Leading the church in uncertain financial times...

        I've said here before that the church is not exempt from the financial challenges that our world, our nation, our communities, and our families are facing. When people are living on less, it causes the church to live on less. Mountain Lake has not been exempt from these CRAZY financial times in our world. However, as I talk with Pastors and churches across America, it seems like God has blessed Mountain Lake by helping us make some wise decisions in regards to how we have led the church going in to, and during these tough financial times. There are a few things we've done that have helped our families and our church weather the storm more effectively. Many of these decisions are decisions we tell our families to make, it's just that we don't often practice them as churches! I wanted to share them with Pastors and churches around the world here.

• Operate with financial margin. Almost every financial expert encourages families to have 3-6 months of salary in the bank. Churches should do the same. Does a church need 3-6 months in come in the bank all the time? Probably not THAT much. However, we need to keep enough money in the bank to weather several months' dip in offerings. Our church has done this.  We've tried to keep 4-6 weeks' worth of offerings in the bank at all times. It has made all the difference. Our economy will pull out of this dip. Then we will have another one some day. Will you be ready next time?

• Pay attention. Know what's going on with the finances of your church. Be talking about it on a weekly basis. Don't get surprised by financial calamity. Operate on a budget and go over it as a Leadership team EVERY MONTH! We've been having discussions about responding to the world financial crisis for over 18 months now. We have NOT been surprised by the challenges we're facing., We've been preparing! We're preparing even now to weather the economy out, even if it doesn't turn around quickly.

• Teach on stewardship. When times are tough, many pastors would tend to think that the LAST thing Pastors would teach on is money. Not us. We just finished a message series on Personal finance called "Give Yourself a Raise" in which we challenges people to become better stewards in every area of their financial lives: spending, saving, debt, investing, and giving. BTW, attendance did dip some. During the same time, as the people who STAYED TUNED IN for the series, they became more obedient to God with their finances and our offerings went up by nearly 10 %. 

• Keep Giving. As pastors, if we expect our people to keep giving when times are tough, wo should we. We have actually ramped UP our efforts in our Benevolence ministry, our food pantry, and even gave 10% of our regular offerings one weekend to be able to help people are suffering MORE during these tough times. I believe God will honor that!

• Be transparent. Let people know in appropriate ways that the church is being challenged. So many times, I have seen families inadvertently shrink back in their giving, thinking that the church will never miss it. By allowing the congregation to know that the church IS facing financial challenges, it calls players BACK OFF THE BENCH. 

• Tighten our belts. If everyone is tightening their belts, we as churches should not expect ourselves to be exempt from that. Down times financially give us a GREAT opportunity to assess where EVERY DIME is going in our church. I mean every dime. Down times allow us to get leaner and meaner. Every time. Down times can actually help us become better stewards with people's giving! Tightening our belts is a healthy process!

• Teach hope. The most encouraging truth about the parable of the talents is the fact that we are not responsible for what we DON'T have, just what we DO have. We can't focus on what we can;t do. We MUST do what we CAN do. God honors that!

• Trust God. God is not pacing back and forth in heaven trying to figure out what He's going to do with your church. He's in control! Do you REALLY trust Him? Now's the time to prove it!

I'm excited to be talking about this subject in a much deeper way at our upcoming churchplanters.com conference Feb 23-24 at our church in metro Atlanta. I hope you'll come!

Comments

[Kevin Lloyd]

Shawn--
Thanks for keeping the postings fresh and for being transparent & straight up about life/church/leadership. I always love reading your stuff and watching you guys. BTW...congrats on the Tide. I know you're jacked about that. I'm pulling for you guys against the GAtors.

[Will Henderson]

This post is absolute gold mate. Thanks.

[Will Henderson]

BTW hope you're feeling better for Fri.

[David Rogers]

Shawn,
Thursday was awesome bro! What a timely talk for me. This post was a great follow up to all that. Man, you just don't know what an impact you have made on me and the ministry GOD has placed me in. Can't wait to hang out with you again~ Peace!

[Rev Sajjad gillsajjadgill]

Greetings in the name of Jesus chris.I did vist yor web site. this web site is good.
i will pray for your ministr and your church.i also pray for your doneurs families.
God bless you richly.