How do you invite your congregation to support God’s mission in the world?
Do you send a stewardship letter every fall, asking people to pledge? Often these letters focus on supporting the operating budget and issues such as repaving the driveway or replacing the copier. Sometimes there is even a veiled threat to cut current mission activities, unless enough pledges are received. Is this inviting?
Do you offer a minute for mission during Sunday worship? Often these messages resemble demands to fulfill church obligations. “It’s our turn to serve at the soup kitchen and I need six volunteers.” Or “The mission committee distributed 12 Christmas baskets last month.” Is this an invitation or a committee report?
A better way to invite people of faith to support and engage in God’s mission is through stories about how their stewardship is making a difference in the world and in the lives of people. They don’t care much about the driveway or the copier, which are tools for the church’s mission. What people really care about is where the church is working to help transform lives; where their gifts are supporting God’s work in the world. What difference did the Christmas baskets make to those 12 families?
The best stewardship letters and minutes for mission engage the congregation by sharing stories that tie their stewardship directly to your church’s mission. “Because of your generosity, we are able to….” A well-communicated story can make all the difference.
Please call or email if I can be helpful in developing your mission and/or stewardship efforts. I’m here to help!
Grace and peace,
Rev. Rhonda Kruse
Transitional Presbytery Leader