The topic of giving can often be a difficult one for many pastors and churches. You don’t want to come off as pushy or demanding or fall into the category that many people place on the Church. “They only want my money.”
When in reality, the goal of the Church isn’t to take people’s money. So how can that be conveyed but still encourage believers to be generous?
One tool that is often overlooked is the use of your church website to improve giving. You don’t have to only talk about generosity from the pulpit; your website can help share the story and make it easy and convenient for people to participate in giving.
1. Share the biblical principles behind giving and tithing.
Sometimes, people just don’t understand that being generous is actually being more like Christ. He gave so that we could have eternal life. God is our provider. So, everything we have is from Him. Expressing God’s heart behind giving and even sharing some Scriptures can help make a difference for somebody who is apprehensive about tithing.
You can use a giving page on your website to share the reason why we give. When people learn that giving is an act of worship in response to who God is, they may begin to realize that it’s less about the church it’s being given to and more about the heart behind the action.
2. Explain how their gift makes a difference.
One of the main setbacks preventing people from consistently tithing is they feel like the church is going to misuse their funds. When pastors and leaders are upfront about where the gifts are being used, attendees may feel led to contribute to those campaigns.
Include these various campaigns on your giving page so people can get a glimpse of how their donation contributes to something life changing. Is there an international mission trip coming up? Will the funds help feed the homeless? Or maybe they’re going to start a new outreach ministry within the community. When people know that their gift will make a difference, they’re more likely contribute and giving will increase.
3. Make giving convenient.
One way an increase in consistent tithes occurs is when the ability to give is easy and convenient. Most people no longer carry cash or checks with them to put in the offering plate. By providing multiple avenues to give, such as online and text giving, more will be willing to contribute consistently since it’s readily available at their fingertips, anywhere, anytime. They don’t have to only give on Sunday anymore; they can give any day of the week.
4. Allow for recurring giving.
Along with the convenience of giving online, set up recurring giving for your congregation so they can give automatically without having to remember to bring their tithe on Sundays. They can set up a recurring payment as frequent as they want, such as after they receive each paycheck or once a month. And since it’s recurring, it makes it even easier because each person doesn’t have to reset the parameters each time they give. They can even donate to multiple funds at different intervals.
5. Share Giving Testimonies.
Along with sharing they why behind giving, you can use your website to share giving testimonies. Use a blog post or video to explain all the great things God is doing through the church because of the financial contributions. Or capture an interview with a first-time giver and how their life has changed because they chose to trust God with their finances. Sometimes people are encouraged by real-life stories, and then they’re more willing to participate as well.
Give your donors the best solution for them.
With technology and the internet, giving doesn’t have to only happen on Sundays anymore. You can use your church website to increase giving and make an even bigger impact in your church and community. With Clover Give, you’ll have access to everything you need for online giving, to get your church involved, and keep it organized.
