The following are suggestions and ideas to
incorporate into any stewardship campaign or program.
These may not fit or be appropriate for all churches. They are offered to spark
creative conversations on stewardship.
This story is shared for a stewardship
theme:
A woman loved fresh flowers. Every week she stopped at a Florist. The woman would purchase $20.00 to $25.00 worth of fresh flowers for herself. They gave her “joy” and were “uplifting” for her spirit.
This woman could not give up her flowers. So she decided she could give up other extras such as her daily trips to the vending machines at work. She also could pack her lunch to give up those fast food meals daily. And, she was willing to cook more dinners at home for her family than going “out” so often.
Stewardship is about sacrificing something you can do without to
bring life’s energy and joy to others. Stewardship does not seek to take
life’s energy and joy away from us.
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Sometimes the idea is “if we build it, they will give”. The movie “Field of Dreams” worked on
camera, but... No one wants to wake up to a mortgage payment that can’t be
paid. No one wants to lose members over the building. It’s not about the building, it’s about the
relationships.
Prioritizing relationships is ULTIMATE stewardship:
GOD - CHURCH - CONGREGATION
WHERE IS OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH
GOD? Have we “loved” one another outside our church walls as Christ loved the least, less, and the lost?
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Matthew 14: 28,29
“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter
replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said.
STEP OUT OF THE BOAT
with FAITH is a stewardship theme. Making a large fishing
boat on a sea of waves. Seeing a hand reaching down to the water in
front of the boat.
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What makes us share and give our
financial support to our church ??
A REAL PURPOSEFUL
MISSION FOR THE GOOD OF OTHERS.
Not Salary Increases.
Not Administration Increases.
Repairs and Maintenance are
necessary, but not exciting stewardship. These can be planned as a
separate smaller appeal for such projects.
Giving and sacrificing to outreach of our brothers and sisters locally
and globally lights the fires in our hearts.
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ALIVE IN CHRIST
To
be alive; change and growth happen. Nothing is ‘alive’ unless it changes and grows. Plants,
animals, humans and congregations change and grow as part of the cycle of life.
Is your church alive?
Has your church changed? Has your church grown in their outreach ministry?
“We’ve always done it this way.” “It’s up to the individual.” “Ourselves first.” These
statements and many more extinguish the fire of stewardship.
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FIXED INCOME
We hear the phrase “fixed income”. All of us live on a ‘fixed income’ unless
we work on commission.
The older generations want to
reduce or pay off the debt. Many lost their savings and interest in these last
few years of banking or corporate turmoil. The younger generation requires two
working to support the family. Volunteers are harder to recruit. Mothers aren’t
at home during the day. Job security is no more. Words like “lay-offs”,
“part-time”, and “no benefits” are common day terms. Uncertainty is a dark
cloud over many.
“FEAR NOT.......BE NOT AFRAID.”
“BELIEVE IN THE LORD YOUR GOD.” Remember the many times in your life, that God was present. Tell stories of
faith, written or verbal. TRUST is
built on FAITH. And it is with
FAITH that STEWARDSHIP is a success.
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SPRING INTO
STEWARDSHIP
Some churches are changing the date of
their stewardship campaign. In the fall, October/November, when our minds and
pocketbooks are thinking of Christmas, travel, and spending money. In the SPRING, April/May, we look at our annual income for taxes. The
pressure of Christmas is over. Our positive outlook is to “New Life” promised
by the celebration of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross for each of us.
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THE GENEROUS GIVER
Let us not forget, ‘the generous givers’ in our congregations--those folks that give
freely and joyfully. Those who ‘give more than enough’ for small campaigns and
special requests during the year. Those ‘generous givers’ who give
with dedication and commitment faithfully on a weekly/biweekly/monthly
offering. A ‘generous giver’ is alive
and strives to follow Christ in love.
OH ,TO BE
CALLED A ‘GENEROUS GIVER’!!!
Celebrate generosity where you find it!!
Be a ‘Generous Giver’ Stewardship Campaign!
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WHAT IS ENOUGH ?
Exodus 16:4 “Then the Lord said
to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out
each day and gather enough for that day....”
What is enough? What can we give
up for Lent? (And longer for our church.) Each year, we are
encouraged to “fast” or give up something for Lent. Six weeks
of doing without chocolates, lattes, movies, etc. This year, “FAST” or GIVE UP the
money you would have spent on your chocolate, lattes, movies, etc.
Consider the following weekly
ledger for week #__ in Lent:
MY LIST OF GIVING FOR LENT
$_______Candy, Coffees, Sodas,
Snacks
$_______Fast Food Meals
$_______Dinner Meals Out
$_______Books, magazines, video
games, CD’s, DVD’s, movies
$_______OTHER
________________
$
TOTAL giving for week #____ in Lent
