WHAT TO DO WHEN THE OFFERING IS QUARANTINED

Many churches are struggling right now financially. This COVID-19 quarantine has forced faithful givers out of work, prevented public gatherings where offerings can be received, and have caused many to limit their generosity out of fear of looming financial crisis.
 
The good news is there are some very practical steps pastors can take to prevent or reverse this trend. In fact, some churches, due to their proactive approach, have experienced an increase in receipts. While every church is different, and there are no guarantees of such results, the following may be helpful as you navigate your church through this financial crisis.
 
DON’T AVOID THE TOPIC OF GIVING
Unfortunately, some pastors have always struggled with the topic of giving. They think tithing messages are painful and offerings are offensive. This attitude has crippled some church leaders with a fear of speaking about money—like it should be avoided or done apologetically. This is a mistake. Tithing is not something to apologize for, it is a principle of blessing and increase provided to us by our Heavenly Father. It is not to be obscured or avoided; it is to be celebrated and practiced as an act of worship that demonstrates our submission to the authority of God over our lives. Even more, it is an act of faith that positions us under the open windows of heaven with blessings too great to contain.
 
REMIND PEOPLE OF GOD’S PROMISES
For those pastors who see tithing as a burden, this season of quarantine brings even greater challenge. Instead of encouraging their people to press into the promises of God, they may be reluctant to discuss giving at all, believing it will put too much stress on their parishioners. I believe however, the opposite approach should be taken. If God’s promises are true—which they are—then they are true in times of plenty as well as in times of want.
 
In this season of struggle, people need to be reminded that this not the time to pull back on their faith and doubt the promises of God. As spiritual leaders—as pastors, we should encourage people to be confident and trust God’s Word. We should remind them that faith is not just for prosperous times, true faith is demonstrated in the lean and difficult times. So, challenge your people, remind them to trust His Word, and do not hold back on addressing the principles of tithing, giving and receiving offerings.
 
Having said that, we need to be sensitive to the monetary struggles people are having during this season. Pastors should never use pressure tactics, guilt or condemnation and should always remember that people need to be encouraged and inspired, not pressured and berated. Indeed, we should talk about giving, but we must do so with wisdom, empathy and compassion.
 
USE SCRIPTED EXPLANATIONS 
Because we are in a challenging season right now, and because people may be under financial strain, it is important that our language be carefully crafted for greatest impact. We also need to be intentional in expressing our compassion and sensitivity to the challenges people are facing. To ensure this is done appropriately, it may be useful to develop scripts which can be memorized for Livestreams or read from teleprompters during recordings. This is especially beneficial when numerous individuals will be making the appeals over the course of the quarantine. This ensures consistency in the messaging. The language should convey sensitive reminders about tithing, giving and generosity as well as clearly explaining the vehicles through which people can deliver their donations. For examples see this link.
 
PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ONLINE GIVING
In this digital age, online giving platforms have become a safe and popular option for congregations. More and more people are moving away from carrying cash or writing checks and are paying bills through electronic means. While it’s true some people may never trust online giving, the vast majority of congregants under 40 are already doing it. If you want to maintain consistent levels of income, especially while church services are suspended, digital giving is a vital tool. Check out this article by Outreach.com that explains the options.
 
MAIL ENVELOPES TO THOSE WHO WON’T GIVE ONLINE
There will always be people who prefer not to use electronic means for giving. Overlooking them is a huge mistake. Just as millennials and gen-xers correctly advise older folks to provide solutions for online giving, it is equally important for the older folk to remind younger pastors not to neglect those who still prefer to write checks. In fact, some of your most faithful, generous and disciplined givers will be the seniors who esteem giving as a regular part of worship. Do a mailing to this demographic of your congregation and include some giving envelopes—if possible, provide self-addressed, stamped envelopes for quick turnaround. Pastors who are doing this report amazing surges in receipts in the weeks following.
 
CONNECT WITH TOP GIVERS
Don’t assume your top supporters are connected, committed or even concerned. Reach out to them and stay in touch. Assure them of your prayers and availability during times of stress. This is a crucial task for the primary leader or lead pastor to undertake. Be sure to tighten the bonds with those who enable your ministry. Remember, the enemy is not practicing social distancing and is actively seeking ways to pull your team apart.
 
COMMUNICATE FREQUENT UPDATES – AND REMIND PEOPLE TO GIVE
In times of crisis, leaders need to communicate more frequently. This is not to say that pastors should flood their Facebook with devotionals and a plethora of electronic media. It is to say that (from an organizational perspective) people need to be informed regarding the status of the church, opportunities for ministry and vital information that may be of interest to them. Essentially, they need to know their leader is visible, accessible, aware, in charge and (as much as possible), in control. These updates could come in the form of a weekly email, a video on YouTube or social media posts. One thing that should be present in every update is a reminder about giving—using the scripts mentioned above. People need to be challenged in their faith, reminded that the promises of God are still true, and they can give with the assurance that God is in control.
 
DEMONSTRATE CREDIBILITY
The greatest asset a pastor has when encouraging his people to give is his own integrity. People do not (and should not) respond to emotional appeals or manipulative gimmicks. Sure, some preachers have used these ploys and have seen short term spikes in giving—but in the long run, their credibility weakens, people feel abused and the kingdom of God suffers harm. Never resort to hyped up appeals, guilt and condemnation, or twisting of scripture to motivate giving. Instead, lead with integrity and allow your humility, honesty and transparency to inspire people’s trust when responding to your appeals.
 
HIGHLIGHT INTEGRITY
George Barna, when noting a declining trend in tithing and giving, stated the foremost way a church can get its people to give is to enhance its own integrity and credibility. He wrote “[Church leaders must] show how efficiently the church uses money… they must demonstrate the impact of the ministry… and establish trust and confidence in the leadership of the church.” When church members know that reputable individuals are in place to temper decisions and establish policies, they will be more inclined to support the ministry with generous offerings. It’s about credibility. People need to trust the integrity of the church, and those leading it, if they are to remain faithful in their giving. To that end, remind the church that their trusted leaders are still monitoring the operations of the church, controlling budgets and overseeing spending.
 
EMPHASIZE YOUR VALUE
It is important to inform people that the monies they give to the church are being used for important causes such as community outreach, benevolence projects and support of missionaries. Don’t assume people are aware of the many essential ministries and services of the church—especially those that continue to operate during a quarantine. Share testimonies of how lives are being impacted, how the community is being served, how the gospel is still penetrating nations and how their financial gifts are the key to providing these valuable services