Let’s face it, all leaders, including church leaders, have to think about finances and managing the budget. While corporate leaders may be concerned about boosting sales, clergy leaders need to maintain financial stability to support their missions effectively, while fulfilling their calling. That takes more than simply budgeting; it takes long-term investment.

You know that the church has been in decline for decades. And most recently, the pandemic and resulting economic downturn taught us how crucial having a financial cushion can be. For a church, that cushion can mean the difference between adequately caring for your congregation and community, and closing your doors.

Now, there’s a place for short-term fixes. A house fire leaves a family in your community homeless. Your church’s food pantry has empty shelves. And that leaky roof needs to be patched before the next storm. These are all immediate needs.

But true church leadership involves building a legacy to ensure a growing, visionary congregation for years to come. That’s where long-term investment comes in.

“But it’s hard to get my people to even fill the offering plate on Sundays!  I’m still seeing nickels and dimes.”

“This isn’t a wealthy community – they need their paychecks to feed their families.  How can I talk to them about the importance of building a financial legacy?”

“Our area has already been hard-hit by climate change. We’re suffering.”

There are valid reasons, as we all know, that people don’t (or can’t) give. As a church leader, caring for our congregations and communities must come before encouraging a long-term financial commitment to the church. If it doesn’t, we’re not fulfilling our calling and we’ll lose the people we’re meant to serve.

But it’s imperative that, as the church leader, you address the issue of finances. Even as immediate needs are being met. It’s crucial for your church to survive and thrive long-term.

5 Ways to Encourage Legacy Building

1) Biblical Principles  Start by grounding the discussion in biblical principles that emphasize stewardship, planning for the future, and being responsible with resources. Highlight passages such as Proverbs 21:20 (“The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down.”) or Luke 14:28-30 and the parable of building a tower, to illustrate the importance of foresight and planning.

2) Education and Awareness  Offer educational opportunities within the church community to help congregants understand the basics of financial literacy and investing. This can include workshops, seminars, or guest speakers who can provide helpful information and guidance on long-term financial planning. Once your congregants understand the importance of long-term planning of their personal finances, it’ll be easier for them to understand why this is also important for the church. And why budgeting for the church not only will help build the legacy, but further their own faith journey.

3) Emphasize the Greater Mission  Highlight how long-term financial stability and growth can directly impact the church’s ability to fulfill its mission and ministry. Explain to congregants that their contributions and investments can have a lasting impact on the community and future generations, including their own children and grandchildren.

4) Make your Stewardship Messages Positive  Focus on the blessings that come from giving and the impact that their giving, especially long-term investing, can have on the lives of others. Remind them that giving back is a sign of gratitude to God for all She’s given them.

5) Be Transparent Be transparent about your own personal financial investments and planning, and why you budget for the church. Talk about your own values, and your mission and long-term vision for your church and community.

By approaching the topic of long-term financial investment with a balance of practical advice and spiritual guidance, you, as a church leader, can help your congregation understand the importance of planning for the future and stewarding resources wisely. Ultimately, the goal is to empower congregants to make informed and responsible financial decisions that align with their faith and support the greater mission of the church.

Broaching financial topics is just another way that being a church leader isn’t always easy. Leadership can be a real struggle.

But it CAN be immensely rewarding, re-energizing, and empowering! Join me on one of my free seminars, “How Christian Ministries are Achieving Success” to find out how to not only build your church’s legacy, but bring lasting, visionary renewal to your congregation and community.

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