The below information was sent out in my August 2020 Newsletter to ministry subscribers. Sign up for the newsletter now, for free, by clicking here.
| I’m not sure if you heard David Kinnaman’s (Barna Group) recent interview on NPR’s Here and Now, but he shared some enlightening and challenging statistics about churches. Due to finances, researchers are anticipating up to 1/5 churches closing in the next couple of years. My prediction is that most of these churches will be non-mission driven churches that originate from mainline denominations. Barna’s findings, however, are a wake-up call to all churches to develop a stronger financial plan and invest deeply in donor ministry in the coming months. |
| This recent article in Church Executive magazine does provide some hope for those that want to invest in an online giving strategy. If you don’t have time to read it, the crux of the article is simple: online giving, and ACH giving to be specific, needs our constant attention in this season. Some of Church Executive’s findings are below:ACH donors give more than double ($1,700 versus $650) in a 12-month period than those using paper check, credit card, or other means. 71% of ACH donors authorize automatic donations on a set schedule; compare this to only 9% of donors using other payment types. Members who donate electronically give more per person than those who give via the offering plate. During a recent Sunday service, the average check was $235. Of those who gave electronically, the average donation was $347. |
In the evolving situation of 2020, staying on top of giving and technological trends is more important than ever. Please let me know if this information serves you!