The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod

1333 South Kirkwood RoadSt. Louis, Missouri 63122

1-800-248-1930

“Connecting the Mission and the Money”

“What on earth are you doing for heaven’s sake”

“Right and Wrong Ways of Doing Things”

Holding a golf club

Developing an investment plan

Recruiting volunteers for congregational activities

Raising Money for Your Ministry

St. Lucre Lutheran Church

“Yes, we care about people, but what we really care about is your money!”

Really???

How is money handled in your congregation?

Lead with your need? Present the budget and challenge

people to meet it? Conduct a pledge program to meet

the budget? Put money statistics regularly in

your worship bulletins and newsletters?

The Big Questions

What do we communicate as our mission or passion?

What are we as God’s people to be about--or how do we keep the main thing the main thing?

Heaven greeting Jesus after the Ascension

The angels greeting Jesus

A conversation that might have taken place

The surprising conclusion

“There is no plan-B!”

The Great Commission

All authority has been given to ME

When going… Make disciples… By baptizing… By teaching… And I am with you

always

The Need is Great

Largest Christian church in the world?

Largest Mosque in the world? What reaches twice around the

world and is getting longer? Well over half of Americans do not

attend church regularly!

The Need Continued...

People exaggerate church attendance by about 100%

About half of all churches in America did not add one new convert in the past year

More churches close (3,750) than open (1,300) annually

“Lost people lose” (85-1 ratio)

Why aren’t we reaching the unchurched?

Spiritual lethargy Growing inclusivism Growing disbelief in hell Busyness Fear of rejection Desire to be tolerant Losing the habit of witnessing

Why aren’t we reaching the unchurched? (cont.)

Lack of accountability Failure to invite We go to churches that do not

reach the unchurched THESE ARE REASONS BUT NOT

EXCUSES!

Profile of the Unchurched

Unchurched not anti-church 17 million+ people likely to accept

Christ; another 43 million are close (Ablaze Goal)

Most unchurched believe in heaven and hell

Most unchurched have a high view of the Bible

Profile (continued)

Would rather talk to a layperson than a pastor about matters of faith

Easter still a key time to invite Many wonder why Christians do not

invite them to church Most have a spiritual view of life

(1/3 of atheists make that claim)

The Rainer Scale

U5 - highly resistant, hostile (5) U4 - resistant but not hostile (21) U3 - neutral, perhaps open to

discussion (36) U2 - receptive (27) U1 - highly receptive (11)

The Need is Obvious!

The harvest fields are ripe

Many will be receptive

We are God’s instruments

The time is now

Twelve Keys to an Effective Church

Specific mission objectives Pastoral and lay visitation Corporate, dynamic worship Significant relational groups Strong leadership resources Streamlined structure and solid

participatory decision-making

Twelve Keys to an Effective Church

Several competent programs and activities

Open accessibility High visibility Adequate parking and land Adequate space and facilities Solid financial resources

Satisfaction and Dissatisfaction Levels

Success in the first six keys raises the level of satisfaction

Success in the second six keys lowers the level of dissatisfaction

Stewardship is a critical part of the picture!

Christian stewardship is the free and joyous activity of the child of God and God’s family, the church, in managing all of life and life’s resources for God’s purposes.

Maturing stewards do the right things for the right reasons!

Managing money is only one part of stewardship

Time Talent Treasure Testimony Tissue Trash Totality

But managing money is critical to stewardship

Positive sharing of what the gifts of God’s people are doing

Developing a “narrative budget”

Connecting mission and money

Stewardship flows out of changed hearts

The Macedonian Christians

Not wealthy... But wanted to

participate “They gave

themselves first to the Lord and then to us…”

Connecting Mission and Money

Closely related Mission without

stewardship is impossible

Stewardship without mission is superfluous

LCMS Mission Statement

In grateful response to God’s grace and empowered by the Holy Spirit through Word and Sacraments, the mission of The LCMS is vigorously to make known the love of Christ by word and deed within our churches, communities and the world.

ABLAZE!

Praying to the Lord of the Harvest, LCMS World Mission, in collaboration with its North American and worldwide partners, will share the good news of Jesus with 100 million unreached or committed people by October 31, 2017.

“One Mission ABLAZE…Igniting the Flame”

Is your congregation’s mission statement one that makes your congregation an inviting and encouraging place?

Does your mission statement have an outward focus or an inward focus?

What about your congregation?

Mission statement?

Vision statement? Core values? Connection

between mission and money?

Practical Suggestions

Pray for lost people Remember that all people (also the

unchurched) are looking for transcendence, significance and community

Champion a face-lift at church Be more visitor friendly Create “side door” events

Practical Suggestions (continued)

Start a new worship service Revise church budget for outreach Make friends with the unchurched Hire a “paid guest” to give you a

candid evaluation of a visitor’s view of your congregation

More Practical Suggestions

Don’t just invite the unchurched, but offer to take them with you or meet them in the parking lot

Remember that those who just drop in are probably either in a “crisis situation” or “church shopping”

Make a Difference!

Connect Mission and Money in the right way

“Money really does follow mission”

“Be an ABLAZE mission outpost”

“One Mission ABLAZE…Igniting the Flame”

“What on earth are YOU doing for heaven’s sake?”

www.lcms.org/stewardship