We must be intentional in funding our mission and capital needs. Why even have a mission if it’s not worth successfully funding? Why would we invest our lives in something that is meaningless, irrelevant, or inconsequential? Who would ever settle for mediocrity? Jesus gave us our mission; therefore, there is no question as to the worthiness of that mission.
Beyond our God-inspired mandate, there are three primary reasons to be intentional about providing financial resources for your mission:
There might be no greater transformational tool in our discipleship toolbox. As people grow in giving, the death grip of greed releases. False idols that so incessantly tear at our hearts cease to matter. The idea that our lives are utterly dependent on the possessions within our grips diminishes. You want real spiritual development? Engage in a purposeful, pastoral faith, finances and your church conversation. Ignore that conversation and spiritual lethargy reigns.
"If a person gets his attitude toward money straight, it will help straighten out almost every other area in his life." Billy Graham
Generosity is increasingly a persuasive apologetic we have as Christ-followers—we need to demonstrate it to a needy world that is watching our every move. Classic apologetic arguments are true but less effective in the post-modern conversation. How we handle our possessions grabs the attention of those seeking truth, as culture pushes us increasingly toward the almighty self and personal pleasure. Generosity astounds the world. And so it should: giving is God’s nature, which is fully counter-cultural to the world’s self-centeredness. Generosity is the place where the Great Commandment meets the Great Commission.
“The early church was strikingly different from the culture around it in this way - the pagan society was stingy with its money and promiscuous with its body. A pagan gave nobody their money and practically gave everybody their body. And the Christians came along and gave practically nobody their body and they gave practically everybody their money.” Tim Keller
"FUNDING A MISSION ALLOWS US TO INVEST INTO THINGS THAT MATTER"
Possessions and money are neutral things in and of themselves. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying life and God’s blessings. Yet--if we knew we could invest in an eternal mission, wouldn’t we want to contribute instead to what may be the only worthy cause?
"If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world." C.S. Lewis
Wise pastors and church leaders show great savvy moving church giving attention from the business office to the pastoral side of shepherding. The easier course is to evade the harder pastoral responsibility by delegating the conversation about faith and finances to the transactional arenas of the church. The greater spiritual growth and ministry impact come from transformational leadership engaging the heart of your givers.
Making the decision to enter into a church capital campaign is huge and important. As a Pastor, it is essential that your prioritize the hearts of your givers and their spiritual journey over the project at hand. The team at Generis would love to assist your church in timing or planning a capital campaign. Schedule a meeting below to let us know how we can best serve you.