Ben Stroup » tithing

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.

When was the last time you said "thank you"?

Ben Stroup — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 04:06:01 +0000

If Apple thinks it’s important enough to say thanks to all who downloaded apps from their new app store, why don’t church leaders think it’s important to say thanks to those who give consistently, faithfully, and generously to the church?

When was the last time you said “thank you” via phone, handwritten note, or in person? (Unfortunately, there isn’t an “app for that.”)

18-second listeners don't cultivate high-capacity givers

Ben Stroup — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 10:44:00 +0000

Every church has within its congregation or membership body, select individuals who have the capacity to give significantly more than others. The reason why you don’t think they exist is because you aren’t cultivating them. In fact, the local nonprofit, college or university, and the local hospital hope you never do that. They are betting on the fact that they can secure a gift consistent with their means better than you can.

You could read a library full of books on how to cultivate high-capcity givers. Let me save you the trouble. The key is: listening. Are you creating an environment where you are listening to those individuals and uncovering what is most important to them? If you don’t, a very intentional development officer already is and will absolutely secure the gift that might have dramatically changed the financial trajectory of your church, no matter how big or small.

Are you an 18-second listener, or are you giving people the chance to express themselves without your preconceived notions getting in the way?

Let’s see what Tom Peters has to say about where we fall short in our listening habits:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwB7NAvKPeo]