Stewardship Ideas in the Midst of COVID
II Corinthians 9:11 – “Giving helps us become what God wants us to be.”
Roman 11:36 – “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen”
This text clearly says that everything comes from God – everything happens through God and everything ends up in God.
John Wesley famously said:
Do all the good you can,
By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
In all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as you can.
Wesley believed that all things belong to God. Wesley also knew that knowing God leads to generosity.
The pandemic has created a change in our society like nothing else has ever done. Many churches are still not holding in-person worship services, and many tell me they will continue livestreaming even after in-person worship resumes. It is very clear that stewardship and generosity must change and adapt to this new reality. Giving has changed since we no longer use the standard offering plate passed down the aisles. Giving is now done by the U.S. Postal Service or one of the many new methods of giving weekly, mostly online. Surprisingly, some churches are actually doing better financially than they were before the pandemic.
The one thing that has become evident is that there is a need for increased communication, as well as an increase in pastoral and staff care. Churches that are thriving during this time all have the same story. These churches have increased communication and pastoral care with members. In this time of isolation, church members feel a need for the church to better serve them and communicate in new ways. Churches that are thriving are using Facebook and email to keep up with members. Many small churches are using the telephone in creative ways, and larger churches are using Zoom and other electronic media to talk directly with members. Zoom has shown us that we can meet and not have driving time. Zoom and Facebook have allowed churches to offer daily devotions and a multitude of other events such as vacation Bible school and children’s programs, we could never have had before. Online worship has changed us all. We often now don’t even have to change out of our pajamas to attend worship! We can’t hug our friends, and often the only way to talk to others is by telephone. This is forcing a change in pastors and churches.
Every church needs a finance plan. The Foundation just produced a webinar on “Budgeting for 2021: Some New Considerations.” In this webinar, we discussed how to do a narrative budget. This can be used free of charge by calling us at 804-521-1157. A narrative budget starts with mission and includes all the normal line items, but above all, it starts with mission. It also describes in vivid words how individuals can participate.
Every church needs to take a long, hard look at where they are financially. I John 3:17-18 offers some real help in trying to refocus or develop a new finance plan. The words are: “If you see some brother or sister in need and have the means to do something about it but turn a cold shoulder and do nothing, what happens to God’s love? It disappears… My dear children, let us not talk about love, let’s practice real love.”
Biblical stewardship has to do with how we manage everything in life as a trust from God. Relationships matter the most, and as we come back to what we used to call “normal,” we need to remember that generosity happens when there is trust and a clear vision for the church. The pandemic has isolated us. The “healing ministry” of our church has never been greater. The church can be a healing place and a place that reaches out in the love of Christ. This crisis calls the church to have a resilient stewardship ministry. Isaiah 42:31 says, “But those who hope in the Lord, will renew their strength.”
By the Rev. Tommy Herndon
Image: iStock (?)
