Weekly Word
Let The Giving Flow
“The wild animals honor me, the jackals
and the owls, because I provide water in the wilderness and streams in the
wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen…” (Isaiah 43-20)
Donations can significantly decrease in the summer months due to vacation season, low
attendance, and less Church activities.
However, the operating expenses (rent, mortgage, insurance, maintenance,
salary, etc.) remain constant! Pastors
and Church leaders should consider doing the following to help meet their
financial obligations:
Ø Encourage your members to sow electronically (on-line,
EFT, text, website, etc.). Church leaders must establish various methods
for people to donate, particularly electronically. Electronic giving is on the rise. Every Church, large or small, should evaluate
their website and their communication to encourage donating
electronically. Today people are more
likely to give electronically than writing a check. This must be a priority issues to allow
giving to flow. While members are on
vacation, they can still sow their seed electronically. We highly suggest arranging members to authorize
Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) to be made on a monthly basis. Although there are various methods to sow
your tithe and offerings electronically, as mentioned earlier, the systematic
and consistent method will help your Church’s finances the best. EFT will allow your Church to expect a set
amount of funds on a particular date(s) per month. With receiving such set amount, your finance
team can plan better to manage cash flow.
EFT is a must for all Churches.
Ø Let your finance needs be known. “Yet you do
not have because you do not ask” (James 4:2).
We need to let our financial needs be known to your constituents and
members so they can help. Expressing
your financial need will indicate to some people that you have identified your
financial needs by knowing the amount needed along with the purpose. Good fiscal management requires good
accountability. It is very challenging
when people ask for help but not clear on their needs! Let your needs be known in order for people
to respond accordingly.
Ø Pray for your donors and that their needs are met. Remember it
is God that provides and ultimately meets all of our needs. Therefore, praying for donor’s health,
career, finances, family matters, etc., shows that you care and how important
they are to the Church. You should
always pray for everyone and everything that is connected to your success. Donors are important to the success of your
Church. Let them know you are praying
for them.
Ø Defer financial spending and activities that are not
financially self-sustaining until the fall. To help your cash flow during the summer months,
evaluate your anticipated spending.
Identify spending and activities that can be deferred until later in the
year when cash flow improves. Pay
particular attention to repairs that can be deferred, insurance bill that can
be paid quarterly instead of one lump payment, freeze on hiring, and youth
activities that are affordable.
Ø Reserve funds in winter season to plan for summer
season. “The ants are a people
not strong, yet they prepare their food in the summer” (Proverb 30:25). Ants
are wise to prepare in season when there is harvest, but reserve the supplies
until it is needed. This is how Church
leaders should prepare for summer giving droughts. Reserve funds that you received in season
when people sowing are large, which are in the months for December to May. The trend in giving typically goes down every
year during summer months. Why not
prepare for during the winter months?
Adjust your budget for 2018 to anticipate the drought and plan
accordingly.
Note: Infinity Financial Ministries, Inc. (IfmLord.org) is a tax exempt
nonprofit organization. IFM provides workshops, seminars, counseling, etc. to
Pastors and Church leaders. Abraham
Alston Jr. CPA is also the principle owner of Alston & Company CPAs
accounting firms (acocpa.com) that specialize in serving churches and nonprofit
organizations. Providing accounting,
bookkeeping, payroll, clergy tax preparation, audits, consultant services etc.
Contact the firm today for more information.
Your donations IFM will be appreciated and blessing to help the
ministry continue to provide workshops, consulting, and training to the body of
Christ. Donation of any amount is
greatly appreciated.
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