{"id":31468,"date":"2022-09-10T15:31:36","date_gmt":"2022-09-10T20:31:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/7-keys-to-a-strong-offering-time-during-an-online-service\/"},"modified":"2022-09-10T15:31:36","modified_gmt":"2022-09-10T20:31:36","slug":"7-keys-to-a-strong-offering-time-during-an-online-service","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/7-keys-to-a-strong-offering-time-during-an-online-service\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Keys to a Strong Offering Time During an Online Service"},"content":{"rendered":"
Getty image <\/p>\n

By Todd McMichen<\/em><\/p>\n

I\u2019m inspired by how the local church is responding to this new COVID-19 ministry season.<\/p>\n

At first it was unsettling as we walked through the reaction stage two weeks ago. Pastor after pastor was going live and communicating a brand new plan as changes were being forced upon us in uncontrollable ways.<\/p>\n

Then we moved into response stage. The climate for the next few weeks seemed more clear and plans were being made. All the programs had been cancelled.<\/p>\n

Now we were either going virtual or doing drive-in church. (You drive-in church pastors are my heroes! Genius move.)<\/p>\n

Now it\u2019s time for the generosity stage. With schedules somewhat settled and two weeks of online offerings under our belts we have both clarity and concern.<\/p>\n

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Here are some thoughts on how to begin leading your generosity ministry with a focus on the offering time.<\/p>\n

1. Make sure the offering moment is not at the end of your service.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

This is especially true if you\u2019re streaming and people start logging out before the service is over.<\/p>\n

However, the bigger opportunity is to properly honor the moment. <\/strong><\/p>\n

2. Shorten your service and expand your offering moment.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In this season attention spans are shorter and the normal service length is probably not best.<\/p>\n

Additionally, you\u2019ll need to provide more instructions related to the offer which will take up time.<\/p>\n

3. Help people get settled and focused prior to your offering moment.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

There has been so much change and disruption that most people aren\u2019t quite ready to hear an important and specific message.<\/p>\n

Use the first part of your service to do two things. First, lift their eyes heavenward. You cannot relieve their burdens; only God can. Lift their spirits.<\/p>\n

Second, remind them of your church vision. We are still the church together doing the same things fulfilling the same mission. Purpose calms us.<\/p>\n

4. Sharpen your generosity message.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

As you lead your offering moment make sure to cover several items.<\/p>\n

First, begin with a generosity story of how your church is already living generously by serving people during COVID-19.<\/p>\n

People need to see how their past generosity is making a difference.<\/p>\n

Second, provide as positive a financial update as possible. Givers want to know their gifts are being handled well.<\/p>\n

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Third, state the obvious: your current ministry spending plan didn\u2019t see COVID-19 coming.<\/p>\n

So you\u2019ve redeployed your resources to minister as powerfully as possible during this season. You\u2019re now turning your church budget into a ministry response fund.<\/p>\n

Fourth, direct everyone to one simple online giving page to facilitate generosity right now.<\/p>\n

I know there are many ways people can give today, but too many options will be confusing during your worship service.<\/p>\n

5. Post links and remind people at the end of your service.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

If people are watching on their device they won\u2019t be able to stop the service to make their gift.<\/p>\n

Post links in the feed and remind people about how to give at the end. <\/strong><\/p>\n

6. Set up a digital giving page that leads with transformation.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Most churches limit their online giving experience to a transactional credit card form or even gate the experience behind a login screen.<\/p>\n

Be mindful that your giving page is now your offering plate.<\/p>\n

People need a transforming worshipful experience that is personally rewarding. You want them to like it and come back for more.<\/p>\n

7. Repeat and remind.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

All week long keep people focused on the few things you\u2019re doing as a church to fulfill the mission. The time for busy church calendars, changing schedules, and temporary confusion needs to subside.<\/p>\n

Engagement is the number one indicator of generosity. Help someone stay connected by simplify your mission, message, and means of staying united.<\/p>\n

This season of virtual church is unlike anything we\u2019ve been equipped to lead and the offering is no different. Running the plays of the past will be limiting.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s generosity season. People understand hurt and want to help. They\u2019re actually already doing it by checking on neighbors and finding ways to serve the vulnerable.<\/p>\n

So if we focus on repairing our budgets instead of living generous lives of community impact, giving might just go elsewhere.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

TODD MCMICHEN (@ToddMcMichen)<\/strong> is Director of Generosity & Digital Giving at <\/em>Lifeway and author of Leading a Generous Church: Making Disciples without Chasing Money.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Getty image By Todd McMichen I\u2019m inspired by how the local church is responding to this new COVID-19 ministry season. At first it was unsettling as we walked through the reaction stage two weeks ago. Pastor after pastor was going live and communicating a brand new plan as changes were being forced upon us in … Continue reading “7 Keys to a Strong Offering Time During an Online Service”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-31468","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sermons"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31468","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=31468"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31468\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=31468"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=31468"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=31468"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}