When you emphasize the tangible results of legacy gifts, you increase the likelihood that more people will consider including your congregation in their estate planning.

What do we do with that gift of generosity? Do we live in scarcity – holding on to love, holding on to our resources because “there will never be enough”?
 
Of course not.

Are you afraid of change?
Are you afraid that changing might indicate that you are no longer loyal?
Are you afraid that if you deviate from your strategy, that it might be wrong?

Your newsletter – either electronic or in print – is an excellent way for you to get your message out to your people. It, like your website, can also be a doorway to further engagement with your congregation and visitors.

It’s not an understatement: Having a good website is critical to your ministry. It is your front door.

But can we – modern-day disciples and the Church – be more like those elephants, circling to protect and defend those whose voices and bodies are literally and figuratively being crushed?

Your congregation – in spite of whatever is happening in the economy – is doing great work being the hands and feet of Jesus. This is the time to lean into that.

Frankly (and frankly, I’ll use the word now), we church-folk need to embrace any good excuse to literally get our house in order. Company, visitors, guests, and God’s beloved at Easter are excellent reasons to put our best foot forward.

Money is a spiritual issue. We can control it or we can give God control over it. “God is the owner, I am the ower.” Do we really believe that?  When we say “yes” to Jesus do we really say, “You can have my life Jesus but let me keep my wallet”?

Social proof is a way that community is built. Most of us do care what others think. We want to be part of the pack – in a good way. We want to know that there are other disciples and siblings in the faith with whom we identify.