Ben Stroup » stewardship

5 popular posts from January

Ben Stroup — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:13:34 +0000

In case you missed a few posts along the way, here are five of the most popular during the month of January:

Thanks for reading!

Church Executive on technology and capital campaigns

Ben Stroup — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 11:30:26 +0000

I really enjoy the opportunity to interview great leaders who are doing new and different things. In my latest Church Executive Magazine article, I had the opportunity to interview Tim Stevens from Granger Church, Scott Anderson from Eagle Brook Church, and Joel Mikell and Bill McMillan from RSI Church Stewardship about how technology is influencing how capital campaigns are conducted in churches. I know you’re probably a bit skeptical about the whole conversation, but the deeper I got into the interviews the more convinced I became that technology is already influencing how churches approach and execute capital campaigns. I was impressed with what I discovered, to say the least.

If your church that has experimented with technology and capital campaigns, I’d love to hear more about what worked and what didn’t (if you’re brave enough to share).

P.S. In case you don’t get the magazine, here is my joint editorial conversation with Ron Keener on church giving.

New eBook – The 7 Uses of Money

Ben Stroup — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 11:30:30 +0000

I’m thrilled to tell you about a new eBook I produced with Josh Gilliam called, The 7 Uses of Money.

Josh is a financial planner who has built a consulting firm around the idea of helping people discern and accomplish their life plan. His speciality is not just helping you invest money but also gain clarity about what it is you want to do with that money.

Josh is a believer who is passionate about helping others not only increase their generosity and decrease debt but understand what to do with the other 90 percent. This eBook is one I looked for when I graduated from college but couldn’t find. It spells out all the dimensions of money in a way that provides context and balance for those looking to gain their first financial foothold and those looking for a more specific, mature financial strategy.

I strongly encourage you to download the eBook and consider how Josh may be able to provide a fresh perspective as our culture seeks to make sense of the new normal of money.

What steps are you taking to implement a balanced financial plan for your life?

FREE Guide to Year-End Giving

Ben Stroup — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 10:46:17 +0000

Tim Whitehorn and I have written an eBook about year-end giving for churches. We recognize that significant gifts are made during the months of November and December. We also understand that many churches never maximize the full giving potential of your congregation. This eBook is designed to guide you through this season of giving. It’s practical; not philosophical. Is your church prepared for 2011 year-end giving? If not, you may end of up helping fund a variety of different ministries, causes, and organizations with money that could have funded your ministry plan.

Only read this eBook if…

You are serious about year-end giving.
You are looking for a tactical approach.
You want proven advice.

Don’t read this eBook if…

You think people will just give to your church.
You refuse to talk about money.
You are satisfied with the status quo.

Now is the time to start preparing. Are you confident you’re doing everything you can to maximize this season of giving? If not, download this free eBook to guide you through the process.

NACBA connects church budgets with spiritual formation

Ben Stroup — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 10:48:02 +0000

I’m grateful to be included in another edition of The Ledger, the member-only quarterly publication of the National Association of Church Business Administrators. The Church Budget: A Catalyst for Spiritual Formation highlights how Long Hollow Baptist Church (Hendersonville, Tennessee) took a creative approach to church budget communication strategy and developed a pieces that challenged people to grow spiritual rather than completely check out and ignore their church’s budget.

You can view and download Long Hollow’s Compelled Ministry Plan for 2011, and be sure to check out the interactive dollar on their giving page.

What is your church’s approach to church budget communication?

10 reasons I like the words steward and stewardship

Ben Stroup — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 10:44:54 +0000

I know that the popular word to use today is generosity. I use that work a lot myself. But there is something about the words stewards and stewardship that keeps drawing me in:

Stewards can be generous. Generous people aren’t necessarily stewards.
Stewards don’t own what they manage.
Stewards know they will be held accountable for what they do with what they’ve been given.
Stewards are rewarded based on the results they achieve or the impact they’ve made.
Stewards act out of concern for the owner of the property they manage.
Stewardship is the beginning of discipleship.
Stewardship carries with it a long history of meaning and application.
Stewardship prevents me from becoming consumed with cultural norms.
Stewardship is multi-dimentional: time, talents, treasure, temple, and testimony.
Stewardship balances our worldview between “ourselves” and “everyone else.”

Let’s keep using the words stewards and stewardship. I think they still has a lot of life left in them. Agreed?

They're already talking about money

Ben Stroup — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 11:19:52 +0000

A study commissioned by Smart Money magazine and Redbook found that more than 70 percent of couples talked to their partner about money at least once a week. (Source link.)

I recently completed a review for a pastor that showed a spike in church giving every time he talked about money. He is someone who is incredibly uncomfortable talking about the subject. Honestly, it stresses him out.

Sometimes we have to ask oursevles what is more important: staying within our comfort zone or engaging people with an issue that is central to doing life as a Christ-follower.

If so many couples are already talking about the subject, why is the church silent?

5 reasons churches limit length of capital campaigns

Ben Stroup — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 10:22:54 +0000

Really grateful to Ron Keener for offering me the opportunity to publish again in Church Executive Magazine. Let me tell you a little more about this article:

Title: 5 reasons churches limit the length of capital campaigns

Summary: Grounded in changes related to economic stability, needs, and expectations, churches are reducing the time they are willing to commit to fulfill upon capital campaign pledges. The traditional 36 month fulfillment period is being replaced with 12 or 18 month campaigns. This article explore the reasons why three church leaders choose to do so.

Read the article.

Download the article.

Is this shift a good thing?

10 things I hate about church giving

Ben Stroup — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 10:14:08 +0000

Seminaries don’t prepare church leaders in this area.
Many pastors refuse to consistently preach on the subject (if at all).
Too often poor giving habits are practiced by the pastor and staff.
External factors (e.g. economy, etc.) are blamed instead of leaders owning the responsibility.
Money is considered taboo to the leader but everyday conversation to the person in the pew.
Stewardship is taught to be an obligation rather than an opportunity.
Churches fail to address church giving in practical ways that benefit the person in the pew.
Church leaders excuse themselves from the conversation for more “spiritual” matters.
Churches don’t pay attention to the giving habits of their congregation.
Churches give little thought to the offering and generally make it an insignificant part of Worship.

It’s time rethink our approach to subject of money in church. If Jesus talked more about it than heaven and hell combined, perhaps we ought to make it a more central part of our teaching as well.

Warning: Churches who refuse to consistently deal with giving in a healthy way help fund outside organizations with money God intended to fund his church.