Monday, June 23, 2008
Stewardship E-News, June 08
Bob Tallent, RGTallent@Comcast.net, 856-778-6117
bobbybaptist.blogspot.com
Here is real Help!
I often wonder what I could share out of my personal experience that would be a real help to ministers and churches.
Here is one thing:
Ministers and congregation leaders live in the future! Here we are, almost at the First of July. And many of you are busy with VBS, camps, summer events, not to mention vacations, attending summer conferences, etc. But in the midst of this, fall is coming. And, to be an effective leader, you must begin to plan now for the soon-to-be-upon-us fall season. Now how this may affect different churches with their different styles will certainly vary. But the wise leader does not wait until the last minute.
It may be your time for budget or election of officers or annual planning. What are you going to for the Lord next year? A Revival, a Mission Trip? a new building? start a mission? Add staff?
And maybe this will mean that you will need to increase the giving in your church. Maybe you need to plan a stewardship campaign! Or maybe your church is not giving as much as it should to missions. Maybe you need to lead you church to increase its gifts to the Cooperative Program.
Let me say that planning by itself is not a panacea. All planning should be bathed in prayer. It is not wise to make your own plans and than ask God to bless them. So I believe that the very first step in planning is to earnestly seek the leadership of the Holy Spirit.
But by starting early, you will have time to assemble equipment and supplies and even special speakers and make whatever other arrangements you may need to. And it will give you time to meditate and let your thoughts mature on your plans.
The very word “Leader” means that you are going somewhere and that the leader knows where--and he or she knows the way to get there!
At least some thought should be given to tomorrow—right NOW! Happy trails!
# # #
Bob Tallent, RGTallent@Comcast.net, 856-778-6117
bobbybaptist.blogspot.com
Here is real Help!
I often wonder what I could share out of my personal experience that would be a real help to ministers and churches.
Here is one thing:
Ministers and congregation leaders live in the future! Here we are, almost at the First of July. And many of you are busy with VBS, camps, summer events, not to mention vacations, attending summer conferences, etc. But in the midst of this, fall is coming. And, to be an effective leader, you must begin to plan now for the soon-to-be-upon-us fall season. Now how this may affect different churches with their different styles will certainly vary. But the wise leader does not wait until the last minute.
It may be your time for budget or election of officers or annual planning. What are you going to for the Lord next year? A Revival, a Mission Trip? a new building? start a mission? Add staff?
And maybe this will mean that you will need to increase the giving in your church. Maybe you need to plan a stewardship campaign! Or maybe your church is not giving as much as it should to missions. Maybe you need to lead you church to increase its gifts to the Cooperative Program.
Let me say that planning by itself is not a panacea. All planning should be bathed in prayer. It is not wise to make your own plans and than ask God to bless them. So I believe that the very first step in planning is to earnestly seek the leadership of the Holy Spirit.
But by starting early, you will have time to assemble equipment and supplies and even special speakers and make whatever other arrangements you may need to. And it will give you time to meditate and let your thoughts mature on your plans.
The very word “Leader” means that you are going somewhere and that the leader knows where--and he or she knows the way to get there!
At least some thought should be given to tomorrow—right NOW! Happy trails!
# # #
