Good Giving in Hard Times!
Did you see the article in May 2009 Christianity Today called “the Non-Profit Surge?” This issue is a great read — and the cover story relates to CT’s survey of 1,800 active Christians and how they might alter their giving. The survey results might surprise you.
Despite a recession (CT says 8.1% unemployment and 10% of mortgages troubled), a total of 34% of the “committed givers” in the survey said they intend to donate more money this year, not less. Another 44% said that intend to give the same amounts this year as last year. Do the math, and only one in five givers indicated that they would be giving less.
My own observations from our church, and from missionaries with whom I’ve chatted, are that people who are still employed and rocking along through life are not afraid to keep giving or even increase giving. People who are between jobs, however, simply don’t have it to give.
The trick for missionaries and church planters and mission-trip goers this year, is going to be to start early, communicate clearly and cast vision strongly. The money is still out there; God wants his people to be giving to missions, and we have not “touched the hem of the garment” in developing missional stewardship among American Christians. That’s why I write these blogs and publish handbooks. All of us who are Christian leaders need to be sounding the trumpet for people to invest more in missions these days, not less.
Jim Walters
Jim@JimWaltersOnline.com
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