strategies that can help couples get a handle on their money. (Photo: Anssi Koskinen, Creative Commons)
THE COVID-19 Pandemic has changed church as we know it, including how we approach church finance and giving. The United Methodist Church offers 10 practical ideas for church financial leaders to consider and adapt for use in their contexts. (Image: “Offering plates glow,” Don Brown, Creative Commons License)
For many who are blessed with stable jobs and adequate resources, the stimulus money from last year’s federal legislation (and this year’s expected actions) is just gravy on our financial potatoes. Why not donate all or part of it to charity, argues this editorial from The Herald-Bulletin of Anderson, IN.
Now that 2020 is in the rear-view mirror, we look with hope and optimism to a better year ahead. Start out the new year right by making some personal and household financial decisions that can help put you on more-solid ground. From msn.com.
