When Should a Church Start Working on Summer Giving?

The other day I dealt with this question, “When should a church start working on summer giving?”  The answer is, NOW!  Let me put it another way, as soon as possible!  Or if you like, ASAP!

As I write this we are just a few days into spring and here I am talking about summer giving.  There are many reasons why you need to think about summer giving.  For one thing for most churches summer is their busiest time of the year when it comes to missions and ministry initiatives.  For another attendance typically goes down and when attendance goes down so does the offering.  Can you thus see the need to talk about summer giving?

If not let me spell it out.  This summer you will have major expenses that must be met.  At the time of these major expenses most churches giving goes down.  On top of this we are closing out a first quarter of severe weather that caused many churches to see a decline in attendance and giving.  Many are already behind as we approach summer.

One of the biggest mistakes churches make is the lack of forward planning.  In perhaps no other area of church life is this more prevalent than in the area of finances.  We seem to think that the money will be there.  Yet think back to the last few summers.  Did giving increase or decline for you during those months.

Successful churches plan ahead.  If you know ahead of time that summer giving will be challenged why would you not do something about that?  My most successful churches in terms of stewardship plan every year to build summer giving so that they can fully fund every initiative.  Why would you not do the same?

Here are two reasons why churches don’t plan ahead to reverse the slump in summer giving.  In my experience here are the major reasons churches don’t plan ahead.

They are too busy dealing with the present that they can’t focus on the future.  

They don’t know what to do.

I have an answer for you, my 2014 Fully Funded Summer Giving Plan!  It gives you a template that you can put your stamp on.  I do all essentially all the work for you.  As with all my stuff it is…

Easy

Effective

Affordable

Go here to get your copy for only $39.95! http://thestewardshipcoach.org/store/

Mark Brooks – The Stewardship Coach

Founder and President

The Charis Group and Charis Giving Solutions