The headline read, “Consumer Confidence Unexpectedly Falls in September.” The AP article stated that, “The New York-based Conference Board, a private research group, said that its Consumer Confidence Index dipped to 53.1 in September, down from the revised 54.5 reading in August. Economists surveyed by Thomson Reuters had expected a reading of 57.” September’s reading reversed a three month climb since confidence hit an historic low in February of 25.3. A reading above 90 means the economy is on solid footing. Above 100 signals strong growth.

The fear of continued job losses seems to be behind the decline. Currently unemployment is nationally at 9.7% and the projections are that it will rise to 9.8% in September. In many areas it is far higher than that. While the recession is showing signs of ending most expect jobs to lag behind any recovery. Thus consumer confidence took a hit in September.

One reason why economist look closely at consumer confidence is that it often either fuels spending or curtails spending. Spending on goods and services for consumers, including housing and health care, accounts for about 70 percent of U.S. economic activity by federal measures. Consumer confidence declining now just months from the holiday season could mean another lack luster year for retailers.

The Wall Street Journal on September 29th ran an article about consumer confidence and its impact on the recovery of the economy. The article said, “Under the circumstances, it might take at least a year to get consumer confidence back to prerecessionary levels, suggests Ethan Harris, chief North American economist at BofA Merrill Lynch Global Research. Growth in consumer spending could lag behind the growth in other sectors even longer.” They quoted Mr. Harris further in saying, “The consumer is going to be a constant drag on growth. It argues for a steady headwind to recovery.”

So why would any of this matter to you as a Christian leader? It should matter a great deal! If consumer confidence remains low then the recovery will take longer. Even more important is my contention that as consumer confidence lags on Main street it lags in your offering plate. The first quarter of this year was a huge challenge for many churches due in a large part to the angst felt in our nation. Most churches rely on a strong fourth quarter and end of year donations to pull them through financially. The current consumer confidence numbers do not build confidence for a positive donation climate.

So, what can you expect and what should you do? Here are some observations and some recommendations.

As goes consumer confidence, so goes donor confidence. Expect the last quarter of 2009 to be more of a challenge than ever before. The AP article stated that “Shoppers’ habits have changed,” said Frank Badillo, senior economist at consulting group TNS Retail Forward. “They remain focused on cutting back and trading down to discount retailers and to lower-priced brands. All of those behaviors are going to be enforced over the holidays.” If that is true for shoppers count on it being true for donors.

The biggest group impacted by this lack of confidence is your bottom tiered donors. The largest group of your donors give the least amount. That number might be as large as 80% to 90%. Amazingly they give very little to your ministry. You can expect them to give even less as they cut corners in all areas to keep the Benz and the Beach house or Johnny in Little League. While I would not discount the 20% to 30% they typically donate I do counsel pastors to put their time where it will make the most impact, the few. This is a plan for now. You can continue with your plan to cultivate the next generation of donors but now is the time to act to meet today’s needs.

Devise now a strategy to meet or exceed your budget needs for this last quarter. Now is the time to have a plan for end of year giving for instance. What plans do you have to keep donations strong through the quarter that remains? Ending well will set you up to do well in the coming year. Ending poorly could set you back in countless ways. Plan now for success.

Step up and make a case for your ministry. In the next few months non-profits around the country will inundate your members with appeals. They will employ slick direct mail and online resources telling their story. You must counter that with your own story. Remember, good vision trumps bad economy! If you are hesitant to make the ask for support for your ministry others will step in and take advantage of you. The dollars that could go to your church will go somewhere else.

This has been a tough year for all of us. For our company it has been the most challenging year of our existence. We have determined however that we will continue forward because we truly believe what we are doing can and will make a difference for churches. We press on daily even though sometimes it seems dark.

What has saddened me more than anything is that the confidence level of Christian leaders has been so gloomy and dark. If you the leader lack confidence why are you surprised if your people lack confidence as well? Now is the time to step up and devise a plan of action to lead your church through this time. Early on I adopted the saying that we would work hard and pray harder. That is our attitude. What is yours? Your attitude and confidence sets the tone for your congregation.

Mark Brooks
Founder and President
The Charis Group

Coaches game plans are made on Monday’s for a successful Sunday afternoon contest. Amateurs play Monday morning quarterback with perfection. Everyone can play the would have, should have game and be a winner. The real task is deciphering what lies ahead. When it comes to making predictions about the economy and how giving might be impacted as we finish out this year it is even more difficult.

While we have been through several recessions before this current one has more “experts” wondering which way is up and what is next. For every expert that you can quote saying the economy is on a rebound you can find another that disagrees. Our politicians are pointing fingers and posturing for the camera’s instead of providing true leadership. The American public is growing increasingly skeptical of anything that comes out of Washington. The war on terror, if you admit that there is one, slogs on with no end in sight. Yet amidst all this uncertainty and angst life goes on.

How will it impact you and what should you be looking for? Here are some thoughts on Monday morning about what to expect in this next quarter.

The recession is technically over but emotionally it continues. Your people that you lead don’t feel like the recession is over. It will be a long time before they feel confident once again. This lack of confidence is widespread from Main Street to Wall Street. That in and of itself creates a negative climate that hinders a quick recovery. At the same time it gives we in the church further opportunity to show hope through Jesus and Biblical principles.

The economy will rebound slowly. While technically we are in recovery there are still many areas where the rebound is slow. Some areas of the country will be in recession for many more months. Others will rebound more quickly. Nationally it will be a slow climb up from where we were last spring. Expect joblessness to remain high for at least one to two more quarters beyond this quarter.

What this means for you is that those that are not solid disciples consistent in their giving will be slow to return to giving to your ministry. It will be a challenge to move them beyond their fears to again start making contributions. Sadly many nominal Christian, a vast majority of your attendees, see giving to the church as one of the first places they can cut in their budgets. It will take real skill and wisdom to get them to see that doing so only hurts their chances for financial stability.

A new normal is being established. We need to forget about the return to normal. Normal has been redefined. Your expectations, at least for the next few years, needs to be lower. This is not only true in you personal life but in terms of raising funds as well. While some stewardship companies will talk about helping you raise three times your operating budget over three years the facts don’t support that. So, accept that you might pledge less than a few years ago. That does not mean however that you can not move forward with projects or plans for ministry.

What all of the above means is that you will have to be smarter and work harder than before. Don’t expect growth and dollars to easily flow into your ministry. You will need to keep your finger constantly on the pulse of society and your congregation. You can not retreat to your ivory tower to stay. Smart leaders understand the times we live in. Smart leaders don’t simply sit by and let circumstances smack them around. Smart leaders develop a plan of action and act upon their plan. Those with a plan succeed. Those who fail to plan are planning on failure.

Work hard but pray harder! It is not by our might but by the Spirit that we succeed. While the times might be challenging I have yet to see Christians dragged into their cities local stadiums to be chased by lions until they die. We need to stop whining and get up off the floor and get busy about our Father’s work. He has not left us. We have more tools now then our grand fathers or fathers generation did. Nothing will help the church grow more than a revival. While we might decry our loss of spending power it none the less has served to bring many to a point of need. Now we the church need to exercise leadership to meet that need.

While I can not predict the future even of this coming quarter I do know that God remains in control. He will accomplish His plans. If He has given you a vision then He will provide the means to fulfill that vision. Our task is to stay focused upon Him.

Mark Brooks
Founder and President
The Charis Group

“If you’re not Tweeting, you might consider a different job…cuz we’re in the people business.” That tweet was posted yesterday by a guy quoting one of America’s leading pastors. As I read that I was stunned. Then what amazed me even more was that no one seemed to react to such an absurd statement. My hope is that the guy quoted the pastor wrong. Even if he did should that not have caused us to react? As far as I know the comment went by and no one said what was obvious, how wrong the statement was.

I work with one of the leading pastors in a major denomination. This guy is always on the cutting edge and incredibly creative. His passion is evangelism and church growth. I was surprised a couple of months ago when the topic of Twitter came up in our discussions. He said, “Those that twitter are in love with themselves! It is one of the most narcissistic trends among pastors today.” Wow! As one who regularly tweets I was a bit amazed. Yet I have to admit that there is a lot of truth to what he says.

Those of you who are on Twitter might find this post a bit hard to read but think about it. How many tweets a day are about stuff that is virtually meaningless? Do I really want to know how many miles you ran this morning or what you ate? Also, when you tweet about traffic am I to assume you have a chauffeur? I also find it amazing that as conferences are going on speakers are tweeting about stuff while they are suppose to be listening to the other speaker. Do you not think that others will do the same to you?

Here are some things for our consideration as we embrace this new technology and learn how to effectively use it.

Don’t over estimate its value. It is true that Twitter is growing by leaps and bounds. However the truth of the matter is that not everyone is on Twitter. As of yet Twitter while showing promise has to date delivered little. In the fast paced ever changing world of Social Media and the Internet it is way too early to tell what the future holds for Twitter or for that matter a host of Social Media sites.

See it as a means to an end not the end in itself. In the early days of radio and television there were probably those that made the same arguments as the early adopters of Social Media are making today. While they did make an impact on society overall the same can not be said for how it benefited the church. I led my last church into radio and television but I have to admit that the over all impact was far less than more traditional means of outreach. My feel is that ten years from now we will say the same thing about Facebook and Twitter. You should use them as entry ways towards more meaningful exchanges and relationships.

Show you are relevant but don’t forsake what works. I am not oppose to the new social mediums. I use them. I love them. I am simply saying that at this point there is so little data on their benefits that to wholesale change how you do ministry is a mistake. It would be equally foolish to write off the tool altogether. Before you fire me off an email or dismiss me as an old you know what think! When someone says that if you are not tweeting you need to consider another job is that really thinking clearly? I fear many pastors are getting caught up in the euphoria of a new tool and losing sight of what really works.

Social networking while having some value should never be a replacement for tried and true methods of evangelism and discipleship. I fear that in our rush to embrace new tools we might throw the baby out with the bath water. The fallacy of the last big push for using a new media tool, TV, was that it failed to produce disciples. Even with an incredible presence in radio, television and print mediums our nation has turned more secular not more religious. Why would you think Twitter would be any different?

Christ’s Church grows at the pleasure of our Heavenly Father not your website, Facebook page or clever Twitter posts! God uses many things to accomplish His work. At the end of the day I am reminded of the passage that says, “Not by might nor by power but by my Spirit.”

This Sunday as I go to church here is what I want from my pastor. I want to know that he has a word from God for me. I want to know that he has taken the time to listen to God, that he studied the text and how it might impact our congregation. I want to hear what God has said to him not what he down loaded off of the Internet from some Mega Church pastor. I want fresh bread for my life not stale worked over seconds.

I want to interact with other believers even though in my flesh I hate to interact with others. Left to myself I might just Twitter away. However without interacting with other believers in a local church setting I will never grow as I should as a Christian.

Indeed we are in the people business. The best way to pursue that is through the local church. Still today, Twitter not with standing, one on one relationship building is how the church has been built and sustained both in the past and in the future.

Twitter on but do so with some common sense!

Mark Brooks
Founder and President
The Charis Group

I found some interesting tidbits from my daily Filtrbox email. Filtrbox is a free program that allows me to track various words that appear across the internet daily. One word I track is giving. JVA Consulting out of Colorado had the following posted on their site from Sept. 23rd.

“At JVA Consulting, we are always collecting research about fundraising and what works. Here are some of our favorite facts about individual donors.

Looking at these drives us to one clear conclusion: This is why nonprofits should make sure fundraising efforts target individual donors, especially in these tough times.

Charitable giving (from all reported sources) totaled $307.65 billion in 2008

7 out of 10 Americans give to charity
77 percent of donors give to six or more organizations
77 percent of donors give to a cause that personally affects them or someone in their family
82 percent of charitable gifts come from households earning under $90,000 per year
73 percent of donors say that they could give more

When you look at these facts, what stands out? One of the things that always strikes us is the large percentage of donors that give to more than one organization (which means, they might give to yours as well), as well as the large percentage of charitable gifts that come from households earning under $90,000 per year.

How can you use these facts to think differently about your fundraising program?”

I could not have written it any better so I did what so many preachers do. I appropriated the quote.

At any rate let me add my own commentary to this. What this tells me is that you have no excuse for not having a plan to attract and sustain donors. While a church is indeed different from other non-profits many of the principles are the same. One truth that applies to both is that if you do not ask you will not receive. So many churches never ask their members appropriately to support the work of ministry they are doing. As a result thousands of dollars go elsewhere. Americans are still donating money during this recession. If you don’t get your lure in the pond don’t be surprised if some non-profit fishes in your back yard and pulls out fish that could go to your church.

Get a stewardship plan in place today!

Mark Brooks
Founder and President
The Charis Group

I knew I liked Casey Graham the minute he suggested we meet at for the first time at Moe’s. How can you not like a guy that loves burrito’s? I had been following Casey and his ministry called, The Change Group, for some time on Twitter. I had seen his name in the line up of speakers at various conferences and had wanted to meet him. We both live in the Atlanta area and our paths had never crossed. So, over great Mexican fast food we talked shop. I left even more impressed than before I met him.

Casey and his team has just released a new website that I have listed at the end of this post. You should check it out. You will find practical help for churches of all size including yours. One of the areas that many of my clients struggle with is keeping good records of their donations and their finances. I can not tell you how many hours we spend trying to help them sort it all out. The Change Group can eliminate those problems for you and save you money in the process.

So, I am doing what I rarely do here, recommend someone that I trust that I know can help you and your ministry. Please check their site out and tell them I sent you!

Oh, and tell him its time for another Moe’s meeting of the mind!

Mark Brooks
Founder and President
The Charis Group

You remember the old saying, A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush? I use that often when I talk to pastors and church leaders about whether or not to move forward with raising funds for a project. During the last eighteen months I have seen Christian leader after Christian leader delay their project blaming the economy on that delay. While it certainly is important to weigh the impact of this recession too many are delaying moving forward out of either fear or ignorance.

Two years ago I was with a pastor who was thinking about delaying his campaign to raise funds. When I asked him why he said it was because of the economy. He reasoned that if he waited a year longer his members would commit more and give more. He had already announced that his church needed to build and would do so soon. So I asked him if he thought that in the year that he waited for the economy to get better his members would save up money to give to the campaign. He laughed and said of course not, they would spend it. It was a wise observation. The economy only got worse and if he would have delayed he would have lost thousands of dollars to McDonald’s, Disney, Hollywood and his members pets.

As a result of this recession here are some things you ought to consider as you think about the timing of your project and the attempt to raise support to fund it.

Pledging will be less. Don’t believe the sales hype from my industry that their average is one and a half to three times your budget. Frankly no one ever does an honest pledge to budget study of their clients results. Three times budget is always driven by large gifts. The widow has only so much she can give you beyond what she is giving you. The new norm is around one to two times your budget. This has been the case since the spring after the 9/11 attacks. People simply became more conservative in their pledge from that point on. This recession has only made it worse.

Some money is better than no money. This goes back to the old saying about the bird in your hand. While others have waited for the sun to break through the clouds I have clients who have raised thousands of dollars in support of their projects and ministries. While you wait for the big fish to bite you might miss scores of smaller fish that can fuel your hungry ministry needs.

There is a new normal in America. We are all waiting for things to return to normal. What you need to realize is that normal has and is continually being redefined. It is abnormal to expect to pledge more than three times your annual budget. It is normal now to see people pledge less but give beyond that if challenged. These are just a few of the things that have changed and are changing. Do you know how to read the changes that are happening with the people in the pews or chairs in front of you?

While some things have changed others have not. One thing that has not changed is that God’s people properly educated and motivated will support Kingdom causes. They might give online, at a giving kiosk, through social media or the old fashioned way in the offering plate but they will give. We need to always remember that Good vision trumps bad economy!

Historically even during recessions giving to religious causes has continued on. In only two recession years since WWII has giving declined and then the decline was slight. What amazed nearly everyone was that preliminary studies by Giving USA showed religious giving in 2008 increased by 1%!

Where crisis lurks so does opportunity. Not since 9/11 has the church had a better opportunity to provide hope and answers. How you respond to this crisis will set the tone for your ministry for years to come.

Not only does it give you an opportunity with people but it also has practical opportunities. Consider that interest rates are at an all time low. I have a client who built their first worship center in 1980 and paid 18% interest! Right now building costs are running twenty five per cent below last year. So while this recession winds down churches that are wise can actually save money by moving forward now.

While we all might long for the good ol days as the saying goes, it is what it is. That bird in your hand is certainly worth more than you think. Don’t fall prey to what many are doing and wait for a sunnier day only to realize that they lost thousands of ministry dollars in the process. Truly a bird in hand is worth two in a bush.

Mark Brooks
Founder and President
The Charis Group

In my presentation about the various stages churches must go through to successfully pull off a building project I talk about getting a loan from a bank. I have a cartoon that shows a pastor in the bank presidents office. The caption has the banker saying, “When we say we have low interest loans we mean we have very little interest in giving you one.” While we might initially laugh at that too often it is true. The only ones who laugh at that joke are those that either do not need a loan or already have their loan. The rest of you know all too well that there is some element of truth to the cartoon.

One of the major road blocks in the last year for churches moving forward with their project has been acquiring financing. As the credit crunch hit last fall banks become much less willing to make loans. While it may be loosening somewhat you can still count on it being rough sledding. Here are some things that we regularly tell our clients when it comes to acquiring financing.

It will take you longer than you think. We had a church last year that was told by their bank that the loan they were applying for would have been approved within weeks before the credit crunch hit. Now banks, wary of Federal regulations and bad loans, are being much more cautious. Every application is being closely examined. What use to take ninety days is now taking double that time and sometimes more. Banks are simply not in a hurry. So start sooner rather than later to talk to lending institutions.

Avoid single source lending. Most churches never shop their note. That is a huge mistake. When projects run into the millions even a fraction of a percentage point can save your church thousands of dollars. Unless the bank president is your chairman of your board then shop around for the best rate and terms. While more difficult than a year ago churches can by shopping their loan save thousands of dollars for Kingdom use.

Present a picture of strength. Don’t just walk into the local banker with hat in hand and ask nicely if he will consider loaning you a few million. Put together a package that shows your strength. That package should include the following:

A. A brief background of the church
B. Financial information - show at least three years of budget receipts including any capital campaign
C. Membership information - show your consistent growth
D. Demographic information on the church membership
E. History of leadership - the longer the pastor has been there the better!
F. Project information - Summary of project costs etc.
G. Capital Campaign information - Give details of campaign if you have had it or if it is planned.

Your goal should be essentially the same as any business that is applying for a loan at the bank. By showing you are a good risk the bank will be more prone to first listen to you and finally to extend you a loan.

Pray! I put this last not because we typically get around to praying as a last resort but because it is the base of all we do. I am reminded of Proverbs 21:1 that says, “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.” The bank loan officer is not a king but like the king in this verse God can move his heart. Take smart steps to prepare your loan application but bathe it in prayer!

As I talk to bankers around the country it appears that money is beginning to loosen up once again. However we can expect banks to be hesitant for at least the remainder of the year. Smart churches are not waiting for the sun to break out of the clouds or an announcement from heaven that banks are back in business. Smart churches are working now on acquiring the needed financing for their projects. What are you doing?

If you need help putting together your package for a loan that is something we can help you with. We are more than just a capital stewardship company. Call us today.

Mark Brooks
Founder and President
The Charis Group

We have less than one week of summer left. While you might still be getting the beach sand out of your shoes you had better be thinking about how your year end budget will end. Now is the time to plan your strategy for ending well. Without a plan of action you might not see your giving increase or at the very least keep pace with last year. Now more than ever it is imperative for churches to end their budget year well.

Yesterday I had a conversation with a guy in the banking industry. He told me that the Feds are requiring more of banks than ever before about their lending practices. One thing the Feds are requiring is that unless a business has shown profit for the last three years any loan the bank gives them they must hold that amount in reserve. In other words if you require a $3 million dollar loan and you have not met your budget the last three years the bank is faced with some tough decisions. They will probable deny you a loan. If they did grant you a loan they not only would have to cough up the initial $3 million to you but they would have to put an additional $3 million in reserve to cover the note. In essence the bank now would be out $6 million. How many loans like that do you think your bank will make?

So, it is imperative that you show an increase in giving from year to year. One way to do that is to develop a plan of action for this last quarter of giving. Here are some steps that you should consider taking now.

Assess where you are in your giving. How can you build a sustainable plan of action if you do not know where you are presently? You should not only look at the current status of your giving but also the history of the fourth quarter in your church. An accurate view of your giving patterns can help you establish an effective plan of action. One thing we do is offer churches our comprehensive financial analysis that let’s churches know their strengths, weakness and opportunities. Good intelligence always leads to better plans of action.

Communicate your progress and your needs. We think we talk too much about money. The truth is we don’t talk about it enough. The problem is that when we do we typically sound desperate. Don’t beg for money and for heavens sake don’t apologize for asking. I always encourage leaders to communicate first all the positive things their ministry is doing. Then ask for donors support. I would begin with my leaders first and then with the congregation. Build positive one minute times of encouragement around your offering to motivate people to give. Find creative ways to emphasize what you are doing and why a donation to your ministry is worthwhile. Give people a compelling reason to give and they will!

Write an effective end of year appeal letter. Around Thanksgiving you will find that your mail box is filled with mail from various ministries and non-profits all wanting the same thing, your money. Why should you not get your lure in the pond? Plan on writing an effective appeal to your donors about why they should consider an end of year gift to your ministry. A well crafted appeal letter with an envelope included could well gain you thousands of dollars in donations that might otherwise go to someone else.

Since The Charis Group is the leader in giving stuff away out of all the stewardship firms in America we will send you a sample end of year letter for free! So, if you don’t know how to write an appeal letter contact me and we will help you out.

There are many compelling reasons why you need to end the year well. Beyond simply positioning yourself with banks and lending institutions ending well sets you up to begin 2010 on a positive note. A few simple steps of action can make all the difference. What is your game plan for success this fall? Those that don’t plan are planning to fail. Get your plan together now. And if you need help…

Mark Brooks
Founder and President
The Charis Group

Many churches hold annual fall drives for members to pledge towards the churches operating budget. I never did that as a pastor but I have in these twelve years in the stewardship ministry worked with many churches that have. Most do so in the fall around this time. While I will not argue the merits one way or other about the effectiveness of this strategy I do have some pointers for those that use this method. I think the points discussed have application for all of us. So, here are some principles to consider.

Never apologize when asking for money! I can not tell you how many times I have heard ministers begin their annual appeal with an apology that they are doing so. Doing so starts your sermon out negatively and leaves you little room to navigate upward. Why do we apologize for something that Jesus talked so much about? Why do we apologize for something that is so crucial to the life of the church and the life of the giver? Giving is a part of the discipline of the Christian life. Apologizing for preaching on the subject or for holding a campaign to encourage people to do what the Bible commands them to do is counter productive.

Make the appeal positive not negative. I believe part of the reason lay people begrudge pastors talking about money and giving is how we approach it ourselves. Start with a positive attitude not a negative one and you will be surprised at the difference. It is not that churches talk too much about money it is that we do not talk about it enough. Often when we do talk about it we do so in a way that alienates our listeners. Bashing people over the head with the Bible might get donations up one week but they will revert to their old ways the next. Whatever message or series of messages you preach, make them positive. Make the process joyous and delightful not a drudgery.

Tell your story! People will give when they know that their donations are going towards making a difference. My recommendation is for churches to focus on all the various ministries the church does. Show members how their donations are impacting the world around them. That more than banging them over the head with the Bible will motivate them to give. Smart charities always begin their appeal with stories of success. Churches should do the same. Showing me how my gift makes a difference motivates me to give more.

Take the congregation on a spiritual journey. Giving is a spiritual discipline. As such your campaign should be grounded in a spiritual approach. How can members begin to know what God would want them to commit to your yearly budget apart from prayer? Simply preaching one sermon and then asking them to fill out their yearly commitment leaves little time to consider what God might want them to do. Holding your annual campaign or any campaign without a bathing of prayer will yield far less than what you might hope for. Even if you hit your financial mark you will have failed to teach stewardship as spiritual act of worship.

Don’t rush the commitment process. Donors need time to consider what God would have them do. I believe you should use a multitude of venues to lead members to commit. Don’t announce the annual campaign at 11:10 AM and then pass out commitment cards to be filled out at 11:55 AM. In fact if I were you I would not have the commitment process until the end of the series. A careful well thought out plan of action should be implemented BEFORE you ask members to fill out their cards. Failing to do so will get you what you have always got or less.

Don’t stop after the cards are signed. All you have after you have signed cards is a stack of paper. You have to turn those commitments into cash. Keep doing positive things throughout the year to tell your story and encourage members to give. Stewardship can not be a one time thing to be successful. You don’t have to continually harp on money if you develop a strategic stewardship plan to meet your budget. Keep working month after month at making giving a joy for your members and you can weather the storms of any recession.

All of these ideas must first be laid upon a foundation of belief that what you are doing in asking for commitments is not just needful for you the church. We have to believe that giving truly is a blessing that members need to experience. All of nature gives. Why should we the greatest of God’s creation be any different? One key step in reaching our potential as disciples is through the worship of giving. This year make your annual appeal one to remember. In doing so you are not only doing yourself a favor but your congregants as well.

Mark Brooks
Founder and President
The Charis Group

Some guys fish others play golf. I am a runner. Not a jogger, a runner. There is a difference. At least in the serious runners mind there is a difference. Don’t ask me to explain it just take my word for it. Runners hate to be called joggers. You golf, I run. Don’t try to understand why just accept it for what it is.

What is worse I am a marathoner. I ran my first marathon in 1990 and was immediately hooked. Down through the years I have run 19 marathons and 2 50 K’s which is about 31 miles. So to the uninitiated I simply say that I have run 21 marathons. Some years I ran one while one year I ran four. The year after running four I ran one due to the fact that I ran four the year before. One year I missed running a full marathon and instead ran two half marathons. I don’t count half marathons. Any runner can run a half marathon. Really stud runners run marathons. Crazy runners run 50 K’s and up. I have since recovered from insanity and only run marathons now. Since I am fifty-two and a bit thicker around the middle I try now to run one marathon a year.

So, my fall marathon looms large ahead of me. Now is the time to start getting ready. To me there are great parallels between training for a marathon and life.

You will never run any race unless you get off the sidelines. Most people are defeated before they ever start. Too many convince themselves of what they can not do without even trying. We need to remember that great saying of William Carey who said, “Expect great things from God, attempt great things for God.” So, get your spiritual shoes on and get in the race! Christianity is not a spectator sport.

Great progress is made one step at time, one mile at time. Life is a marathon not a mile run. This is especially true of our spiritual life. Too often we forget this fact. We surge out with a burst of speed only to fade away at the end or quit altogether. The key to success is to keep moving. When I run a marathon my focus is always on the mile that I am running not the next mile after that. I can worry about that mile after the current mile. One mile at a time and finally I will achieve my goal of finishing.

What you do in other areas of life can and will affect your running. I wish I had a dollar for every time someone told me that since I run I can eat all I want. Try that and you will not be able to bend over to tie your running shoes. What you have to learn is that you have to eat right to run right. Poor diet and other bad decisions will affect your ability to run a marathon. The same is true in life and ministry. Mistakes made in one area will spill over into your Christian walk and ministry. To finish a marathon you have to be self disciplined in many areas. My scale this morning told me that I need more self discipline if I am to finish that fall marathon two months from now.

Some days running is a chore but you have to keep on running. I had a great 8 mile run through the Georgia woods today. Yet some days my running feels as if I am in wet cement. I have learned that you just have to keep running. I have had some bad marathons down through the years but it has not kept me from running or from attempting another marathon. In life the same applies. Not every day is Christmas. Not ever Christmas is filled with joy. You just have to keep on keeping on. I am reminded of what the author of Hebrews wrote in chapter twelve when he said, “let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

Are you persevering today? While I run for perishable medals that are ultimately meaningless, in life we race to please our Heavenly Father. How are you running the race that is set before you? Hebrews 12:2 says, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus…”

Run on!

Mark Brooks
Founder and President
The Charis Group