Finances represent one of the biggest struggles people in your congregation are dealing with… People don’t have enough money. People don’t know what to do with the money they do have. We all can relate, right? We all  want to manage our money wisely and be good stewards of what we’ve been given. But how? That’s just one of the millions questions people have when it comes to money.

As a church leader, one of the trickiest things to navigate is the conversation about giving at your church. Why? Well, for starters, it’s awkward… Too many churches have a reputation of constantly asking for money. And although we all know that isn’t true of every church, we also feel that tension every single time we stand up in front of our congregation and ask them to support our ministry by giving.

Question: who actually calls people on the phone anymore? Answer: Nobody! I mean, think about it! When was the last time you actually chose to make a call instead of sending a text? If you’re anything like me, your face looks a little like this when your phone actually rings:

Summer is here, you guys! But if you’re a church leader, you know that summertime isn’t all sunglasses and swimming pools! In fact, you know that summer actually presents one of the biggest challenges for your church every year… The challenge of giving.

Let me set the scene for you… It’s Sunday morning. It’s that part of your church service where you take up the offering. It’s that moment when someone stands in front of your congregation and hopefully inspires them to open their hearts and give to your church. And let’s say the person with that role today is you. You’re ready and prepared. You know exactly what you’re going to say. You’re prepared to connect generosity to both the vision of your church and the impact it’ll make on human beings. And then…. YOUR EYES LAND ON A COUPLE OF VISITORS SITTING RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU ON THE FIRST ROW. Suddenly, you’re nervous. And just like that, what you hoped would be a powerful moment in your service now feels awkward.

Pop quiz time! When you see this symbol, what do you think of? What about this one? Or this one? Chances are that you know all three of those images pretty well. Why? Because brands like Nike, Chick-Fil-A, and Target have worked hard to make themselves known by their branding. And because of that, when you see their logos, you know exactly who they are. As a result, you’re more likely to trust them with your business. Have you ever thought that the same might be true when it comes to online giving at your church?

Fact… Your church needs the financial support of your people to keep going and growing. We all know that’s true, right? Great! Another fact… Digital giving is the best way to reach your people. We’ve said it before: the trend in giving is going digital. More and more people are giving their money online. As a result, churches are looking for a way to help their people do just that in an easy, simple way.

  These days, the world has gone digital, and so in turn should the way you communicate to your congregation. Gone are the days when a postcard or even a phone call was the best way to connect with your people. Today, email is the way to go. While so many churches have and use an updated email list to inform and connect with their people, many don’t realize that it also provides an opportunity to make an ask. Your email list actually represents one of the best opportunities your church has to take up an offering.

Guys, its me, Luke… and I’ve got a question for you:

Money. It’s the one part of ministry that most of us don’t want to deal with, think about, or mention. It’s tricky, it’s awkward, it’s painful… but it’s also necessary. No matter how much we may want to ignore it, the truth is this: Funds are vital to the operation of your ministry.