A Special Time
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When I am asked “what generates generous giving” I’m always a little uncomfortable giving a theological explanation since I’m a layman with no training other than my personal experience and the opinions of pastors I have worked with over the years. Their opinions often were that the Holy Spirit comes into one’s life and creates a feeling of compassion and generosity toward giving to others. This past year that question has come up more than it ever has before, as many pastors and lay leaders have come to conclusion that what’s missing in their congregation and in their stewardship plans is a commitment --- a firm connection between giving to the congregation and our connection to God!
At first glance, my reaction is there a lack of understanding with most people about what the term giving to “others” really means. Does it mean truly helping people in and outside of the community or about giving to the congregation? Many times, our leadership is guilty of not communicating clearly what our offerings accomplish as we forget to tell the congregation how these gifts are going to help others. If we don’t give those explanations, many will say to themselves, “they want funds to pay for salaries, a mortgage payment, insurance and the lights and I will help them some, but I have those obligations too”! There is an absence of what they consider something deserving of generosity.
That having been said, I feel sure that the greatest motivation for generous giving comes from the pulpit as a pastor teaches the congregation through Jesus’ words and stories, what giving is all about. But like any Ad executive will tell you, you have to be specific if you want people to “catch the message” and you will have to tell them at least six or seven different times for it to “sink in”! Now, most pastors will say, “I just can’t keep talking about giving, then they will tell me “all we talk about is money”!
However, in every congregation there is a time when the offering is collected and what would be wrong with instead of the pastor saying, “and now we will take the offering” and instead of treating it like just another item in the service format, saying “At this time in our service we will show our thanks to God for all our blessings, many of your gifts will go to help people in need here in our community, across the United States and around the world” And say a short prayer, “Lord, please accept these gifts from each of us as our thanks to you for all you have provided, Amen” You may even want to be more specific and name some groups that the congregation is going to help that week, but all in all, you get the idea. If you treat receiving the offering as a wonderful expression of generosity and a part of the churches mission to “love our neighbors”, over time it will make an impression.
As I said, I’m a layman and my connection with stewardship is because I have always felt a personal calling to explore the motivating factors in personal giving. What inspires me to generosity is saying to myself before I make a gift “God has blessed me and my family and perhaps this gift will bless someone else as well.” My question is, “are we giving a place of importance to the gifts people give and are we telling them how they are going to make a difference?”
People in our congregations like to know what’s going on, but are afraid to ask. To make receiving their gifts a special time of the service inspires them to become generous and as the Ad Exec said, it takes repetition. And besides, it’s just good stewardship!