Borrowing and the Church
Borrowing money has become a way of life for many. And credit use raises more than a few questions: what does the Bible say about money? Does church financing have a place in building the kingdom? What...
View ArticleNow is Not the Time to Suspend Capital Campaigns
In recent months I have dealt with three non-profit clients who were thinking about suspending their capital campaign plans due to the dreadful condition of the economy. Several factors led these...
View ArticleCash Equivalents and Alternatives: Reduce the Cash You Keep on Hand
If you handle the finances for your ministry, you know how inefficiency can keep you from staying on mission. And if your ministry is growing, you’re aware of the increased demands being placed on...
View ArticleCash Recycling: Utilizing Cash Donations Without Compromising Deposit Integrity
As a financial decision maker, you have many responsibilities and often not enough time to complete them all. In order to manage this never-ending challenge, you frequently look for ways to make...
View ArticleCash Reserves: How Much is Enough?
We have all either heard or uttered the phrase, "How much is enough?" And the answer always seems to be, "Just a little bit more!" In business, we have also heard the phrase, "Cash is king." During...
View ArticleIs Your Data Secure?
Think for a moment. Where do you keep information about your congregants or donors? In an Excel file on someone's desktop computer? An Access database housed on your laptop? If someone were to steal...
View ArticleEssentials of Fundraising for Churches
When you hear the word “fundraising,” does your heart begin to pound with excitement? Or do you feel the blood drain from your face as you stand in utter terror? For many, the mere thought of raising...
View ArticleFinancial Statements Matter
“What is more, he (Titus) was chosen by the churches to accompany us as we carry the offering, which we administer in order to honor the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help. We want to avoid...
View ArticleHandling Cash
Consider the following scenarios: (1) A newspaper headline reads: “Sticky Fingered Deacon Pads Wallet with Offering Plate Funds.” Nobody wants this humiliating portrayal of their church to appear in...
View ArticleHow to Look Like a Borrower
One of the most significant events in the life of your church is preparing for a building project. A new building can mean an opportunity to start new ministries and grow those that exist. It means...
View ArticleLiquidity: How Much is Enough?
We have all either heard or uttered the phrase, “How much is enough?” and the answer always seems to be, “Just a little bit more!” For ministries, resources are limited. Determining how much liquidity...
View ArticleLiquidity: Managing Ministry Funds During Tough Economic Times
Managing ministry funds is a challenging responsibility, especially during tough economic times. In response to this challenge, Evangelical Christian Credit Union (ECCU) has published a number of...
View ArticleRenting Versus Buying Your Church’s Facility
God called you to plant a new church, and you’ve followed His calling. For the last year (or two years or five years), you’ve been renting adequate facilities to meet your congregation’s needs. You...
View ArticleWhen to Build or Not: Construction Can Make or Break a Ministry
You have a good problem—your church attendance is growing and you’re busting at the seams. Having found a great location in the heart of your community, your church has purchased some nice land....
View ArticleWhen to Finance or Not: Are You Ready For Debt?
The attendance is climbing and the membership is growing. Each Sunday you notice there are fewer empty seats. With three services already in place, you wonder how many more people you can accommodate...
View ArticleYear-End Giving and Cash Reserves
As we’ve been talking with churches about cash reserves, the topic of year-end giving has been cropping up in the conversations. Now is certainly the time to be thinking about it. An Evangelical...
View ArticleHow to Budget in a Changing Economy
For years, budget planning followed the same pattern for many ministries: Review last year’s budget, gather all wish lists, and increase the budget accordingly. Then we were hit with the worst...
View ArticleFive Questions to Ask Your Banker
What’s on your XP to-do list as the New Year approaches? Year-end giving, for sure. Which is precisely why another item should be on your list. You need to talk with your banker. Why? The annual influx...
View Article
