Resources for Church Leaders & Church Committees:

STATISTICS & TRENDS on Church Giving and Budgeting - Our ministry provides cutting edge www.STATEofthePLATE.info research on CHURCH GIVING & BUDGETING and PERSONAL FINANCES & GIVING.  Click for current and past research results

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FREE eBook: Increase Church Giving...50 BEST Church Practices & 80 BEST Websites

This #1 valuable resource will be a great help to any church to determine proactive and proven ways and resources to help them inspire generosity and increase giving.  Click for FREE 16 page eBook

5 Ways to Inspire Generosity in a Struggling Economy  This article by Brian Kluth appeared in RICK WARREN'S MINISTRY TOOL BOX that is sent to 102,000 pastors and leaders worldwide.   Html File

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Church Stewardship Ideas: 7 Latest Trends on an Old Subject  This article by Brian Kluth appeared in the Religious Products News magazine.   Html File

"40 Day Journey to a More Generous Life"

THIS BESTSELLING BIBLE DEVOTIONAL has over 300,000 copies in print and has been used by HUNDREDS of churches to inspire generosity and increase giving for annual giving, building projects, or debt retirement.

This is one of the few resources available in America that was specifically written to teach and encourage greater Biblical generosity throughout an entire congregation!  Each congregation can decide the "best method" for using this booklet - - distributed churchwide to every family in the congregation and/or to use in small groups/classes. 

For more info - click here    For a downloadable sample - click here

How to Raise the Generosity Tide in Your Church - Why and how to have an effective generosity initiative or stewardship campaign   Html File  Generosity teaching in churches has been declining for decades.  In this vacuum, Christians are living a materialistic lifestyle that has led to a 30 year decline in the percentage of income that Christians give to the Lord's work.  This article outlines an effective plan to help reverse these trends for churches everywhere and any size. 

How To Help Your Church Overcome A Slump In Summer Offerings: 5 Things "Not To Do" and "5 Things To Do"  Html File  Read 5 true-to-life "bad" examples of what some churches do to increase offerings ALONG with 5 pro-active and positive things churches can do to help overcome the impact of a summer slump in their giving.

12-Month Church Stewardship Planning Worksheet AND 50 Best Church Practices & Resources Downloadable PDF Document    This cutting edge resources was developed through Brian's national seminar ministry and his interaction with some of the largest and most influential churches in America (although churches of ALL SIZES will find valuable ideas and resources THEY can put to use in their congregation.

CONFIDENTIAL WORKSHEET: What are the giving patterns in your church?  In many churches, 1/3 of the people give $0, 1/3 give under $500, and only 1/3rd give over $500.  In some larger churches, up to 50% of the giving records are blank ($0).  This helpful confidential worksheet will allow church leaders understand what is happening with the giving patterns in their local congregation.  There is a "blank" worksheet copy for the church to use and a "sample" copy of how to fill out the worksheet.    Download PDF Worksheet

10 Things Every Pastor and Church Leader Needs to Know About Funding Ministry  Html file   Pdf File   Important truths for generosity in your church and financial peace in your congregation

WORKSHEET: Annual Planning Guide with 23 Proven Ideas for Churches  Html file  Pdf File   Use this invaluable planning tool to develop a holistic and strategic plan to increase financial teaching and generosity in your congregation.

Manual: "Because I Love You FAMILY ORGANIZER" This 48-page manual provides helpful information, ideas, and forms to better communicate your medical wishes, financial information, Biblical generosity, funeral planning, and family legacy with loved ones and professionals.  This can be ordered for personal use OR for distribution to all the families in your church, ministry, or group.  CLICK HERE for a DOWNLOADABLE PREVIEW COPY, accompanying sermon message (audio), and/or ordering information.

Guide to Increasing Church Giving for Pastors & Church Leaders  

This 9 page downloadable booklet will share with you WHY and HOW to conduct an all-church generosity initiative to unleash joyful giving in your church.  The guide also gives you the "45 Best Generosity Practices of Leading Churches", a 12 month stewardship planning worksheet, and affordable and easy to use resources for use in your church.  This ebook is included in the  $49.95 special internet price for $800 of downloadable generosity resources.

10 Guiding Financial Principles & Policies For A Local Church  Html file   Pdf File   A helpful resource for your church board or finance team to model or modify for your purposes

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20 FAST FACTS on financial and generosity issues impacting Americans, Christians and Churches  Listen to MP3 audio version   Html file  Pdf File   MSWord    These eye-opening statistics will enable pastors to see the importance of teaching God's Biblical principles on financial and generosity matters.   Listen to MP3 audio version

ONLINE VIDEOS, audio, and handouts of generosity and financial sermons and seminars. 

Click here to go to videos and more.

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 2 page document: 50 BEST Church Practices & 80 BEST Websites to Increase Church Giving

Downloadable PDF Document   The average church only uses 4-10 ways to teach Biblical financial truth and encourage generosity.  But research from some of America's best churches shows their are more than 60 ways to help your congregation in this vital area. Downloadable PDF Document

Controversial question: Should Pastors Know How Much People Give?  One of the most controversial subjects among pastors, church leaders, and members is to try to tackle the question, "Should the pastor know how much people give?"  From Brian experience in training thousands of pastors and church leaders, he has discovered this is the WRONG question to ask.  CLICK HERE to find out what Brian feels is the RIGHT QUESTION to ask about people's giving practices!

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The following downloadable and reprintable GENEROSITY flyers / tracts / pamphlets / booklets can be used in your church to quietly but effectively promote Biblical generosity to EVERYONE in your congregation.  TYPICAL USES of these generosity flyers include: Insert with giving statements, insert in church bulletin, put in your lobby literature racks, put as an article in your ministry's newsletter or website, use during a building campaign to encourage creative and more generous giving, insert in parachurch receipt or fundraising letter, etc.   CLICK TO PREVIEW...

3 Reasons to Do Generosity Teaching Early In the Year Plus a list of proven and ready-to-download-and-use resources to take your congregation to a whole new level of generosity in the coming year.  Html File

How to Serve Your Congregation While Receiving the Biggest Financial Gifts Your Church Will Ever Receive  A new web-based estate planning service can help churches serve their families and also unleash valuable resources for God's work.  Html File

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Biblical Stewardship: Christianity's Silent Subject Html file   Pdf File   An eye-opening summary of why Biblical financial and generosity truths are not being taught in our churches.

Biblical Stewardship: Breaking the Silence Html file  Pdf File  10 important truths and trends about what can be done to address financial and generosity matters in our churches.

How to Increase Your Offerings 10-25%: Important Year End and New Year Generosity Strategies for Churches Html file  Proven strategies churches can use to increase offerings 10-25% or more

Changing Paradigms - The State of Stewardship in the 21st Century  Html file   This message was delivered at a national Generous Giving Conference in Atlanta, GA and delivers valuable insights on matters of Biblical stewardship in our nation, churches, seminaries, ministries and internationally. 

Electronic Envelopes - Allowing Interested Church Members to Give Their Offerings Through Electronic Fund Transfers (EFT) or Online Giving  Html file

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SAMPLE CHURCH POLICY: 90-Day Money Back Tithing Guarantee  Html file  Successfully modeled by John Maxwell, here is a sample policy for allowing you to challenge people to begin tithing their income to God's work

GENEROSITY TRACT/FLYER: Understanding the Grace of Giving  Html file  This article (also available as a flyer that can be purchased or reprinted) gives people valuable insights into why they should be faithful Biblical givers to the Lord's work.

WORKSHEET: Treasurer's Annual Report for Giving Patterns in the Congregation - This helpful worksheet will help church leaders understand what is happening with the giving patterns in their local congregation.  There is a "blank" worksheet copy for the church to use and a "sample" copy of how to fill out the worksheet.   Downloadable MSWord Document   Html

CHART: 21st Century Church Financial and Generosity Trends  Pdf File    This document highlights old and ineffective ways of addressing stewardship in the church with NEW & EMERGING WAYS to impact your congregation with Biblical financial and generosity teaching.

Saddleback Church's Model for Faith Raising, Not Fund Raising  Html file    This Christianity Today article tells how Saddleback Church consistently develops generous givers in their purpose driven model.  Written by Forrest Reinhardt.

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Church Membership Profile and Ministry Worksheet  Pdf File  When people becomes members of your church, here is a sample worksheet you can use to collect vital information that will allow you to steward the human and spiritual resources of people that can is bringing to your church family.

Sample Quarterly Church Financial Newsletters  April Sample Pdf File  July Sample Pdf File  Sample 3 Pdf File   Sample 4 Pdf File   Here are some samples of past quarterly financial newsletters Brian has used in his church.  These samples should give you helpful ideas of what you could include in a financial newsletter you send out with giving statements and giving charts (see below).

Sample Church Financial Newsletter (when the church's offerings were running 16% behind the budget)  Sample Pdf File  Here is a sample of a financial newsletter Brian used in his church when the church was running 16% behind budget as of April 30th. 

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GIVING CHARTS to send with church financial newsletter - These charts will show people if their giving is current or not based upon what they intended to give.   May 31 Chart Pdf file - Jun 30 Chart Pdf file  - July 31 Chart Pdf file 

Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) Companies for Churches and Ministries   www.networkforgood.org   www.vancoservices.com   www.e-tithes.com   www.directtithing.com   www.etransfer.com  www.cathedralstewardship.com  www.smartpaymentsolutions.com   www.egive-usa.com   www.churchwerks.com   www.egivingsystems.org  www.etransfer.com

VOLUNTEER & RETIREE OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE THE LORD  Html file  This list provides contact information for individuals and couples that want to actively serve the Lord, especially during their retirement years.

ALL-CONGREGATION ADULT SURVEY This survey was conducted near the end of a worship service to assess the spiritual life, demographics, giving patterns, ministry involvement, interests, and attitudes towards a pending relocation of the adult members in our congregation.  Congregational Survey   Cong Executive Summary   Excel Tabulations

Church Building Projects and Stewardship Campaigns:

Biblical Resources for Personal Study, Preaching or Teaching:

SERMON SERIES: 20 Biblical Principles for Breaking Free From the Bondage of Money & Materialism  Html file

Money Matters: Biblical and Practical Insights Into Generosity and Finances  Html file   Pdf File   MSWord  This article is taken from a book chapter that Brian wrote for a Broadman-Holman discipleship book entitled, "Christianity: A Follower's Guide"   

Financial Counseling or Resources for Personal Use:

Money Matters: Biblical and Practical Insights Into Generosity and Finances  Html file  Pdf File  MSWord  This article is taken from a book chapter that Brian wrote for a Broadman-Holman discipleship book entitled, "Christianity: A Follower's Guide"

Dealing with Debt Problems - Truths and Tactics on How to Deal with Serious Financial Difficulties   Html file