Many of you have dreams of ministries your church could be doing. But…it’s not in the budget. Fair enough. Not every dream and aspiration is meant to see the light of day.
 
However, what about the idea that you have fleshed out – the one that has real possibilities? Your dream is big….
 
What to do?
 
Make your case to the most generous members of your congregation.

Over the next two decades, an eye-popping $124 trillion will transfer from Baby Boomers to younger generations.

Here’s another jaw dropping stat:

Only 6-9% of all bequest dollars go to charitable organizations.
 
Do you know why? No one bothered to ask for that legacy gift.

The new family who has been attending your church for the past month or two has written their first check to your church or has given for the first time online.
 
How are you going to respond?
 
For most congregations, it’s with...silence. 

Younger generations are primed to give to congregations and organizations they feel are authentic, have purpose, and are a place where they belong.

If you reframe how you view stewardship, generosity, and money, your ability to talk about those three things will become one of joy, not burden. It will be fun. Trust me, I’ve seen it with my own eyes.

Researching potential grants for your projects can be time-consuming, but it’s time well spent. Take half a day and dedicate yourself to finding the right foundation.

Friends, generosity is an act of love. It should never come down to twisting someone’s arm, shaking them down, or asking them to give until it hurts. Giving should be a joy-filled opportunity to change the world.

Reading and discussing this book with a small group at church, or even your Generosity/Stewardship Team, might have you thinking about generosity in a new way.

Since the art of handwriting a letter of any sort seems to be dying – thanks to texts, emails, and “oops, I forgot” – maybe it’s time to remind you of the impact of a short but heartfelt note:

‍ ‍It can mean the world.

For some people, the only way they want to make a difference is to financially support an organization. It can bring immense joy and meaning into their lives.
 
Do what you can and be as clear as you can about who you are, what your mission is, and stories of change that make our world a better place.