The saying, what you don’t know can’t hurt you is wrong. What you don’t know most certainly will hurt you. Falling prey to urban legend and church myths can and will keep you from seeing the ultimate best in your ministry. The premise of the book I am currently writing is that incorrect data from myths, half truths and church legends leads leaders and ministries to faulty conclusions. Faulty conclusions lead to inaccurate and ineffective actions. This often results in loss of momentum, loss of time and ultimately loss of funding.

You can not afford to have your vision derailed. You can not afford to let any of these myths and church legends cost you valuable dollars in donations. Armed with the wisdom of this book you can avoid those pitfalls. So what do you do with all this new found wisdom? How can you separate fact from fiction? How can you protect yourself from making a mistake in judgment based upon something that turns out to be false? Here are some steps you can take to prevent this from happening to you and your ministry.

Be a holy skeptic. The Apostle John wrote that believers should test the spirits. While that might be stretching the exact meaning of the text it none the less carries the same principle for our purposes. In the same way you need to test what you hear. Don’t just assume that the facts given to you are the facts. Become a holy skeptic. As the leader of your ministry you need to take it upon yourself to make sure that the data you have is accurate. While it might take more time it could save you not only thousands of dollars but also momentum in your ministry.

As you exercise your role of holy skeptic learn to ask probing questions. Too few people ask probing questions and simply take on the surface what they are told. That kind of naivety can cost you time and money. If someone is not interested in answering your questions that in and of itself should tell you something.

Fact check. With the proliferation of the internet it is now easier than ever to check whether a statement is factual or not. During the 2008 Presidential Election there were various organizations that daily fact checked statements made by both candidates. Voters could if they wanted to find out the truth. Most people don’t take the time to do that. Politicians know that and continue to tell half truths to gain momentum and votes.

Unfortunately in the Christian marketing world you will find many who in an attempt to get your business and your money will make all kinds of claims. Don’t take the salesman’s word for it. Salesmen, even those that were former ministers, always tell you what they think you want to hear. They tell you the best case scenario hoping you won’t ask too many questions. The goal of all salesmen is to get you to sign the contract. Your goal should be to protect your ministry and the dollars your donors have entrusted to your ministry.

Ask others. Ask for references. Ask friends in the ministry what their experience has been with a specific company. If something sounds too good to be true check it out. Asking for references is a good way to get at the real truth.

I would say this is especially true in my industry. I hate to admit it but there are so many wild claims that firm’s make that churches never check up on. Don’t be snookered by slick sales techniques. Always check references. I would go one step further. Ask the reference who else they might recommend that you talk with. Typically companies will only give you good references to talk to. While that is instructive you will want to probe a bit deeper. Ask if they had a friend that used the same company. Ask if you can talk to others at the church such as other staff members or lay leaders. The work you do on the front end can save you a lot of heart ache on the back side of a campaign. When you are getting ready to invest thousands of dollars in bringing on a partner isn’t it worth checking out?

Trust in the Lord. The very first Bible verse that I learned after becoming a Christian was Proverbs 3:5,6. It says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.” While it might sound mystical that is good advice when weighing whether or not some “truth” is accurate or not or applicable to you and your ministry.

That verse has served me well since the day I first memorized it. I believe that it will serve you well in your ministry. My prayer for you is that you and your ministry will not fall prey to the urban legends and church legends that sometimes spread like wild fire. Like a wild fire the path they can leave behind is one of destruction. In the times we live in we can not afford to have our paths burned. May God grant you wisdom and discernment as you seek to serve Him and His Kingdom work.

Mark Brooks
Founder and President
The Charis Group

PS. If you would like to sign up to receive a copy of my new book “Killer Myths: How Myths and Urban Legends Can Kill Your Giving Potential,” simply email me at Mark@TheCharisGroup.org

PSS. My first book, “Recession Proof Your Offerings,” is now available on Kindle!

I am going to self publish my next book. Frankly I am tired of trying to find a publisher and I am tired of vanity press outfits wanting an arm and a leg. I think I offended one such company when I told them they were way too much for far too little. I think I have finally found who I want to work with. The key is that I can choose which options I want for a price that is fair.

That is one of the hall marks of the stewardship company that I founded, The Charis Group. It made sense to me that clients should have the options to choose what they wanted for a price they felt good about. Why get charged for what you don’t need? Frankly most stewardship firms are way over priced and under deliver on what they promise. That has led to some major frustration in the church market place. As a result churches and ministries have tried to go it alone. Typically that results in far less than what the church raised using a stewardship firm.

Just last week I had a layman tell me that he wished his finance committee had listened to the one member that wanted to hire a stewardship firm. In the end they did it themselves. They saved on a stewardship partner and raised one million less than their last campaign! With savings like that you can go broke very fast.

Hopefully you know better than to go it alone. There seems to be little alternative out there with most companies. You can either take all they offer or leave it. With us we offer a variety of options. We even have a free option where we send you a campaign manual!

So, how do you know if you need all a firm offers or only a portion? Here are some thoughts that you might find helpful.

You might benefit from our free manual if you fit the following…

• Churches that have campaign experience and know the basics.
• Pastors that are good at administration and have quality support from leaders.
• Churches that have no outstanding issues that might need resolving.
• Healthy churches with everyone in support of the vision.
• You only need to raise an amount of money at or below one times your annual operating budget.
• Churches that will not engage outside help for whatever reason.

You might benefit from a full engagement with us if …

• You have never personally led a campaign at any church previously.
• It has been years since your church ran a capital campaign.
• There are a variety of outstanding issues and concerns that you fear need addressing.
• The amount of money needed is more than double what your yearly operating budget is.
• You and your staff simply do not have the time to give to a campaign.
• You lost your last campaign manual from the company you partnered with!

You might be interested in an a la carte engagement if …

• Some of the campaign elements you know well enough to do yourself.
• Some of the campaign elements intimidate you or you are unsure about.
• Price is a concern.
• You are entering a second, third or fourth campaign in a row.
• You just like knowing that someone is watching over the process.

If you find yourself in any of the above contact us. I will not turn any offer away. I believe we can mutually arrive at an engagement that is a win/win for us both. I know of no other company in our industry that gives more stuff away or says, “Make me an offer!” I know we can help you. Contact us today.

Mark Brooks
Founder and President
The Charis Group

My Director of Marketing, Tom Holloway, sent me an email this morning from a church leader that he has been trying to talk to about their project and potential campaign. The note from the leader said, “Tom, spring 2010 may be a possibility, but it’s still too early to make that decision. Call me again in December.” Tom’s note to me said, “This is a church running six services with 2000 people in attendance on Sunday and he wants to wait until December even if they are looking at a spring campaign. They are experienced they know what this takes, what is up with these guys?” My response is that even large churches typically do not understand project development.

So, whether you run one service with 200 or six with 2,000 here are some things you need to consider.

Projects take time so start sooner rather than later. While there is no set length of time due to so many variables the one thing you can count on is that it will take longer than you would like. Projects can take anywhere from twelve to twenty four months from start to finish to execute. The most effective capital stewardship campaigns take anywhere from six to eight months.

Smart churches start early. Foolish church put off until late in the game and typically pay for the indecisiveness.

Project development is both sequential and simultaneous. There are at least three tracks you have to run through. There is the project track itself. Selecting architects, builders, getting permits, etc. There is the financing track. You have to find someone willing to loan you the money to build that project. There is the funding track. The good news is you have a loan. The bad news is you have to pay it back. Thus you need a funding plan, which typically involves a capital stewardship campaign. That is our area of expertise.

The problem with many leaders is that they only approach project development like they approach sermons. Point one is followed by point two and so on. While projects do unfold to some degree in sequence these three steps interlock and must be dealt with simultaneously. For instance your bank might not even talk to you about a loan until AFTER you have held a capital stewardship campaign.

All of these is one reason why now is the time to move forward. Let me give you some other reasons why you should move forward now.

Church building costs are running 25% to 30% LOWER now than this time last year! I know of a church that their project cost has gone down by $4 million. So, starting now, while builders are anxiously looking for work, could save you money in the long run.

Major builders are anticipating a 25% increase in pricing by next spring. Just today I talked to a major firm that told me one of their building partners, one of the largest in the country, is projecting costs to rise by next year. Why? First, there will be a shortage of materials as many business and churches finally begin projects they had delayed. The old law of supply and demand will kick in. Second, there will be a shortage of labor as many businesses have folded. On top of these facts many are predicting inflation to begin to rise as the economy slowly pulls out of this recession.

Finally, can I just ask what you are waiting for? I know, things to return to normal. Well guess what? This might be the new normal. While I am bullish on the economy my position is that we as Christian leaders do not do what we do based upon circumstances. What if it doesn’t get better? Will you continue to wait for the good old days?

How long can you delay that project that is so needed? So, what if you might pledge less than last year. Can I tell you that since 9/11 ALL pledging has been less than before the attacks. This recession will technically end soon. Emotionally it will last for another year. Can you afford to delay that long? Remember, it takes usually twelve to eighteen months from start to finish and sometimes more.

Now is the time to move forward!

Call us we would love to talk to you. Oh, and by the way, we don’t charge to talk.

Mark Brooks
Founder and President
The Charis Group

Deal or No Deal: Deciding to Move Forward on Your Next Project
Should you move forward with your project or wait for the economy to get better?

The popular game show Deal or No Deal allows contestants the opportunity to win one million dollars. The concept seems simple enough. First a contestant chooses a briefcase that they hope contains the million dollars. Then they must choose between the remaining briefcases that hopefully have a dollar amount less than one million dollars. At each segment of the game they have to choose so many brief cases to see what dollar amounts are left in play. At the end of that round the banker on the show makes them a deal for cash if they will stop at that point. His deal is supposedly based upon the odds that their briefcase contains the million dollars or at least a high dollar amount. They can walk away with what is offered or hold out hope that the brief case they have chosen contains the million dollars. The host after each bankers offer asks the contestant, “Deal or no deal?” I have not watched it much but every time I have I have yet to see anyone walk away with really a million dollars. Most seem to pass up the good deals and ultimately settle for less than they hoped for.

That game show reminds me of what Christian leaders are faced with when they consider whether or not to move forward with that multi-million dollar project now or to wait for the economy to get better. The difference for us is that this is not a show. For us the question is not, “Deal or no Deal?” The question is, “Go now or wait until later?”

We are risking far more than simply losing out on some dollars. We risk the loss of momentum, time, growth and even our own standing in our ministry. You might feel like some of the contestants that have to make a decision quickly and are as uncertain as they are about what to do. While we can not give you the answer since each ministries setting and situation is different we can give you some factors to ponder.

While considering whether to go now or wait until later consider these factors…

1. The Economy Factor. This is the number one issue in America today. It is what is on everyone’s mind and what everyone is talking about. It is also the number one factor to consider as you contemplate raising funds for your ministry.

As a result of this economy you need to realize…

A. Pledges will be less. While this might not be the news you want to hear it is the truth none the less. There is unease in our nation today about the economy that will show up on the pledge card you put into your donors hands. The factors for this unease range from the war, rising unemployment, the housing crisis, the credit crunch, the roller coaster stock market and fuel costs to name just a few consumer concerns. Pledges are coming in much more conservative now than in years past. A wise leader will set his expectations much lower.

B. Banks will be more cautious. While interest rates are lower than ever as the Feds try to stimulate the economy banks are showing a more cautious approach to lending. A banker friend of mine recently wrote, “We are already seeing it in the fact it is taking the banks longer to make credit decisions as they review each credit much more thorough. There is less emphasis on booking new quantity business and more emphasis on booking quality business. Tighter credit reviews.”

What this means for you is that you must have a solid package presented to your bank and that even then it might take longer to get that financing you need to begin your project. While not impossible to get funding we are counseling our clients to start the process as soon as possible and to seek the help of a professional to help you through this challenging stage

Are you prepared to meet and beat the economy factor? No one knows how long this present down turn will last but the wise Christian leader develops a plan to navigate through this time.

2. The Bird in the Hand Factor. Remember the old saying, “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush? That saying applies to the possibility that if you move forward with your project and campaign you might see less pledged rather than more. However, let’s say you only pledge one times your budget over three years time. That amount is still more than you would have if you had not asked for commitments.

You need to realize that 90% of your donors will not save their money for when you do hold your campaign. They will either spend it on something or give it to someone else. While you wait for the perfect time for your campaign other ministries will be fishing in your pond pulling out your fish. You have to decide if you want to fish our cut bait!

3. The Momentum Factor. You have to ask if delaying your campaign while you wait for the economy to improve will cost you momentum in growth. It may be that you can get by without that new addition for another year. You might think of more creative ways to provide more space. If you can do that to sustain your growth you might have an argument for delaying the next project for a short time. However, realize that in our experience new buildings typically result in a 10% to 30% increase in attendance and a 10% to 30% increase in offerings. So, the delay might end up costing you more than if you moved ahead now. Again no one knows how long this will last. Waiting for the perfect climate might cause you to wait two, three or five years. Can you afford to delay this long?

4. The History Factor. The only real way to predict our future is to understand our past. In the history of our nation economically challenging times last only for a season and then prosperity comes back around. Every time the stock market has crashed it has always rebounded stronger and higher than before the crash. In some year’s of recession giving actually increased while in others the decline was not severe. Each time period after a recession giving always increases.

During the early 80’s unemployment was at double digits and interest rates ran from 15% to 18%. What did churches do? They still built and hoped that rates would drop and that they could refinance. That is exactly what happened. While the present time might be a challenge you can expect things to turn around.

5. The God Factor. As Christian we base what we do not upon the circumstances around us but upon the revealed will of God. The bottom line must always be what is God saying to us? Each leader must prayerfully consider what I call the God factor. This does not mean you do not consider the above factors. What it does mean is that you get your marching orders about whether to move forward or not from He who owns the cattle on a thousand hills. The Scriptures teach us that, “If God be for us, who can be against us?” Despite challenging economic times, when you have a God vision you can and will be successful.

I am reminded of what the late great evangelist Manly Beasley said, “My problems are a platform upon which God can work a miracle!” Don’t let the challenge of our present situation derail you from pursuing the dreams and visions that God has given you. It might not be as easy as it once was but again it is an opportunity to see God at work. I believe that what God initiates He also enables! Take all the factors in hand, make wise decisions but never cease to continue to move forward for the Kingdom!

Mark Brooks
Founder and President
The Charis Group

This past weekend I was at Phillips Temple C.M.E. Church in Dayton, Ohio. What a great experience it was! I remember the last time I worshiped with them that a friend of mine the same day had been in a traditional southern county seat church service that ran from 11 AM to Noon. He told me it was the longest most boring hour of his life. I remarked that I had just gotten out of a service that lasted over two hours yet the time flew by and I felt as if I had had the time of my life. I had another great day of worship at Phillips this past weekend.

Worshiping at Phillips gives me great hope for the future of African American churches. They represent some of the fastest growing congregations in America. Their pastors are becoming recognized as some of the great preachers of our time. Here are some observations of why Phillips Temple is so strong.

They are firmly grounded in the Word of God. The basis for their growth and greatness lies not in a social gospel but a solid adherence to the Bible. Everything they do is Bible centered. From the top to the bottom they have an unquestioning belief in the Bible as God’s word and His guidebook for life.

Prayer is a constantly emphasized. The members of Phillips are a praying people. Regular times of prayer are held so that members don’t just talk about praying they actually pray. Its the fuel to all that makes Phillips Temple hum.

Preaching is central. Pastor Jimmy Washington is one of America’s greatest African American expositors of Scripture. His verse by verse exposition was the number one reason cited by members in a recent survey we took of the church. The people of Phillips know to come to church with their Bibles. They leave having heard the Word of God explained in practical ways.

Worship is vibrant and Christ exalting. I never knew one hour of music could pass so quickly! What a thrilling joy to be led into the presence of God with joy and singing. When was the last time you had fun in church? Yet not only was it fun to worship but the worship led those attending into the presence of God preparing the way for us to hear the Word of God.

Pretty simple really. Four great pillars to build upon. Phillips Temple is not perfect and like all churches they have their challenges. Yet despite those challenges they have a steadfast commitment to weather the storms thrown at them and to keep their eye on the prize. Your church would do well to focus on these same truths if you too want to reach excellence for God.

My only regret is that it’s too far to commute from Atlanta to Dayton every Sunday.

Mark Brooks
Founder and President
The Charis Group

While it might surprise you and you might not agree it appears that this recession is “technically” over. Most economists are now saying that. If it is not “technically” over at least the downward movement has slowed enough to give us hope for a recovery soon. While it might be true from a technical standpoint emotionally it will be some time before Americans feel life is back to normal.

What I find interesting in all this is how far off our government was in its assessment of what to do to fix our economy. Many economists counseled that the recession should have been allowed to run its course. Recessions come and go on a fairly regular basis. This one has been longer than any other but it remains to be seen if indeed it is worse than the rest. We still in some ways better off than the recession of the early 1980’s. Yet we were told by both the Bush administration and the Obama administration that we had to act and act quickly to avert disaster.

I am reminded of the old quip, “Haste makes waste.” In our rush to do “something” I fear we have done the wrong things. Doing something for the sake of doing something is never a good policy. Yet that appears to be the status quo for our politicians. They vote first, do a press conference second to brag on what they just passed, then read the bill later after the flaws become a reality.

A case in point is the TARP bill. I read a few weeks ago that an official responded to criticism that the money was not getting out to the public by saying that was not the intent of TARP. His point was that TARP was meant only to save banks from dissolving. So, no provisions were made in the bill that mandated any rate of which banks should be lending money. So, surprise, surprise, banks are holding on to the money they have and small businesses can not get loans to start new work and thus stimulate the economy. What the official missed who was defending the bill, was that banks exist in part to lend money. Saving a bank is a means of allowing them to continue doing what they are meant to do, lend money.

So, why was that not in the bill that was shoved down the throat of politicians last fall almost in the dead of night? In part because of haste. In our desire to do something we did not do the right things. Now we are settled with a debt that will take years to pay off.

Then came along the stimulus plan. Politicians had to “do” something. So, we passed a bill, again with little time for debate or input, of almost $1 trillion. It was to save jobs and turn the economy around. We were told that if we did this the jobless rate would not continue to climb. The bill passed and unemployment continued to rise. Now we have a bill that will add to our debt saddling future Americans with a healthy bill to repay.

At this point only 10% to 15% of that stimulus money has been released. Yet already the economy is showing signs of recovery. Amazing isn’t it? So, will Congress cancel the bill since it only took a small amount to turn the economy around? Will they admit that the stimulus wasn’t needed in the first place and repeal the bill? When it snows in hell!

Hurry is the death of good decisions. Why is it after six months of mis-firing on key legislation that the members of Congress and our President are surprised by the back lash over the health care issue? Fool me once shame on you, fool my twice shame on me. It’s about time somebody slowed down and asked some tough questions of BOTH sides of the aisle in Washington. Hasty decisions in the name of doing something are creating more problems than they are solving.

Is there a lesson for we Christian leaders in all this? Several I think.

First, be careful what you promise. Raising expectations to a too high level often bite many a leader in the rear and causes them to lose credibility when they most need it.

Don’t make hasty decisions. There is a reason the book of Proverbs says, “In the multitude of counselors there is wisdom.” For one thing it slows you down and keeps you from making errors. Doing something should never be a substitute for doing the right thing. We, at The Charis Group, continually say that we are committed to getting the task done right not on time.

Deliver on what you promise. See point number one above! When you make too many promises and fulfill few or any you lose the confidence of your people. At some point you can not blame it on others or some other cause. You own the promise, so be careful to deliver on that which you promise. Otherwise you too might be in for some church type “town hall meetings.”

People have memories like elephants when it serves their purpose. I think Washington thinks we will forget the promises that they have made. We won’t. Your people will also remember the things you say. So, again, be careful what you say.

When you make a mistake own up to it. If just one politicians would have the courage to say they were wrong I think they would be re-elected by landslide. Instead they look to blame others or the circumstances. Worse still they deny that they ever said that or they are being taken out of context. That kind of stuff just makes it worse. For you as a Christian leader you have to admit quickly the mistakes that were made and the promises that can not be fulfilled. While it might bring temporary pain it will result in long term health for you and the ministry you lead.

In the end the number one thing that can save you as a Christian leader from the same pit falls we see politicians fall prey to is integrity. Say what you mean, mean what you say and work to deliver on what you promise. Mistakes will happen. Things will not always go smoothly. Some things you thought would come to pass will not. If you have a solid reputation and if you honestly own up to your mistakes people will forgive you and remain confident in your leadership.

Alas, if only Washington read my blog! Hopefully you read it and benefit from the words of wisdom. Hopefully doing so will avert any town hall crisis in your ministry.

Mark Brooks
Founder and President
The Charis Group

I started reading the book “Free” by Chris Anderson. I downloaded it on my Kindle a few weeks ago for free. What is not to like about free? I mean you can always delete it. I have to say that most of the free books Kindle offers I either pass on or delete after a few pages. Every once in awhile I come across a real keeper. Anderson’s book falls into that category. It got me thinking about what I could offer for free.

We already give tons away. You can get a free book. I post free stuff here and through my monthly E-zine called The Stewardship Coach. I love to help leaders and churches. Don’t get me wrong I also love to pay the bills so not everything we do it free. However I wanted to do more for free.

Then it hit me. Give away what I personally find out dated, a program driven campaign. I have a passion to revolutionize the stewardship industry. Basically most companies still do campaigns essentially the way they did them thirty years ago. The problem is society has changed. This recession will again fundamentally change how we approach stewardship. Yet I find that companies and churches again and again try a programized approach to raising funds.

So, I came up with what I thought was a brilliant plan. Give the program away. Here is my thinking. If I give away what companies are charging you thousands of dollars for would it not make them rethink what they do? Would it not in the end make all companies better? See, the value of the company is not their name, how long they have been in business, who founded them years ago, how many churches they have worked in the past, how much money they have raised in the past, but who they are today. Not only that it’s the consultant you hire not the company and most certainly not a program.

You guys can do programs. You put programs together all the live long day. Why would you want us to come in and charge you thousands of dollars for what you can do for free? Ah, but you need a road map! Well now you have one for free. You simply have to go to our web site, www.TheCharisGroup.org Click on the button that says “Free Campaign Manual.” Fill out the form and we will email it to you. The only thing you don’t get is us!

I should tell you that is what you are paying for, us! Our expertise, our experience and our abilities to help you raise twice what you can do on your own. Still some of you feel like you can do it on your own I have helped you with the free manual.

I am hoping for several things to happen. First as I mentioned I want stewardship firms to get honest and deliver the value for the dollar they charge you. If all you are getting is a manual, even if its online, then you should not have to pay what you are paying. The value is in the consulting not the manual.

Secondly, for those of you who absolutely refuse help for whatever reason I want to help you avoid disaster as much as possible. So, you can get the help you need for a price you can’t refuse, free!

Now tell me when was the last time a stewardship firm offered to do that for you? What’s in it for me? Well hopefully when you really do need strategic consulting from someone that thinks out of the box you will give us a call. When you do we will be here to create a partnership that fits you for a price that will make us both happy.

Mark Brooks
Founder and President
The Charis Group

I have a simple goal, to revolutionize the stewardship industry that I have been a part of for over eleven years. Other companies might laugh at my goal or say, Mark who? After three years I am still the barbarian banging at the gates of the stewardship industry. One of these days the gate will fall open! I believe what I am now offering can not only help you but revolutionize the industry.

Let me state that I fully believe in what we as an industry do for churches. The facts are that using a stewardship firm will allow you to raise more money than if you do it on your own. Just last week at a Sunday School party someone asked what I did. After I told them they remarked that the church I now attend decided in their last campaign to fore go using a stewardship firm. The layman said to me, “We raised one million LESS this last time doing it on our own than when we used a stewardship company.” I hear that all the time. So, my point in this Stewardship Coach is not to do away with the industry but to point out how it must change in order to continue to be viable to the church of today.

The number one reason that the stewardship industry is failing today is because …

The stewardship industry has become program driven instead of strategic consulting.

Nearly every company delivers a pre set program for their clients. They may say that they customize but in actuality they have a few modules that you can choose from. They just put your name on the top and call it customization. Even the companies with online delivery in truth are only giving you a template program. They only took the time and effort to put it all online as a marketing ploy to get you to sign with them. I know, I was in charge of an online system for years. In the end it’s still just a pre-set program.

Why are stewardship firms program driven?

Some companies simply do not know any better. Or perhaps it is simply what they have always done. Most in the stewardship industry are former pastors and church staff members. One of the great fallacies of the church is that all we need is the next great program to deliver instant growth and blessings. Many churches try one program after another. So, many stewardship firms either to cater to the desires of a program mad church market or simply because they do not know any better offer what they know how to do best, a program.

I remember talking to the founder of a firm that in my opinion was very honorable and trying to do their best for churches. They billed themselves as being the only stewardship firm with a proven ministry approach. When I asked about that the founder walked me through a list of teams he organized at each church to facilitate the task of raising funds. He called it ministry. I call it programming. Building teams to write press releases is not ministry, it’s a program. Programs are not the pathway to God’s blessing and they are not the path to successfully raising dollars.

Other firms are program driven because it’s the easy way and the most cost affective way for them. I call it assembly line consulting. One of the guys that joined my team his last year at the stewardship firm he left worked almost thirty campaigns in a single year. He could do that because he was simply delivering the same program over and over again and again. Of course the firm he worked for did not discount the fee they charged. In fact they increased their minimum fee while pressuring their consultants to do more online and offsite thus saving travel expenses and improving the company’s bottom line. Why do you think some companies now offer an online tool? It isn’t to be hip and up to date it’s to save them money.

In the end what a church gets is far less than what they paid for. My belief is not that stewardship firms charge too much but that we under deliver for the price we charge. Some churches spend $40K to $100K and get a few visits, a manual and wishful thinking. Most companies spend the majority of their time building teams. This questionable practice in terms of helping maximize dollars is none the less something that most pastors and staff members could easily do. The church needs strategic consulting. What they get is a program.

While the public phase of a campaign is important the ramp up to that public phase is the make or break of a campaign. 90 per cent of stewardship companies spend 90 per cent of their time on what should only take 15 per cent of their time. No wonder many churches have a sour view of stewardship firms. Why pay someone to do what you do week in and week out?

Why do churches keep buying programs?

If programs are not what churches need then why are churches still for the most part asking for and buying programs? Most churches buy a program simply because they don’t know any better. It is what they have always done. They know they need help so they turn to those that are supposed to be experts in the field. What they too often get is a set program.

With some pastors I have found that they are looking for the easy way out. Raising funds takes work and few like to do it. It is just easier to hire someone to come in and do the work for them. The problem here is that a campaign is only as successful as the time and effort the senior pastor puts into it. Consultants can add value but there is no substitute for the pastor’s presence.

For some churches there has been really no alternative. They know that going it alone can cost them thousands if not millions of dollars lost. Yet they often try to find some alternative. Rick Warren offers a kit for $149.99. You can even download it and save further by paying only $99. Others hold one day seminars to walk you through the process. Some churches simply copy the manual from their last campaign over and over again and again.

So, why is this bad?

Rick Warren’s materials look slick and they are much cheaper than paying thousands of dollars with a stewardship firm. However, he does not come in the box! Can his program fit your needs? Can you successfully do your own campaign by reading a manual someone else designed for another church but not yours? Some can but most can not. The results are frustrated church leaders and ineffective capital campaigns.

So what is our answer to this problem? Free materials for those that want that route and strategic consulting for others that feel they need more.

No one quite seems to believe me. I have been posting this on my Twitter account and the few that respond want to know what the catch is? Most simply believe it’s a gimmick. I have simply decided to give away the manual and save you from even having to spend $99 down loading Rick Warren’s. If all you want is a program we will give you ours for free. Some might be able to use the manual alone to pull off an effective campaign. Not every church needs our help. Why pay for what you do not need? If you think you can pull off the public phase of a campaign use our stuff. If you think you need additional help we can provide that help for a price you can afford. My goal is at the end of the engagement to find a win/win for everyone involved.

This year we partnered with a church in California that hesitated to engage with us for our full services. I proposed an alternative that met their needs and provided revenue for our company. Here is what the pastor said about the engagement, “Having never done a formal capital campaign before, we were reluctant to embark in this journey. The very thought of bringing in an “outsider” to help us with a capital campaign was disconcerting. Because of our lack of experience, however, we knew we needed help and the Lord connected us with The Charis Group, and our partnership with them has proven to be nothing but a blessing! We appreciated how The Charis Group was able to customize the campaign based on our church culture and unique needs. They were readily available to coach us by email and phone.” In the end this church got what they wanted for a price they felt was fair. Why is your stewardship company not offering you the same kind of partnership?

Our offer is to help you for free. How can you beat that?

My goal is to give away campaign manuals and thus make all stewardship firms do what really needs to be done, give strategic consulting. Soon there will be a step by step campaign manual in the public domain that is free. Once the Gennie is out of the bottle you can never put it back. Now perhaps the stewardship industry will truly start earning the dollars they charge!

That is my idea of a revolution!

Mark Brooks
Founder and President of The Charis Group

PS. We are working on making our free manual accessible to anyone in the world within the next few weeks. Keep watching!

George Barna reported last week what many knew already, that African Americans are more spiritual than the rest of us. He concluded that, “While the beliefs and behaviors of America’s white population have changed little since the early 1990’s, the new research underscored that the faith of African-Americans is dynamic, generally moving in a direction that is more aligned with conservative biblical teachings.” It could be that if a revival of faith occurs in America it will be led by the African American church.

Indeed some of the fastest growing churches in America are African American. It has been a long a difficult struggle for African Americans to achieve the American dream but they appear to be on the brink of realizing just that. In my experience the road ahead for African American churches is much more difficult than their white counter parts.

Here are some challenges to the African American church today. The first two are my observations and the last three are observations given to me by an African American pastor. There are some things that a wise man lets another man say for him.

Declining facilities in declining areas. For whatever reason the vast majority of African American churches are in disrepair. They often are in areas that are less than desirable. As their population increases in wealth and moves outward to the suburbs it is less appealing to make the drive back down to the neighborhood of their youth. Their children become accustomed to facilities that are new and are less likely to want to worship in facilities that are run down. The rise of the mega African American church in the large cities has drawn heavily upon this segment to build up their churches. If African American churches do not take steps to correct this decline they will be in danger of losing the next generation of members.

I readily concede that the challenge is one between abandoning the community the church was birthed in or finding locations of convenience to growth. White churches seldom are faced with the same cultural struggle and are more readily moving to newer locations. None the less staying in the community if that community is a threat to the churches growth must be addressed. Some African American churches while relocating have still maintained ministry in the old community to those that remain. A wise balance must be found if African American churches are to increase their membership.

Lack of funding base to build or move. While African Americans are in my opinion very generous in their support to their churches they often lack major dollars to donate. In white churches you have those with the ability to give the large six figure gift. Whether from old wealth or white collar executives white churches have a better base to draw from in raising funds for new buildings. African Americans are just now rising upward in the middle class ranks. Most African American churches however still struggle to attract major donors which limits the amounts they can raise towards new works. This in part makes it difficult to acquire the kinds of financing needed for new facilities.

In my experience banks, while publicly stating that they do not discriminate against minority churches, do in practice make it difficult for minority churches to gain financing. The tragedy is that many African American churches have blue prints rolled up in the pastors office because they simply don’t have the funds to pull the dream off. African American churches must develop strategies for addressing this short fall in funding.

Older leadership. Many of the African American churches are pastored by men that are 60 and beyond. A look at the bishops of most African American denominations shows that it is comprised almost entirely of Senior Adults. Their views often run counter to the younger generations. Yet the culture of the church is to never question or challenge those senior in age to you.

An irony that has developed is that many churches that might desire to make bold strategic moves is that they are shunted by the bishops strangle hold. One African American pastor remarked to me, “In my denomination we have traded the white slave owner for the black bishop.” While some might reject that thought, too often I have seen bishops stop the progress of one of “their” churches for reasons that were hard to understand. Not all bishops are this way but many frankly are standing in the way of the progress of the African American church.

Congregations that are settled in their ways. While this can be true of white churches as well it none the less is a tragic truth of the African American church. The easy path is to always do what you have always done. However, as the times have changed so must our strategies if we are to stay current and effective in ministry. We have never done it this way before is the death mantra of too many churches.

Not expansion minded. All of the above combine to make this a challenge for the African American church to move forward. While there are a few success stories of expansion in the African American community most churches are stuck in facilities that are limiting their potential growth. History, tradition and a sense of community can keep an African American church from expanding their facilities. While buildings do not necessarily equate to growth in America the lack of quality facilities more often than not dooms a church to decline. African American churches must adapt an expansion mind set to capitalize upon the growth in faith

Unless the above barriers to growth are addressed and eliminated I fear that a decade from now Barna might well report on the beginning decline of the African American church. As my pastor once said, “Christianity is always one generation away from extinction.” So too the African American church could squander the potential it has today by not making the bold moves needed. My prayer for them is that they would break out of the molds of the past and continue to lead a revival of faith in American life.

Mark Brooks
Founder and President
The Charis Group