Well known pastor and author, Mike Slaughter, mounted the stage to share his and his congregation’s experience in biblical mission and ministry of the church:
“Why does God let people starve? God doesn’t, we do.” M. Slaughter
Should a person deceive God? Yet you deceive me.
But you say, “How have we deceived you?”
With your tenth-part gifts and offerings. You are being cursed with a curse,
and you, the entire nation, are robbing me. Bring the whole tenth-part to the storage house so there might be food in my house. Please test me in this, says the Lord of heavenly forces. See whether I do not open all the windows of the heavens for you
and empty out a blessing until there is enough. Malachi 3:8-10
Money follows mission, not church budgets. Movements don’t take moments, they take years. This is a long game! Here are some key points from Mike’s presentation about doubling your missional impact:
Do Something Big!
Do Christmas is Not Your Birthday! The average American spends $8,000 a year on Christmas gifts. (material available at the NCCUMC media center) As you continue families begin to spend more on mission than themselves.
Invite Investment Consistently
Kingdom Investors Dinner. A dinner to help members and attenders understand why we give. More information can be found here. Ginghamsburg does these dinners every May and September. Using narrative storytelling and effective media the effect of missions of the church are shared with everyone who gives $1,000 or more a year. This level of giving demonstrates “buy in.” If you would like some great stewardship material to support this idea, check out First: putting God first in living and giving. (also available from the NCCUMC media center)
Tell the Story
We aren’t trying to show “church as fortress,” but “church on mission.” Movements aren’t made in a moment, it takes years. Long term commitment to move in the same direction. Making a movement requires commitment to mission. Mission is empowered by people who are inspired to give and live sacrificially. In order to tell the story, each Sunday before offering Ginghamsburg shares mission moments which invites people to invest. When you dream God’s dreams, missions emerge. These missional initiatives has resulted in the creation of three non-profit organizations including New Path. Check it out here.
Some Key Strategies:
- Create opportunities to inform and invite investment in missions weekly using mission moments. Need some help? Check out these insights from UMCOM here.
- Leverage annual seasonal opportunities to create real mission momentum through things like Christmas is Not Your Birthday.
- Take on BIG projects! Mission follows mission, not budgets. See Ginghamsburg’s Imagine No Malaria Challenge here.
- Missional giving invites increased investment. Using strategies like Kingdom Investment Dinners, constantly demonstrate the difference your church is making locally and around the world. Tell stories of life change. Transformation creates sacrificial, transformational giving.