Yes we can! That line was used repeatedly during Barack Obama’s campaign in 2008. That campaign will go down as one of the best run in history. No matter what you think of his policies or how well he has governed, one thing remains, he can campaign. Yes we can became a rallying cry for his supporters.
When it comes to raising funds during these challenging economic times too many are pessimists. The pollsters and the press have spent the last year telling us how much giving has declined and how many churches are struggling. The reality, revealed by Giving USA, showed that giving to religion declined only slightly last year by .3%. While any decline is difficult the declines we are seeing are not the kind that make you want to jump out the window. It is time somebody said to the question can you raise funds, yes you can!
Yesterday I was at Christ Church in Fairview Heights, IL just outside of Saint Louis. This contemporary UMC church is breaking the rules when it comes to the current view of giving during the recession. Their giving has actually gone up the last three years. They are on pace to see it increase again this year. At the same time they are winding down a capital campaign that is on pace to exceed the pledge. Don’t tell them that you cannot raise funds in a recession, they are doing it.
I am currently working on my next book which will be a practical guide to increasing a churches offerings. The idea from the book came from a post and webinar I did entitled, “How to Turbo Charge Your Giving.” While I have not committed to making that the title it will none the less be the thrust of the book.
Chapter one at this point is entitled, “Yes You Can!” In that chapter I will trace the historical data on giving during recessions proving factually that you can raise funds. I will give examples of churches like Christ Church I mentioned above and others. During this challenging economic times we have helped churches in some of the most severely hit areas by the recession raise funds. If they can do it what is your excuse?
My chapter on Yes You Can is meant to lay the most important foundation towards increasing your giving, the belief that it is possible. If you do not think something is possible you will never try. Too many have assumed incorrectly that there is little or nothing they can do to increase giving during this time. That mistake is too often self fulfilling their assumption that giving would decline. By believing it will decline and doing nothing to keep it from declining you assure that it will decline.
My goal is for you to ignore the media. Ignore the Christian pollsters who paint a negative perspective. Ignore your buddy across the state whose church is struggling financially. Ignore everyone and everything but the main thing for you as a pastor, your church. I want you to believe that you can increase your giving. I want you to work hard to that end and pray harder for giving to increase. Then against the common view of the day, your giving will increase.
Is is possible for you to increase the giving level of your church? Yes you can!
Mark Brooks
Founder and President
The Charis Group
Find out how you can Turbo Charge Your Church's Giving!