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Few congregations have effective year-round programs for stewardship education, tithing and planned giving. Most need help. SALT will help supply that need. SALT, through information provided by "Church Stewardship & Growth Center" will meet the needs of your church by bringing you articles of what others are doing in the stewardship field, suggestions on new programs, audio-visuals, displays, literature, electronic medias, and training materials. It will give you and your congregation the satisfaction of more effectively meeting the needs of the work of Jesus Christ.
The difference between the success and failure of bringing families to full stewardship stature is vested in local leadership. As the chief steward under God, you hold the key of leadership. Use it or lose it!
Walter J. Waddell, III
Church Publishing Manager
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Three ingredients for successful church funding are:
1. Law and Gospel messages; 2. Information; 3. A good system;
1. Law and Gospel messages
The cure for financial failure is first to have the spiritual delinquency exposed by God's law. The law is not to be construed as criticism of members failing to meet church budgets (which is man's evaluation of a situation), but proclaiming God's law which shows how man has failed to heed God's will.
God's solution to financial failures is the Gospel of forgiveness, which is the fire of God's love to warm cold and sluggish hearts. The Gospel is not only a power unto salvation to everyone that believes, but also the power to sanctification that causes the offering of one's self and substance to the Lord.
The Law and Gospel are to be used in every stewardship message, including home visits, if hearts are to be moved through generous giving.
2. Information
People give as they know, not as they are able. The responsibility of the church is to teach members the Biblical standards of Christian giving. Promotional campaigns can never be a substitute for a solid and careful teaching job.
The Biblical standards include the giving of first-fruits and of a generous percentage or part. Faith is the determining factor in setting the portion which is given to the Lord. Giving is a grace from God, for which we are to pay.
3. System
A successful system includes a personal commitment by all members, aggressive pastoral and lay leadership, and a definable program.
Every member should make a definite commitment for an offering to God out of his income. Such personal discipline is required as an encouragement to faithful giving.
Leadership for successful stewardship programs means a partnership of pastors and lay leaders and a mutual acceptance of accountability for performing required tasks. If either one fails to provide effective influence, it will be difficult to mobilize the entire membership and succeed in stewardship efforts.
While it is possible to have a variety of approaches in successful stewardship programs, each congregation should adopt a definable method. A congregation may conduct its giving training program in the Sunday morning worship, through Every Member Visits, or group discussion meetings. Whatever approach is used, leaders should organize the program carefully and execute the plan effectively so that all members are reached with the message.
Book by Rev. Waldo J. Werning -
"New BeginningsĀ
In Christian Living and Giving is an excellent collection of four sermons, Bible studies and companion resources of sample letters, newsletter articles, and a commitment form. It is a very practical and usable resource for conducting a four-week stewardship or spiritual growth emphasis in a congregation. It includes all the basic ingredients needed for pastors and leaders to conduct a clear, forceful and relevant stewardship emphasis." Rev. Larry Reinhardt, Stewardship Ministry,
The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod Published by Neibauer Press - #277 - only $13.95 each
New pewter Prayer Partner pin #1190 for your mission program only $1.50 each
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