We welcome John Gilman II of ACS Technologies to the Vanco blog. John is the Senior Director of Marketing and is chiefly responsible for Marketing’s overall corporate strategy and direction. He has traveled the world many times over working with some of America’s top brands and prominent non-profit ministries.
John is passionate about helping the church make disciples and is an avid religious servant at his church. Through his work with ACS Technologies and his passion for Christ, John is surrounded by many pastors who have shared with him the joys and struggles around giving in the church. But, with the right amount of effort and encouragement, he’s seen the power giving can have on the community.
With the big Christmas and Easter giving seasons now behind us and tax deadlines looming, giving is probably not on top of church members’ minds right now.
In order to encourage and inspire giving throughout the year, it’s important that church members understand the ongoing needs of the church community and the impact even a small gift can make. Delivering this message and striking the right balance between asking and receiving can be a powerful way to motivate and inspire members to regularly give back to their church.
The Bible talks about giving quite a bit. And the Lord knew each generation would struggle between prioritizing the riches of this world and the riches of Heaven. In our current society, this isn’t surprising.
Jesus said, “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust corrupt, and where thieves break in and steal … For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21)
The Bible also says God loves a cheerful giver. Giving is a tremendous part of worship. Every believer knows tithing and giving is important, but many do not practice it faithfully.
The challenge I’ve heard pastors touch on is to not shy away from preaching on this subject, but not harping on it either. This delicate balance is often a key to success for the church to reach its goals and experience true, sustained growth.
To those pastors preparing for the second half of 2016, here are five suggestions from pastors I know to consider when preaching on giving throughout the year:
1. Consider preaching a series (three or four weeks) on giving. My pastor has touched on giving numerous times by talking about the impact our gifts can have on the church community. When money is personified, it can bring a whole new light to the power of giving.
2. Pray hard about which scriptures to use when preaching on giving. The Bible mentions giving in different ways throughout. Understand your audience and use the scriptures that will resonate with your church community.
3. Be a great storyteller, not a guilt tripper. Pastors are the best storytellers I know. Continue preaching the Word and God will handle the rest.
4. Be transparent about the church’s needs when preaching on giving. People are motivated to give to a cause or a need instead of just a general budget. Giving insight into your church’s budgets and allocations lets your community know how they can make a difference.
5. Share stories of how God has used the people’s giving to bless others in a tangible way. Giving can be a magical moment for your church. Make it special spiritually and emotionally, while also showing the physical value it will have.
When giving is personified, the results are fruitful. If your church’s members are giving freely, they are prioritizing the church; they are prioritizing their relationship with God. Fuel your mission with the resources your ministry needs by giving your members the insight and transparency to motivate them to give back – not just at Christmas and Easter, but throughout the year.
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