Stewardship Programs

Most church stewardship programs that I am familiar with are a waste of time and energy.

I have never seen a campaign that doesn't create a "tax" on the individuals of a congregation, yet churches still continue pushing stewardship campaigns. Statistics also show that a majority of pastors that endure stewardship campaigns often leave that particular congregation within 5 years (although I dispute whether that is completely influenced by stewardship campaigns).

There seems to be a thought that if you keep asking for money, people will keep giving more. I disagree. People want to give more but you have to help equip them in order for them to give.

Help people reduce their personal debt, establish personal saving habits and learn to increase income, and churches will be blessed in the same manner they were a blessing to families of their congregations.

People may give when you speak to their emotions, but they will give more when they can analyze their situation and respond responsibly. Also, I would not assume that only a small part of your congregation is equipped to give significantly. It's probably safer to assume that less than 30% of your members can actually give beyond what they are already giving IF they can even afford what they are already giving in the first place.

If you want people to give more, give to them first.

If you run a stewardship campaign at your congregation, don't do it until you consider Dave Ramsey's Momentum program*. It's not a stewardship campaign and your congregation will be glad you did it.

*Disclaimer: I am affiliated with Dave Ramsey.

Switch: Goes on sale today!

Daniel (the elephant hunter) was kind enough to to let me read an advanced copy of Chip Heath & Dan Heath's latest book Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard. The book goes on sale TODAY!

Before I even get to the book, the Heath brothers are extraordinary. I thought their last book Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die was going to be difficult to top, but Switch gives it a good shot. When I read their stuff, I feel like I'm reading a hybrid of Malcolm Gladwell with practical application. These guys are solid.

Now, about Switch. This book creates a conceptual framework in dealing with change. I love conceptual frameworks, because they don't solve your problems, but they help you take a logical approach to solving your problems yourself.

For Switch, the metaphor of a rider, directing an elephant down a path toward a goal is the framework. In order to accomplish change, you have to (1) direct the rider, who is often the analytical person, (2) motivate the elephant who is the one that reacts emotionally, and (3) shape the path, so the rider and the elephant can easily work together.

The book is broken into those three sections, and the authors use a lot of their Made To Stick framework to develop each chapter. Through simple, unexpected stories, they share how one example after another accomplishes each of the steps of their framework while using case studies to help you practice.

One of the first stories they mentioned, has become a metaphor for my team at work. "Gloves on the table," is now a phrase we use regularly as an example of motivating an elephant. I'd tell you the story, but you need to get the book and read the first chapter.

This book will change the way you look at change.