Here are Three Tips for Talking About Giving to Your Church

Share Stories of Lives Changed

When your church does outreach or is able to help someone in your church or community in a meaningful way, make sure you document that story. It can be a video of people doing the outreach or of a testimony that is filmed. Show that video, or tell the story during the giving portion of your church service. Afterward, let people know that your church would not be able to make this kind of difference in people's lives without their financial giving.

Take Pressure Off Instead of Adding Pressure On

You may have seen the person on television claiming that the power will be cut off to the church if you do not give right now. That is not the way to talk to people about giving because it adds pressure to them. They may donate the first time, but afterward, they will feel manipulated and will not give in the future.

Developing long-term givers is about building trust, and you do that by taking pressure off of people. During your church service, let people know that there is no pressure to give if they are there for the first time. If you are a member, then now is the time that you can give as part of your worship and returning thanks to God.

Give People the Chance to Prepare

If you are going to ask your church to give to a special project or in a way that is above and beyond the typical opportunity to give in your church, then you need to provide them with the chance to prepare. Do not make that ask suddenly.

Here are a few ways you can prepare people to give in advance:

1. Mail a letter to your members to let them know there is a particular project you will be asking them to give to, why it is important to donate, and when you will be making the ask.
2. Announce in church during the weeks leading up to the ask that you want them to know in advance that you will ask them to give so that they can have time to talk about it as a family and pray about it before giving.
3. Communicate the ways that people can give online as well as in person. Putting this information on the screen during your church service is especially helpful.
4. One simple way you can take pressure off people when talking about giving is to ask them to ask God what they should do. This shows people that, ultimately, your trust is in God and not in money.

Want word-for-word scripts and a complete plan for the biggest giving season of the year? Download the free Year-End Giving Playbook at buildthe.church.