10 Creative Ways to Increase Offerings 10-25%

#3 - Personal Giving Testimonies

Before the offering is collected, have an individual or a couple give a personal testimony about how the Lord has taught them to give 10% or more to the Lord's work as their first and highest financial priority. Have them also briefly explain how they've felt about this decision and how the Lord has blessed them for their obedience. Some churches with video equipment have done these as taped interviews and then played them during the service.  Use weekly questions from the www.GenerousLife.info devotional to help people develop their generosity story/testimony.

#4 - Designated Giving

Allow people to give designated "over-and-above-regular-gifts" to a building project, mission's offering or annual faith promise, renovations, or special needs. These usually do not have a negative impact on regular giving.

#5 - 90-Day Tithing Challenge

There is only one place in al l of Scripture that God invites us to "test Him" and that is in the giving of tithes and offerings.  When John Maxwell was still pastoring, once a year, he would issue a 90-Day tithing challenge and promise to return any funds given during this period if people did not experience God's help in their financial lives.  Following the month-long stewardship preaching series, his church would ask regular givers to turn in a card saying they will tithe the next year.  He would ask non-tithers and new people to sign a card saying they would begin to tithe. The church offered a full refund to anyone who tithes for 90 days and then regretted this decision.  For a sample policy from the MAXIMUM Generosity website, click here.

#6 - All-Church Tithing Sunday

Challenge everyone in advance to bring a full 10% of their income as an offering to church on a designated Sunday. A second option is to have people write on a card (without indicating their name) how much their tithe "would be" if they gave 10% of their annual household income to the church. Tally this information and report the totals back to the congregation. People will be amazed to discover that if they faithfully gave 10% of their income to the Lord's work in their local church, that they could expand the church budget 2-4x's for missions, staff, regular operations, and building/renovation projects.

#7 - Pre-Offering Bible Verse, Comments And Offertory Prayer By A Church Leader

I attended one church where a church leader or lay person would read an appropriate Scripture verse on finances, stewardship, or giving before the offering, make a few personal comments about why it was meaningful to him, and then pray for the morning offering. Give leaders a copy of Brian Kluth's internet handout (100 verses to encourage generosity) and try this in your own church.  For a list of these verses, click here.  To order a copy of these verses in weekly PowerPoint slides with attractive photos, click here.  Some churches just show the one of the PowerPoint offertory slides just before the offering is taken and they have the person praying for the offering read the verse on the screen and then pray according to what the verse said.