“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” – Matthew 5: 16.
Being an institution of God, churches are supposed to have the prime goal of helping those that cannot help themselves right now, so that they reach a position in their own lives where they no longer need the help, but can offer their own assistance to those that need it in the name of the Holy Spirit.
It’s not an easy task though, especially if the pastor does not have a definite plan for his congregation that is founded in reality and in line with the present times. Let’s now focus on a few strategies that should provide a bit of guidance in founding that solid plan for helping your church be more capable of providing God’s help through practical, mortal hands!
Understanding the Necessity of Gaining Financial Strength and Channelling the Same onto the Needy
It would be a bit too much to state that a church should be run like a business, because the clergy did try it once in the Middle Ages, and it didn’t work out well for anyone in the end! That being said, spirituality and financials may not immediately seem like coexistent concepts, but in the real world that we live in, they have to be. If you want to help others in need, your church must first gain financial footing to offer that aid freely and in abundance.
Fundraising is typically among the responsibilities of a youth pastor and it is vitally important for growing and maintaining a congregation. Successful fundraising can offer events and activities that nourish spiritual growth and build overall community. It can also be used to provide needed resources for members, such as physical supplies, ongoing education, and relationship-building opportunities. In addition, fundraising encourages meaningful conversations related to faith, hope, and charity – essentials in building a healthy religious culture. With all these possible meritorious outcomes, it’s clear why fundraising has become an essential component of a successful church community.
How Can a Pastor Generate More Funds?
As for how a pastor should go about achieving that, adopting at least a few of the following fundraising methods should prove to be quite useful:
- Find the most affluent members in your congregation and make them a part of the programme
- Open an online payment gateway for your church to receive donations without a lower limit
- Make your plans and goals to help the poor, the orphans and others in need, transparent both offline and online
- Couple a fundraiser with a fun, social event to encourage wider participation
- Encourage your present members to bring in others during the aforementioned events
- Reach out to other churches for help with our goals; it’s not a competition between two businesses
Reduce Expenses Where You Can
Reducing expenses may prove to be difficult task at times for a church, but it isn’t entirely impossible either. For example, a pastor can instruct each member of the congregation to bring in food to feed the homeless and the less fortunate. Depending on who someone is and what their financial status is, the capabilities will vary, but when all participating members decide to share their food, every shelter run can be quite a success in its own scale. The same applies to donating clothes during the winter, building shelters for the homeless, and the list continues.
Going Beyond Finances: Offer and Accept More Help from Others than Just Food and Clothing
A pastor well versed in modern and Christian counselling can offer significant help to those suffering with addiction issues, depression, anxiety, etc. Even when you are not able to help everyone you want with the funds you have, it is perfectly plausible to try and help others who need spiritual guidance and a bit of professional therapy!
If and when someone is willing to help with their time rather than money, welcome it as no less important than financial help because it most certainly isn’t. See if the congregation members have any skills that they can use to help the church in its Holy goals.
Adopting Technology to Its Full Effect
A pastor can use the funds from his fundraising events to further promote his church on social media channels and gain a much larger presence in the next fundraiser. To decrease costs, they can use a web platform like Utility Bidder to compare quotes and get much better church energy rates from the utility providers. Then there is the option to use social media groups and instant messaging services to stay in sync with and engage more church members, while adding new ones every day.
The possibilities of technology and especially the connective nature of the internet and social media is tremendous in propagating your church goals. It can also help you in reaching out to people who are in need of the help that your church is willing to offer.
“in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” – Thessalonians 5: 18.
If we were to go by the verse above, then we have only God to thank for the modern technology that He Himself has made the way for us to access. Therefore, never be afraid to adopt it and bring your church up to date with the modern times if it can help the church and its humanitarian goals.