10/18/2023

There is a misconception around stewardship. I believe so broadly, but, especially financially. Have you ever said to yourself, “if I had more, I would do more?” Or, have you ever been privy to the financial state of another and thought to yourself, “if I had that much money, I would never do such a thing” or “I would do this generous thing?”

9/22/2023

Fall is my favorite season. As the days shorten and temperatures moderate from the height of summer, it has always seemed like a time of reflection as the year comes to a close. Even if you don’t have children or young people returning to school, there is a sense of fall bringing the return to a certain rhythm after the more relaxed time of summer.

9/21/2023

This past summer I served as the keynote speaker for Massanetta Springs Camp and Conference Center’s July Middle School Conference. Located in Harrisonburg, Virginia, Massanetta is a PC(USA) ministry in Shenandoah Presbytery.

9/19/2023

In best practices, which comes first, the church budget or stewardship? Do you build a budget and then give the congregation a goal to reach with their generosity? Or do you see how generous they are, and then build a budget to match those gifts?

8/21/2023

There’s an old saying – if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Well, COVID and the multi-year pandemic “broke” the age-old Presbyterian tradition of passing the collection plate at each service. Too many germs, too many hands touching the same surface, and for a while, many churches canceled in-person services.

8/18/2023

The lectionary texts for the month of September lend themselves to preach a mini-series or individual sermons that reflect on the theme of love: love of God, love of self, and love of others. The title of the series could be “Living Love.” Weaving the theme of love throughout the month could be a good lead up or start of a fall stewardship campaign that focuses on love.

8/16/2023

Answer those questions, tell those stories, and then show people how they can participate in what God is doing in their midst. Give your folks the opportunity to connect their generosity with the work of God in the world and allow the sustainable and fruitful emotion of awe to do its good work.

7/20/2023

Knowing is one thing. Evidencing the knowing through living is a whole other business. My wife and I are in the season of parenting when both of our sons are in college and we are empty-nesting. This means tuition payments for us, the “world is your oyster” type of speak, and the vast horizon of learning that is set before them, and the daily prayer that what we have taught, modeled, and nurtured in their hearts for nearly two decades will bear fruit in such a way that demonstrates them to be responsible young men who are loving, kind, and compassionate.

7/14/2023

As August begins, time has been on my mind a lot lately. With summer ending and another school year beginning, I am reminded of how precious the gift of time is.

6/13/2023

A generosity team ideally should have the voices for all areas of ministry, coming together to create a cohesive stewardship program.

6/12/2023

What if that thing you did, that thing you do, caused the hills around you to burst into song or the trees to clap their hands? Notice what it did not say. It did not say other people. We cannot live to please or to impress other human beings. Our purpose is to please God. When we do that God is pleased.

5/18/2023

We can all activate hope for future generations. Think about endowing your pledge, so the money you give each year to your church continues on after your death.