I received an email from a client that he sent to his Finance Team after one of their meetings. His response was so good that I asked him if I could share it with you. He agreed but asked that I take his name out and the name of his church. He did say, “but I wouldn’t mind if you said I was a United Methodist, because we get no respect!” I can honestly say from working with many UMC pastors and churches that God is alive and working in that movement. So read how a UMC pastor addresses the concerns his Finance Team has about the economy and their operating budget and capital campaign.

“Mark
Some of our finance guys are getting worried. One even suggested tonight that we delay the campaign for 6 months. This is my inspiration to them this evening. Just keeping you in the loop.
Pastor

Dear Finance Team,

I’m in full support of this budget. It is a careful expense budget based on fair or relatively conservative estimates by our people. However, we all realize these are very uncertain times, and we need to watch developments very closely in the days ahead. We will do that.

I will meet with the Pastors Team next week to begin to outline a “Plan B” to recommend to the Finance Team about what to do if we see serious changes to our current estimates on revenue. We will put together a plan for priorities for further reductions if they become necessary. We will present that plan to the Finance Team the next time we meet and we’ll watch closely now to see what develops.

My commitment is as follows:
1. I will stay positive and hopeful. God’s people always rally in tough times. Remember: the church has always grown most dramatically under persecution and challenge. I believe we will rally to do our best.
2. We must stay within the bounds of a balanced budget. We cannot afford to begin to see expenses rise above revenue, and will need to make adjustments to keep it that way.
3. We cannot afford to see any erosion in the “close the gap” goal, even if it means sacrificing other things. The loss of the gap goal could seriously affect the two-site vision in future years.
4. I will give sacrificially myself to do my part. That includes family tithing and praying for others to learn the joy of God’s economy in our lives, our families, and in our church.

Let’s get this done together. We are perched at an outstanding moment for our church on two campuses. There were 85 youth at Wednesday Night Live two weeks ago. Aaron says half are unchurched. There are 34 new adults in the new member class for March. First time visitors are now reaching 10-12 families on routine weekends. We have much to celebrate and we must keep our focus on Connect 150, Grow 350, Share 700. This is what we’re here for. The funding is a significant detail, but it pales in comparison to people getting God in their lives. Let’s keep going with great energy, inspiration, and joy. Our people will take their cues from our leaders. You are leaders; so, let’s give them giving cues that will inspire them!

I’m praying for you, the Finance leaders at Our Church.”

Wow! What a great response! Notice how he did not dodge the issue but he also did not cave into fear. He reminded them of all the good things that are being accomplished. He stated his own willingness to sacrifice to see the ministry continue. I love how he ended by saying, “You are leaders; so, let’s give them giving cues that will inspire them!”

Hey, all you Baptists and Charismatics that read this blog take a cue from this Methodist pastor! This is true leadership and its what is so badly needed right now.

Rise up oh men of God!

Mark Brooks
Founder and President
The Charis Group

Consumer confidence is at an all time low. How could it be otherwise after the month of gloom and doom we have been daily bombarded with? Wise Christian leaders know that they better deal with sagging consumer confidence before it hits their offering plates.

If you think consumer confidence is not important track your offerings for the last eight weeks of this new year. I received an email last night from a pastor of one of the country’s largest churches who told me, “We entered the year after our 1st quarter of our fiscal year, above budget. In the last of January, giving really shut down, even though crowds are great and larger on both campuses than a year ago.” Last week another pastor told me exactly the same thing. Why has giving suddenly plummeted at these growing churches? I think in part it is due to the uncertainty Washington and the press have been spewing out.

My friend in the large church asked me in his email, “Any good motivational things you are telling churches to do right now?” Well I am glad you asked! Here is my advice.

Don’t dodge the issue but help your members put it into perspective. Yesterday I wrote about Sam Shaw’s thoughts on the recession. He told me he was amazed that as he searched for sermons on the recession he found that no one was preaching on this. I always counsel pastors that when there is a two ton elephant in the room you go down when you do not talk about it. Help your members see this recession in perspective.

Be realistic but also optimistic. We can not sugar coat what is happening. However we can provide a voice of hope. Amazingly it took Bill Clinton to give that advice to our new president. People don’t want you to tell them not to worry but they do need to know that there is hope. I keep reminding people that this is our eleventh recession since WWII and we have not yet seen the kind of numbers we saw in the 1980’s. We are not as bad off as the press makes it out to be. We will recover.

Develop a plan of action. Churches with a good stewardship plan will weather this storm better than those without one. Part of your plan should be to carefully analyze your budget and spending. Where can you save? Showing donors you are serious about saving builds confidence that leads to further contributions from them.

Are you teaching stewardship? Now is the greatest time to be teaching God’s way of living that will recession proof their lives. I have been preaching a sermon entitled, “Recession Proof Your Life.” What have you been teaching and sharing with your people on this subject? If you have not addressed this they may think you have your head in the sand!

Keep doing great things for God! Remember what I always say, “Good vision trumps bad economy.” Continue to do what God has led you to do. Tell your story of how God is blessing. Nothing generates donations like success. Too many pastors never tell the wonderful things that are being accomplished at their church. People go where God is at work and their dollars follow.

Make the ask! While you do not want to look desperate you do need to be honest and up front about your budget needs. Knowing how to make the ask is a skill. Too many pastors either don’t make the ask or when they do it comes off as begging. When you have a vision worth supporting it is easy to make the ask. Remember Jesus said, “You have not because you ask not.” The same is true of donations.

Those are some of the things that I would counsel today’s pastor to think about. I remain optimistic that the church will weather this storm. I reject the pessimism that a banker expressed to me this week when he said, “Giving to churches is off 20%!” The basis for this statement came from the Business Administrator of his church who calls ten other churches every Monday. Their giving is off 20% so this banker extrapolates from that that everyone is off by 20%. That is simply not true. We are in the process of doing financial reviews on all our clients. To date none have seen a decline in giving last year.

Yesterday I received two other emails from pastors that painted a picture of growth. One pastor said, “Things are going great. Offerings are holding up if not growing, Church is growing, people are being saved. We are looking at starting a third service.” Another pastor in a different part of the country wrote me to say, “FYI: our people contributed more ministry dollars than ever before, and in the month of January 09 our contributions were $10,000 higher than in 2008. Recession or no recession, God’s economy works.”

So, pastor, while the present might seem gloomy, keep up the good work. I truly believe God will see us through this time. He is after all still on His throne!

Mark Brooks
Founder and President
The Charis Group

Last week I had lunch with Sam Shaw the pastor of Hope Church in Tupelo, MS. Sam is not only a client but a great friend. As we were talking about the current economic situation he surprised me by asking how I thought Romans 8:28 fit into the current recession. Ok, first I had to quickly do the old Bible Quiz thing and remember what verse that was. I am sure you remember but just to remind us it says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Sam told me that he had recently thought of at least five key things that recessions are good for in light of Romans 8:28. I grabbed my journal and began writing promising that I would give credit to where credit is due. So here are Sam’s thoughts.

What are recessions good for?

Recessions expose what we really love. Tragically too many Christians have fallen in love with the things of the world and worry more about losing their stuff than pursuing God. This recession has shown how greedy and sinful our world is.

Recessions give us a chance to glorify God. We get a chance to prove God’s promises. Nothing shows the world the power and provision of God like our needs being met when times are tough. At the end of the day don’t we want people marveling at what God has done instead of thinking how smart we are?

Recessions allow the church to be what God called us to be. We are called to be people of faith. The tragedy I see now is too many Christian leaders are walking not by faith but by sight. Recessions force us to trust God, a position we are to be in in all times.

Recessions make us sensitive to the rest of the world that continually lives in recession. Sam and his church supports missions around the world and he sees true economic challenges. When we still are lining up for a latte or a movie can we really claim to be suffering? We are getting a glimpse of how the rest of the world lives day in and day out.

Recessions wean us from materialism. What really gives you joy? It is in times like this that what really matters in life comes into focus. The world’s riches fades away but faith hope and love abide. Where are you laying up your treasure? We have learned that our 401K’s are sinking sand but we should be reminded that our treasure in heaven is safe.

What good can you think of coming from recessions? Thanks Sam for bringing some much needed clarity to the times we live in. I do think this is the beginnings of a sermon. Sam blogs too so maybe that message will land on his site and the rest of us can borrow it.

Mark Brooks
Founder and President
The Charis Group

PS. Sam’s blog address is http://samshaw.wordpress.com

The 1976 movie “Network” is famous for the lead character getting fed up and opening his window to scream out, “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it any more!” I never saw the movie but the modern day version of this was stated by CNBC’s Rick Santelli last week when he ranted about the proposed mortgage bailout plan. If you have not seen it you have not been watching the news. It is all over YouTube. Santelli expressed the frustration of millions of Americans who will have to bail out the 8% that are behind on their mortgages.

Santelli’s rant reminded me of the scene in the movie “Network” and frankly there is no other way to put it but that I am mad as hell! Here is who I am mad at.

I’m mad as hell at…

All Washington politicians! All of them. I am ready to vote for non of the above. Both parties have failed the American people yet the only thing they are good at is blaming the other party. Let me list party by party what I am angry about.

Democrats. Fear mongers. In a classic political ploy of talking up a problem to thus insert your solution so that you can get credit for fixing it and thus expand your power the Democrats have hurried this stimulus through. Guys like Barney Frank that just a couple of years ago was telling people to back off of Fannie Mae thus making the situation worse are now parading as the ones to save us from the excesses of the past. If I hear Barack Obama say crisis one more time I will scream. It took Bill Clinton to tell our new president that he needs to be more hopeful and positive. Maybe he will listen to him.

Republicans. Here is a thought, have one! Republicans are coming off as simply opposed to Obama. I know they say they have a plan but no one is listening as they come off as simply being negative and poor losers. Frankly their plan isn’t really all that creative. If someone doesn’t step up quickly we are in for eight years of Democrats being in control. Here is a thought, go read Dave Ramsey’s plan for how to get out of this mess. His is infinitely better than any thing else Washington is shoving down our throats.

The press. Blood leads and the press loves a bad story. We are in a recession but the press loves to paint it as The Great Depression 2.0. The facts are that this recession, our 11th since WWII, is nowhere near the lows of the one in 1980. However the press never bothers with facts or history. Let’s just paint this story as bad as it can get. Starting with the election last fall and continuing through their coverage of this bail out the press has lost objectivity and respect. And they wonder why newspaper sales are off and why the three major networks are losing viewers.

The American people. At the end of the day its our fault. First, for our greed of wanting a bigger house, a better car, the latest X Box game, a latte in the morning, lunch at the club and dinner on the green. We have spent money like it was water and now many who could not afford it are in trouble. It is our fault we elected the bunch in Washington, Democrats and Republicans. We did not hold them accountable. We do not investigate what they stand for or say. Then we do nothing to stop the madness as we seem to be in too big of a hurry to get to our entertainment of the day. When the American people get enough of this it will stop.

Pastors. Ouch! These guys are my clients. However, someone needs to stand up and tell weak whimpy pastors that we are to be people of faith and leaders are to lead. I am tired of hearing day after day reports of pastors that say, “with the economy the way it is we are not moving forward.” While I want you to consider the economy it is not the reason for doing what you do. What happened to finding the will of God? Lead, follow or get out of the way!

Who knows but that Rick Santelli might be the guy that rang the bell waking up the common man. Maybe the madness will come to an end. I wish it would have been a Christian leader that rang that bell. We desperately need leadership. Will you be that leader for those that are in your sphere of influence? I pray that you will. Otherwise you too will have followers that continue to be mad as hell.

Mark Brooks
Founder and President
The Charis Group

Amidst all this bad news of the economy in my house at least there is good news. Our son in law, Captain Nick Cherry, is on his way home to Hawaii after spending 14 months in Iraq. In just a few hours he will be reunited with my daughter Amy and their two year old son, Jackson. This ends a 28 month period where we first saw our son Jon stationed in Baghdad followed by Nick’s 14 months. For the Brooks and Cherry households this weekend is one of rejoicing.

I am continually amazed by the resilience of this generation of Americans. It bears remembering that this is an all volunteer service. Too often we do not focus on the sacrifice of our men and women in uniform. Day in and day out they suffer through not only separation from loved ones but incredible dangers in often brutal conditions. They deserve our praise and gratitude.

They give campaign medals and ribbons to all our troops who serve in this war on terror. I truly think that wives should get a medal. To me they are unsung hero’s. While their loved one is away they have to keep households in tack, manage the finances, make major decisions alone and raise children essentially as a single parent. While family members and friends do what they can these amazing women carry an incredible burden that is being over looked if not ignored.

So, here is my idea. Why not create a medal of appreciation for spouses of those that have been deployed? If that seems too hard how about a day in their honor? What about if we gave them some bail out money to cover expenses? That is an extra tax I would gladly give to.

Mr. President, can we not come up with some tribute for these unsung hero’s who are making a valuable contribution to this war on terror?

Here is what I can do, I can say thank you to every wife, mother, father and child of a service member deployed. You are my hero’s. I don’t know any others but the ones in my family, so as for me my daughter Amy is today my hero. Thanks Amy you have made me proud!

Mark Brooks
Founder and President
The Charis Group

PS. Please pass this note along. Perhaps we can indeed get something started that will result in recognition of military spouses. Who knows it might even end up on President Obama’s Blackberry!

Yesterday I was speaking in Phoenix at the Church Solutions conference on the economy. My title garnered some attention. The title of my presentation was, “Its not The Great Depression but it is depressing.” The major premise of what I had to say was that we need a proper perspective during this recession and it is not one of fear. I then talked about how you need a plan of action to navigate through this time. I had a pretty good audience and during the question and answer time there was a lively discussion.

Towards the end of that time a pastor asked this question. He said, “We had a capital stewardship campaign a couple of years ago and pledged $5 million. Yet all my major donors, including one who pledged one million dollars are hesitant to move forward with our project. What should I tell them?” Frankly I think I fumbled around with an answer that was what he was looking for. It was not until later that night that I thought of what my answer should have been. Does that happen to you? Later after a sermon or a lesson you think of things you wished you would have said. Well since I can’t track that guy down here is what I should have told him to tell his donors.

You have to realize that donors are looking for two things to be answered when you talk to them.

First, does this make sense? In other words does what you are proposing fulfill the vision God has given us? Is it really a need? Do we really need it now or could we still grow and be affective as a ministry doing something else? Have we expended all other alternatives? In other words you have to convince them that this is indeed a compelling vision that MUST be accomplished sooner rather than later. Need is one of the great trump cards in project development. One of the other trump cards is vision. Show them that your project does indeed make sense.

Secondly, they want to know if you can pull it off. Especially now with the uncertainty with the economy donors want to know how you propose the do this. Show them that you have a plan of action that will work even during this recession and you have a better chance of getting them on board. High end donors especially will look critically at your plan much as they look at business plans. They are used to many other charities approaching them and they evaluate each according to the vision they present and their ability to accomplish what they are planning. Sadly many churches have poor track records when it comes to project development. Donors want to know that their gift will accomplish what it is intended for. Even during recessions churches can and do build projects. We have done it in the past why can we not do it now?

That is what I wish I would have shared. What I did tell him in part was that at the end of the day you have to determine what God is leading you to do. While it might sound mystical I truly believe that we as leaders are to lead our people to walk not by sight but by faith. My frustration during this time is in the fact that too many leaders are scared by the news they read rather than encouraged by The Good News they preach.

I am not advocating turning a blind eye to this economy. I am saying that we need to listen to the leadership of the Holy Spirit not the rhetoric of Washington. Sadly we talk to church after church that is frozen in indecision due to this economy. Some wonder what the long term affects of this recession will be. I wonder what the long term affect of indecisive leaders will be.

Lead and your flock will follow!

Mark Brooks
Founder and President
The Charis Group

Yesterday at church a friend leaned over with a look of concern on her face and asked, “How is your business?” What brought her to ask me this question was that we had been talking about how she did not like her new job but was thankful to have a job. She had remarked that just last week three friends of hers had been laid off. As she looked at me I know what must have gone through her mind, so she asked her question about how my business was doing.

I have fielded this question from friends and colleagues for the past few months. I genuinely appreciate their concern but find it somewhat amusing that it comes from an assumption not based upon fact. They assume that since the economy is in recession and that giving to churches must be way off. They assume that no church in their right mind would think about building anything and thus would not need the services of a stewardship consultant. So, when you assume those kinds of things its natural to ask, “How is your business?”

Assumptions are often difficult to combat and left unchecked they can cause incorrect actions. So let me tell you why our business while slightly off, 3.4% decline in revenue from 07, is still doing well.

First, while it is indeed a recession church growth has not stalled and churches are indeed building. With interest rates as low as they are and builders hungry to keep their workers employed now is a great time to build if you need new facilities. Smart churches realize that this current time of angst gives them a great opportunity to proclaim hope. Providing hope and answers will cause your attendance to climb. Where will you put all those people? Smart churches are planning now for the future not waiting for things to get better.

Secondly, not all churches are seeing a decline in giving. We have several clients that saw their giving increase in 2008. Most of those also saw a steady giving pattern to their capital campaigns. Our consistent message has been that compelling vision linked with a good stewardship plan leads to healthy sustained giving.

I would like to think that part of that reason is that they have engaged us to help them raise funds. One pastor said to me last year that one simple idea I gave him increased his offerings $35K in one Sunday. As we continue to prove our worth and fee we continue to attract clients.

Let me turn this question around on you, “How is your business?” Specifically since I am the stewardship guy I mean how are your offerings and donations going? Don’t make the mistake that many are making that since a few are suffering you too will have to suffer through this time. Have a plan of action.

Oh, and since I do like to put bread on the table, if you don’t have a plan give us a call and we can help. I guarantee that you will get a return on your investment.

Mark Brooks
Founder and President
The Charis Group

PS. I will be speaking tomorrow at Church Solutions conference in Phoenix on the topic, “Its not The Great Depression but it is Depressing.” I will let you know how you can get a copy.

Are you making promises that might endanger the spare change in your pocket?

George Bush Sr. made a campaign promise saying, “Read my lips. No new taxes!” He then after being elected president raised taxes. The voting public never forgot that broken promise and never forgave him for it. He served only one term. During one of the debates as he was running for his second term a moderator asked his opponent Bill Clinton if raising taxes was a mistake. Clinton responded by saying, “The mistake was in making the promise in the first place.” I was reminded of that story as I have been reading the headlines of how many are already dissatisfied with President Obama. Barely one month into his presidency and public opinion is starting to grow wary. Part of the fault is in the unrealistic expectations Americans have of this human being and part of the fault is his for making 510 campaign promises. That amount is more than Bill Clinton and the last President Bush made combined!

Politicians make all kinds of promises in the election process and seem to forget what they promised once they get to Washington. Then they wonder why public opinion goes against them. They forget that people have memories like elephants when it serves their purpose.

All leaders are given the benefit of doubt at the beginning of their tenure. Constituents want the leader to succeed. As such we begin with a small about of change in our pockets. Each decision that helps our constituents puts more change in our pocket. Fulfilling what we promised puts lots of change in our pockets. Being persons of integrity puts still more in our pockets. Those decisions that are more unpopular or difficult take change out of our pocket. As a leader you always want to have change in your pocket. This is especially true as you approach new ventures like a change of worship style or time or a new building program. Sadly many leaders expend the change needlessly so that when they need to pull some out of their pocket it is empty. Having an empty pocket could cost you that new ministry venture or even your job.

How can we avoid emptying out our pockets of the spare change we so desperately need?

Be decisive but not rash. A great part of my hesitation about the current stimulus bill is the haste in which it was thrown together. We do need action but we need the right kinds of action. While your followers are looking for leadership they want to know that they can trust you to make good and wise decisions. It is too easy to want to do something and thus do the wrong thing. As one friend of mine once said, “You need one foot on the accelerator and one foot on the brake!” The times we live in call for action. Make sure the actions you take are not knee jerk reactions that will only cause matters to get worse. Doing nothing is not an option but neither is doing something simply for the sake of doing something.

Be careful what you promise. Remember people have memories like elephants when it serves their purpose. That includes church members. Promises that you make will be remembered by your constituents. Each promise that you break robs you of spare change from your pocket. Over time they trust you less and less. I find that ministers are especially prone to make promises that are hard to keep. Our natural inclination is to have people like us. So, tragically we often over promise on things that become impossible to deliver on. When you ask people to read your lips and promise one thing only to do another you lose change. What is at stake is your integrity. Integrity once lost is almost impossible to regain.

Never use the word never. I am working with a church that had an elder board that many years ago said they would never take out a loan for anything. Consequently as they were nearing the completion of their new sanctuary many years after this statement the new board of elders took out a line of credit to finish the project. The result was a group in the church accused them of breaking their word even though they were not the elder board that made the commitment. While the new sanctuary is open and being enjoyed by everyone, even those that are angry about the short term loan, the church now has discord.

Remember never is a long time. Be careful what you say and what you promise. You never know what the future holds.

Decisions made in the past have long term affects. As the illustration above demonstrates you might live for years with the results of a bad decision. In my nearly eleven years in this industry I can tell you from experience that what often dooms a capital campaign are problems from past decisions that were never resolved. Like a rock thrown into a pond your decisions have a ripple effect.

Honesty truly is the best policy. We learned that saying as children why do we so quickly abandon it? I am a believer in full disclosure. You never have to back up from the truth. There is no other way to put change in your pocket with the people you lead than by simply telling the truth. While some things do have to be kept in confidence when it comes to matters like church finances I have found that full disclosure puts more change in leaders pockets than any thing else. Too bad our politicians in Washington can not get this truth down.

Almost daily we are reading about the hypocrisy of politicians in Washington. With every breaking story the public gets a little more cynical. Sadly we in the Christian world have our dirty laundry as well. Yet I find that on the local level people truly want to believe in their church and their leaders. With a little effort you can help build and restore confidence to this generation of believers. All it takes is keeping a little spare change in your pocket. Be a person of integrity and you will find that people will follow your lead.

Mark Brooks
Founder and President of The Charis Group

Consumer confidence is in the tank. How could it be otherwise given all the rhetoric we are hearing out of Washington. You will always have the doomsday prophets telling you that the sky is about to fall in. I am here to tell you that it isn’t.

While we are experiencing a recession that will last longer than any other since WWII we are not on the brink of disaster. When the history of this recession is written some twenty five to fifty years from now they will say that it looked a lot like the recession of the early ’80’s. We are too close to the crisis today for that perspective.

So what should you be doing to counter the voices of doom? Here are some thoughts…

Establish a proper perspective. We have been in recessions before and came out of them. We will weather this storm. Research the past recessions and you will find out we are yet at the levels we were at in the ’80’s. Churches built and grew during that time and you can grow during this time. Rather than seeing this as a negative see it as an opportunity to preach hope to people looking for good news. We possess the only real hope for the world, Jesus. So, buck up. Stop worrying about your 401K and start trusting yourself in the One who can guide us through this mess. It all begins with you. Your perspective will affect your attitude.

Develop a plan. I have said this time and again until I am blue in the face but its true. Churches and ministries with a plan will weather this storm. Those without a plan will find themselves faced with some very tough decisions. What is your plan? If you don’t have one get one, fast.

Do something for the Kingdom. I remember once calling my pastor and complaining about the situation in the church that I was pastoring. Rather than tell me how sorry he was for me he told me to go out and lead someone to Jesus. He said winning people to Christ was the best way to make my problems go away. It sounds simplistic but its true. You can sit around and whine about the way things are or you can work to do something about it. What are you doing?

At the end of the day God will still be on his throne no matter what Washington does or doesn’t do. One thing I do understand about the book of Revelation is that our side wins. I like that. In times of trouble we need to take confidence in the fact that we serve a God who will sustain us through every crisis, even a recession.

Mark Brooks
Founder and President
The Charis Group

I am finding it somewhat amusing watching Washington posture about this stimulus plan. Already campaign promises are going out the window. There is a lesson here for all of us as leaders. Be careful what you promise. People have memories like elephants when it serves their purpose! They will remember the promises you make and those promises can come back to haunt you.

Here is a thought… Never have the word never in any statement you make to your ministry. I am working with a church that had an elder board that many years ago said they would never take out a loan for anything. Consequently as they were nearing the completion of their new sanctuary many years after this statement the new board of elders took out a line of credit to finish the project. The result was a group in the church accused them of breaking their word even though they were not the elder board that made the commitment. While the new sanctuary is open and being enjoyed by everyone even those that are angry about the short term loan, the church now has discord.

Remember never is a long time. Be careful what you say and what you promise. You never know what the future holds.

Just a thought…

Mark Brooks
Founder and President
The Charis Group