Start gossiping. Stop giving. Stop attending.

That’s what happens when a church member loses confidence in your church—when they are unhappy, they’ve been let down, or the church has sinned against them.

So far in our Generous Giving series we’ve considered Your Why and we’ve considered Greater Engagement. Now let’s consider the opposite of the above.

Seven Reasons Churches Increase Giving by Increasing the Confidence of Their People

You live biblical purposes. Your members should know your specific, biblical purposes and experience those realities through your church life. It’s one thing to have your guiding principles on your website, it is quite another to intentionally live them.

You demonstrate financial integrity. Your members should have no doubt how their tithes and offerings are spent. Though they may not determine the budget, your members will have great confidence through regular meetings, financial reports, and transparency.

You prioritize next generation ministries. Your members should see evidence in budget and activities of your emphasis on ministry to children and youth. Offering talks, announcements, and social media posts help keep these priorities in the forefront.

You give beyond yourselves. Your members know your church should make an impact beyond your walls. Since your why will include “go and make disciples,” your partnerships through giving and going should be celebrated, promoted, and encouraged.

You tell stories of changed lives. Your members have confidence in an active, impactful church. When lives are being changed and you tell those stories, people are inspired. Christ followers and those still seeking are encouraged by genuine life change.

You call people to live on mission. Your members want to be part of something beyond themselves, and your church on mission can be just that. You are equipping and encouraging them to live beyond themselves, to spend themselves, to love life Jesus.

You have wise, loving leaders. Your members should have confidence in the wisdom and care of your leaders. More so, your people must know you genuinely love them. More than simply telling them, you’ve got to live your love through presence and actions.

The first six reasons don’t really matter if the final reason—loving leaders—isn’t a reality.

Your people will not give generously if they do not trust your love. The less confident they are, the less they trust, the less they engage, the less they give. Everything balances on the Christlike character of your church leaders loving your members.

Be biblical in purpose, have financial integrity, prioritize next gen, and all the things, but most of all, love your people well. You are their undershepherds, pastors, deacons, and leaders called by God, and they want to know you love them like Jesus.

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. ”

— Jesus in John 13:35

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This is the third Generous Giving post. The series starts here.

For four posts on The Great Dechurching, start here.

For three posts on Welcoming Guests, start here.