Recession-Proof Evangelism (Part 2)
Jun/12/2009 15:27
In the midst of support raising we have found that the recession has slowed down church giving slightly and finding congregations willing to support domestic or international ministry has proven to be challenging. One of the biggest issues facing churches with shrinking budgets is how to finance current ministries and take on new ministries or projects. Ask any support raiser and they will tell you, approaching congregations for support is daunting in a good economy, but it’s downright intimidating in a down economy. We know that churches want to give but many are fearful because of budgetary constraints. Below are some ways that churches can continue the work that they want to do in a recession...
Intentionally Plan to be Missional
Have you ever been a part of a congregation where missional ministry (either foreign or domestic) was done haphazardly with budget left-overs on a case by case basis? I have seen congregations pass over tremendous opportunities for their people and for missionaries simply because missions was something of an afterthought. In these places, it always seemed (at least to me) that there was more month at the end of the money, missionaries doing cool things didn’t receive the support they needed and the members of these congregations couldn’t participate in the amazing opportunities God was working around the world. In other words, congregations like this lacked passion. In our own experience, it has always been easier to give more when we were passionate about something and having evangelism, church planting, and missions front and center in the life of a congregation produces passion as people get to participate with God in the world.
I believe that the most important thing a congregation can do is intentionally plan to be missional. Evangelism is something mandated by Jesus but is sometimes over looked in the life of the church. Usually this falls on the shoulders of the preacher who is tasked as the evangelism “professional.” Isn’t that what he was hired for? *sigh* In reality, evangelism ought to be in the DNA of every Christian and corporate body as an extension of who we are. There are several ways that a congregation can be intentionally missional:
The bottom line is, missions should be intentional in the life of the congregation; people need a passion and excitement for the spreading of the gospel as a part of the life of the body. If missional living is a part of the congregation’s DNA, people will give sacrificially and excitedly as they see their money being used to change people’s lives. However, how can people give if they don’t have any money? Next, how debt sabotages God’s plan for missions...
Intentionally Plan to be Missional
Have you ever been a part of a congregation where missional ministry (either foreign or domestic) was done haphazardly with budget left-overs on a case by case basis? I have seen congregations pass over tremendous opportunities for their people and for missionaries simply because missions was something of an afterthought. In these places, it always seemed (at least to me) that there was more month at the end of the money, missionaries doing cool things didn’t receive the support they needed and the members of these congregations couldn’t participate in the amazing opportunities God was working around the world. In other words, congregations like this lacked passion. In our own experience, it has always been easier to give more when we were passionate about something and having evangelism, church planting, and missions front and center in the life of a congregation produces passion as people get to participate with God in the world.
I believe that the most important thing a congregation can do is intentionally plan to be missional. Evangelism is something mandated by Jesus but is sometimes over looked in the life of the church. Usually this falls on the shoulders of the preacher who is tasked as the evangelism “professional.” Isn’t that what he was hired for? *sigh* In reality, evangelism ought to be in the DNA of every Christian and corporate body as an extension of who we are. There are several ways that a congregation can be intentionally missional:
- Speak of missions and Jesus’ great commission often
- Provide a monthly budget allotment for local, national, international missions
- Set aside 10% of the budget for church planting/mission efforts
- Designate one month as a “missions month”
- Schedule a mega missions-giving Sunday, once a year
- Consider other ways of being missional — church planting, social work, community events, etc.
- Encourage young people to be missional in their daily lives
- Encourage older people to be missional in their daily lives
- Invite missionaries to give reports from their ministries
- Form partnerships with world-wide missional organizations (such as KontaktMission, Acts 29, Continent of Great Cities, etc.)
The bottom line is, missions should be intentional in the life of the congregation; people need a passion and excitement for the spreading of the gospel as a part of the life of the body. If missional living is a part of the congregation’s DNA, people will give sacrificially and excitedly as they see their money being used to change people’s lives. However, how can people give if they don’t have any money? Next, how debt sabotages God’s plan for missions...
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