Wondering how to approach a stewardship campaign in the era of COVID-19? Ken Sloane of the United Methodist Church offers ideas that affirm the importance of the church’s ongoing mission while being sensitive to economic loss, attentive to people’s experiences and stories, and grateful for all gifts. (Photo: www.inkmedia.eu, Creative Commons)
Among the character traits that any good disciple should exhibit, generosity ranks pretty high. Not surprisingly, the Bible has a lot to say about the benefits of developing a heart that is inclined to share, to give and to love. Check out these four short devotionals on generosity, from biblelessonstuff.com. (Photo: Alvanman, Creative Commons)
An church endowment fund can help provide financial stability and encourage good stewardship practices. This guide from lays out some good principles and tips on how to get started. This is from the ELCA Foundation. Most denominations have a similar ministry that serves their congregations.
The pandemic has challenged how churches operate, but most congregations are getting by as they adopt creative strategies to adopt to the new normal, a study by the Lake Institute on Faith & Giving. How is your church faring? (Image: AJC1 i, Creative Commons)
Pandemic fatigue is sweeping our nation as the Covid-19 crisis drags on, but that’s no reason to stop doing all you can to protect yourself. Good, regular exercise can boost your immune system and help you stay as healthy as possible. Even a moderate regimen, such as a regular brisk walk, can do a lot, […]
How many times a day can you say “thank you” to someone? That’s the theme challenge in November’s Stewardship Toolkit, a communications package offering a newsletter article, Sunday bulletin snippets and resources to explore the theme. By Rob Blezard, SOLI web editor. (Photo: Ken, Creative Commons)
The 2020 report by Giving USA, a credible source on American philanthropy, outlines deepening problems and worrisome signs for religious nonprofits. Nearly every church is feeling financial pressure from these trends. From Horizons Stewardship.
How much does it really cost to operate your building ? Sure, you can add up the budget line items for heat, electricity, custodial services and so on, but that gives you only the total. This downloadable spreadsheet will help you calculate the cost per foot, per hour. From the Episcopal Church Foundation. (Photo: Anssi […]
Thousands of plants, many of which certainly contain elements for healing medicines or nourishing food, are in danger of extinction from climate change and habitat loss, says the U.K.’s Royal Botanic Gardens. The study calls for plant conservation and stepped up research to identify plants before its too late. The BBC reports. (Photo: U.S. Forest […]
More time spent outdoors — and less in front of a screen — improves mental health in youth. Researchers found that kids who spend lots of time on digital devices are more likely to have emotional problems and show signs of aggression and ADHD compared to kids who played outside. (Photo: Woodley wonderworks, Creative Commons)
