3 Steps to Create a Culture of Transformational Stewardship
This content was originally created for the 2021 Forum and was taught by Donna Nicholson-Stief, the Director of Stewardship at LCBC Church.
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When people think of stewardship and/or stewardship ministries, what often comes to mind are capital campaigns, pushes to give, and teaching financial education through budgeting classes. While these are fantastic tools that help us grow in the practical areas of finances, is that truly what defines a stewardship ministry? Anyone can be generous, and anyone can manage their finances through budgeting. Applying biblical principles to our finances or attending budgeting classes does not mean our hearts are in the right place when it comes to money, possessions, and our relationship with God.
How do we get people to understand and equate stewardship ministry not just to finances, but with spiritual growth?
An effective stewardship ministry has two parts.
1. Spiritual/Transformational Growth (the condition of the heart)
2. Practical Implementation of Stewarding Finances
There is no shortage of information when it comes to the practical implementation of stewarding finances. A spirit-led stewardship ministry should enable and encourage transformational giving, teaching God’s word, and correcting common misconceptions. What if everyone at your church understood the kind of giving that transforms you from the inside out? What if everyone gave out of a passionate response to the gospel of Jesus Christ and His blood that was shed on the cross, rather than a response to religion, duty, or obligation? Our mission should be to help others understand that stewardship and giving is not an optional part of faith, it’s woven into the fiber of our existence as believers. Giving is just as spiritual as prayer, baptism, or opening up the Word of God. As stewardship leaders, we have a tremendous opportunity to help others see that God wants transformational giving, not transactional giving.
3 Steps to Create a Culture of Transformational Stewardship
1. Evaluate your Church Values at the Core
To change the culture of your church, you have to start from the inside out. The core beliefs of your church come from within the staff. How do your church staff members, employees, and pastors talk and feel about money, giving, generosity, and tithing? If we ever hope to have transformational discipleship among our congregation, it must start through a healthy understanding of giving among the staff. Do not assume everyone is on the same page as you.
Multiply your influence by helping other staff members see the excitement of transformational stewardship. Many pastors feel uncomfortable talking about tithing, but if you talk to them about growing closer to Jesus, they light up with excitement. Our job as stewardship leaders is to help connect those two things: our relationship with God, and stewardship, are closely knit. Helping other church staff members understand this is the first step to take before trying to reach your congregation.
Ask questions to gauge the health of your church staff as it relates to stewardship
How do you feel when the person you have been inviting for months finally shows up and it’s a message on giving?
How do you personally feel about tithing? What do you like, what do you dislike, and do you believe it’s relevant today?
What part of giving do you hesitate to talk about with your attendees?
How closely connected is giving and spiritual growth? Can you not be a giver and still fully follow Jesus?
Do you feel equipped to readily, on the spot, answer hard comments like “the church just wants my money”? Do you feel equipped to quickly identify where that person might be in their heart and then be able to respond to a comment like that and pastor them through it?
To transform your church culture and effectively disciple your people, your staff must be on board with the stewardship mission and equipped to disciple the people they encounter. The questions will help you assess your church’s understanding of stewardship so that you can begin building a culture of transformational stewardship. One person trying to achieve this mission is nearly impossible, but by teaching and empowering your staff, you build an army that will stand by you and help.
If you find that your church is lacking in basic stewardship understanding, here are a few quick ways to help:
Train your staff in stewardship. Have them take the Stewardship Impact Workshop, which is targeted for teaching pastors, church staff, and volunteers.
Teach your staff based on where you feel they are from the results of the questions above.
Create a list of the hardest question/comments that you may face as a stewardship leader and answer them for your staff, so they are prepared to handle them if addressed.
Some Examples:
• The church just wants my money
• Tithing is Old Testament, and no longer relevant
• Why should I trust the church with my money?
By answering these hard questions, not only are you helping your staff be prepared to address them if asked by a congregant, but you are also helping them understand the truth of God’s word behind it. When the link is made between spiritual growth and stewardship, your team will be more excited and willing to help share this message among your congregation.
2. Find Places where Stewardship Language and Discipleship is Missing from Church
Once your staff has been trained and equipped in stewardship, it’s time to begin shifting the culture of the church towards stewardship. Look for ways to begin permeating a stewardship culture throughout the DNA of the church. Some examples of places to begin incorporating stewardship:
• A membership/informational class about the church
• In your children’s ministry curriculum
• Among your youth programs, especially for high school seniors, so they are equipped before leaving the church
Evaluate the language and information that is already existing in your church relating to stewardship. Does your information need to be updated? Does the language need to be enhanced or changed so that it encourages life change and heart transformation over financial obligation?
3. Don’t Wait for a Sermon Series - Start Teaching and Preaching on Transformational Giving
There’s nothing better than coming to church on the weekend to see your senior pastor preaching about transformational giving. But there are 51 other weeks in the year; what will you do in those weeks? You don’t have to wait for your senior pastor to preach on stewardship to begin making changes. Remember, you are the expert! You can be the one who helps people see giving as a joyful, transformational act of loving God and loving others. You can disciple people to see giving as an act of growing faith. We don’t want legalistic givers. We don’t want a church full of dutiful tithers, who give 10% but wrongly think that the 90% is theirs, or that they are “doing God a favor.” We want transformational givers, heart change, and generous lovers of Jesus.
How do we disciple the masses?
Mass communicate teachings about transformational giving. We live in a beautiful day and age where technology keeps us connected in more ways than ever before. Consider creating a stewardship e-communication newsletter, a podcast, or a video series. Send out a stewardship verse of the month. Teach a different principle each time. Send consistent content out to your congregation that communicates the heart of transformational stewardship.
Start a “90 Day Tithe Challenge.” Walk first-time tithers through the journey. Share the heart behind tithing, videos, and other motivational messages that help them understand the tithe and the impact it has on the church and God’s kingdom.
Keep yourself Inspired. It’s hard to minister to others when we are feeling empty or uninspired. Make sure to stay updated on different stewardship-focused resources. Subscribe to our email list to receive weekly articles, read stewardship books, and connect with organizations that share the same heart as you.
Conclusion
Stewardship is so much more than money management, it’s an opportunity for discipleship and spiritual growth. The emphasis on stewardship ministry should always be on how it relates to the life of the believer and their relationship with God, with the focus on growing closer to Him. Changing a culture doesn’t happen instantly; it takes strategy, effort, and time. Remember that the fruit of your effort and hard work will make an eternal impact!
For Further Reading:
How to Teach the Next Generation About Money & Stewardship
Should Your Church Have a Planned Giving Ministry?
The Future of the Church and Giving: A Millennial’s Perspective
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