I really appreciate this statement from Marc A. Pitman.

I was reminded of it after a conversation that left me with an even greater sense of resolve and clarity about my role in helping churches fund ministry. It was also a reality check that there is an intentional effort by organizations outside the church to capture the dollar of the people who sit in our pews every Sunday morning.

Recently, I met with the leader of a very large Christian nonprofit. My intent was to get to know him as a partner in ministry to the community. Something unexpected happened during our conversation. The more he learned about what I do, the more visibly uncomfortable he became with the direction of our conversation.

He finally said what was on his mind. He was appaled at the idea that any church would actively engage with someone like me to improve giving in local churches. He believes that people give faithfully to churches already and don’t need encouragement to give more. As he unpacked his history as a preacher’s kid, I began to understand that some of his perspective was deeply rooted in bad experiences and faulty assumptions. I also observed the contrast in his belief that it was OK for his organization to ask those same pew sitters to financially underwrite his organization and cause.

I don’t believe in scarcity. I believe in multiplying dollars rather than arguing over how to split dollars. I also believe that whatever God has called us to do, He will also ensure we have to resources to accomplish the task. However, I don’t believe it’s given to us on a “silver platter.” Church leaders have to cultivate it.

This experience also reminded of a sobering reality that the church is competing for share of mind and share of dollar with many other organizations and causes. It’s the responsibility of the church leader to ensure a compelling case has been made so that the time, talent, and treasure God intended to fund the Kingdom is appropriately invested by the person in the pew.

What keeps me up at night is wondering how much money finds its way elsewhere because we, as leaders of His church, refuse to overcome our reluctance to talk about stewardship and generosity. Sometimes it just makes me sick to my stomach.

Reality check: The more we remain silent about the subject of money, the more we help fund someone else’s budget.

It’s “game on.” Are you ready?