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Imagine how amazing it would be for your ministry if there was a steady and reliable source of income all year round.  While it may seem impossible at times, it is totally possible and one way of making it happen is by turning irregular contributors into consistent givers.  Aside from the church website design, here are a few ideas that can make a positive impact on the donations your ministry receives.

 

The advent of handy digital solutions has made giving much easier and faster.  Several ministries have launched apps that enable givers to automate their contributions while other apps are set up for the user to make the contribution when it is convenient for them.

Some apps have the option where churchgoers can fund their account so that periodic transfers may be made to the church’s account.  This allows people to set it and forget it, which is quite convenient as many people might be too occupied to remember making the donation.

 

One effective way to transform sporadic givers into faithful givers at your church is to encourage them to give from their heart.  Not just on Sunday but through church bulletins, online sermons, and at special events.  Ministers have also been known to employ a church website design that uses video to inspire people to make donations regularly.  The most vital step you should take is to focus on an effective platform and make digital giving a priority as nothing surpasses that in these modern times.

Obviously, some members of the congregation will prefer to donate during the traditional offering on Sunday.  But if you truly want to turn occasional givers into faithful givers, then you should dedicate your resources to providing a flawless platform for giving.  Often, all it takes is a minor change to the church website design or a mobile app solution to motivate the congregation and non-members to give faithfully!

Many people already subscribe to online services for church websites but what about subscribing to Bible software?  Virtually no one sells such a subscription.  Still, the question of whether or not people will subscribe to Bible software comes down to the convenience it provides in their life.  What should you take into consideration while looking for subscribers?

 

Some Bible software may have an extensive library that would be impractical for devices with a limited amount of storage space.  As a result, downloading and installing might be a little tricky.  Various sellers offer cloud versions with essentially the same functionality as the installed versions.  If churchgoers can find Bible software that offers them such versatility, why would they not subscribe?

 

What most people are unaware of is that it’s possible to have access to a wide array of books for rent.  You could get highly sought after titles for less than $2 per month on up to $50.  A full range of titles being offered through the same comprehensive model at a fair price would likely attract many who worship regularly.  There are providers who offer a rent-to-own arrangement where the buyer pays a small fee each month for an agreed length of time and then they own the books.

 

Provide your subscribers with a library centered on different groups where Bibles and other study tools are available for all people no matter their age or scripture knowledge.  Also, consider offering subscriptions targeted at more complex groups like scholars, missionaries, translators, and ministers.
With a subscription to Bible software, subscribers should have the option to choose elements they want access to and charge them based on that.  Some clients will want a product they can share on church websites so make that possible as it may lead to more subscribers.

Does your church have an aging congregation and you’re struggling to attract younger members?  Maybe you tried upgrading your facilities but it hasn’t produced the results you had in mind.  The secret lies in communication responses and the following suggestions will draw youthful members in a way to ensure they keep coming back.

 

Ministry websites with a responsive website design are those that offer the same look and features despite being accessed from a desktop or a mobile device.  Text and images are resized for optimal viewing on smaller screens.  A majority of younger visitors only use a mobile device for going online so make sure you create a website that prioritizes that type of traffic.

If you have a blog on the church website, tailor the topics to focus on issues that affect the youth such as college and marriage.  Aside from that, consider starting an online community and encourage younger members of your ministry to participate in the discussions.

 

As much as emails and an online community are a viable means of connecting with church members, they are not exactly youth-oriented.  Young people prefer to communicate via their smartphones, mostly through text messaging.  Some use ordinary text messages while others use a texting app so clarify which method works best.

 

When young families come to your church, never discourage them from using a mobile device as that might cause them to search for a different church.  Instead, allow them to read the scripture from their device during the service so they feel welcome.  As a result, they may attend every week and spread the word about your ministry on social media.
That’s why it’s essential for your ministry to have an account on social media channels such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.  Younger people are more likely to join your ministry if you interact with them where they frequently spend time online.

Reliable research conducted by reputable sources like Giving USA indicates religious people are more likely to offer donations to charitable organizations, particularly churches.  Additionally, studies show that even as church attendance declines, the philanthropic tendency of religious people has not.

As a matter of fact, with advancement in technology, your ministry has an even better chance to benefit from online donations.  The best part, today’s technology is all-inclusive and with an excellent church website design, you can make it possible for all age groups to give to your church.

 

Based on the Millennial Impact Report from 2013, more than 80% of the younger generation have given or are willing to give to a charitable organization through an online platform.  As well, younger churchgoers love it when church websites they’re giving to are optimized for mobile browsing.

According to one study, the generation preceding millennials but after baby boomers are similar when it comes to giving online.  In fact, individuals in this age group, Generation X, are likely to donate money to support a cause and give more often than other generations.

Typically, they like to donate and connect with nonprofit organizations through the internet, particularly through mobile devices.  Social media also appears to be a vital engagement channel with more than 40% of them following nonprofit organizations on social networks.

 

The baby boomers, or people who are now over the age of 50, are the top source of income for churches and other charitable organizations.  Many of them still use a traditional method like direct mail to engage with nonprofit places, but their online engagement is growing as technology continues to improve.
Some popular churches use the internet as their primary source of receiving donations.  With that said, make sure your church website design provides visitors and members with the option to donate online.  If not, you could be missing out on donations from all generations!

As a church leader, you need a way of balancing church expenditures to ensure effective improvement of the ministry without straining any members.  Financial tasks such as meeting budget goals, gathering receipts, and possibly reimbursing staff can be tiresome and consume a great deal of your time.

With expense management solutions, you have a convenient means of tracking transactions, allocating funds, and controlling expenses.  Doing so, you’re able to concentrate more on planning the future of your ministry than on daily spending.  The following are a few tech-based ways of managing church expenses easily.

 

It can be hard to predict when members of your congregation need to make church-related payments.  In some cases, volunteers from your church may be on a mission in a neighboring state and need to make a purchase.
With church websites and mobile apps, a request may be made for funds and you can approve them from any mobile device despite your location.  Additionally, mobile apps help your members and volunteers view their spending in real time so they are more likely to regulate it and save as much as possible.

 

The reimbursement process can be time consuming and complicated depending on the size of your church.  Furthermore, asking your staff to use their money on unexpected expenses often puts a strain on their finances, particularly if returning the money takes too long.  Though a credit card seems like a great solution, missed payments and additional fees are a common issue which adds to financial stress.

Prepaid cards with defined limits provide you with a safe means of transferring money.  They also offer you a convenient way of handing cash to volunteers and members of the church.  The last idea is to make use of a cloud-based tool that integrates your current accounting software, like PEX.  This solution may be connected to a mobile app which gives you full access to transactions and helps manage church expenses.

If your church is like most, then you typically deliver your announcement either verbally or via print bulletins.  These two methods of communication may be used to address similar topics but in different ways.  For instance, with verbal announcements, the pastor or selected member brings the best information to the live audience.

They may add fun facts that give life to an otherwise dull message by connecting with the congregation.  On the other hand, print bulletins are meant to act as simple reminders of important news.  How can you ensure that your announcement remains effective all year?

 

The style used for your church can be swayed by many factors.  Maybe you’re used to having a member stand at the front prior to the sermon or afterwards and issue the announcements.  Why not try a live video instead?  It may be more effective than having the announcement given when people are there for the service.  Focus on making it interesting by touching on the main points with clear illustrations.  Last but not least, place the video on your website to get an advantage over other ministry websites.

 

The audience can only process a few announcements at a time so it’s meaningless to issue multiple announcements.  Do you have an event coming up next week?  Rather than giving away all the details, just tell them what type of event it will be, the venue, the time, and other specifics that are absolutely necessary.

If they ask for further details, recommend that they visit your ministry websites.  In the end, realize there’s no need to agonize over this.  The goal is to keep it simple and relevant so remember that when crafting your statements.  Ensure a successful announcement by mentioning what you feel your audience needs to know and include in the bulletin where their questions can be clearly addressed.

Does money seem to be the one aspect holding back your church’s vision?  Maybe you’re looking to expand the borders of your ministry and reach more people with God’s word but there just isn’t enough being given to make that happen.

As a pastor, you might find it hard to talk about money and for the congregation to be more generous in boosting the financial position of the ministry.  Yet, giving is the one action that makes a lasting impact on how a person feels.  Additionally, generosity and true discipleship go together and it’s the duty of any pastor to lead people along the right path.  Below are some ways to boost the giving nature in your church.

 

Often, people are more likely to give when they feel appreciated.  So, before you receive an offering, take a moment to thank the congregation for their kindness and loyalty to the church.  Today, a superior church website design can be very influential towards thanking your followers for giving to the ministry.

 

November and December are the best months to make time for nonprofit fundraising.  A majority of people are used to giving to philanthropic causes near the end of the year.  As a matter of fact, you may get an annual revenue bump of more than 10% if you take advantage of this so consider making this a yearly habit.

 

Some people follow by example and you might agree that if you show them the benefits of a genuinely prayerful life, they devote more time to prayer.  The same case applies for generosity.  If others know you as a being stingy with your resources, they will too but if they see you giving wholeheartedly, they will be more charitable.  In the future, make sure the church website design is configured in a way that inspires church members to be generous so they are able to give at their convenience!

Being a minister means having to deal with a multitude of tasks to support the church and in the midst of it all, you might neglect the most important duty – discipleship.  Discipleship, or helping fellow Christians follow Christ properly, requires an extensive amount of time and focus.  It’s not just about how many are in your congregation, it’s about having meaningful relationships with those that attend church and supporting their faith.  Here are a few ways you can help discipleship flourish in your ministry.

 

Do you remember how Jesus taught his disciples?  He would have them participate in occasions like the last supper or the sermon on the mountain.  One idea worth trying is to divide your congregation into small groups and have them take part in activities such as going on a hike or studying the Bible.  As members work together, they will likely connect more and share what has enhanced their faith.

Another great way of encouraging interaction is to have church members take part in the discussions on ministry websites and social media.  When they share experiences and answer questions from others, they are more inclined to build long lasting bonds which are vital in true discipleship!

 

Naturally, people will choose to connect with others who are closest to their age.  This often happens in church groups but it’s not good for discipleship.  Different generations might have helpful advice to share with each other but this exchange of information may never happen unless you encourage them to come together.

For instance, old couples might have marriage insights to share with young couples.  When these two groups are together, encourage them to share what techniques have helped the most so the generation gap is bridged.  On occasion, evaluate the impact of these tactics by following ministry websites to know if you are helping others live righteously.

As a smaller church, you might feel like technology can do very little to help your ministry.  But, church websites can boost engagement with existing members and attract new ones when the right audience is targeted.
Most of your congregation likely has a smart phone or some other device that they use for connecting to at least one social network.  During that time, they are online and could potentially be visitors of your website.  Use the following online strategy if you have a smaller church.

 

All churches can benefit from a website as it is an excellent place for your content to be organized online despite the size of your church.  If you lack the skills it takes to design a website, contact a reputable designer or firm to have them implement the features you want.  Make sure your website includes a blog, service hours, contact information, links to social media profiles, images, and video of sermons or church activities.

 

A critical mistake often made in marketing is inconsistent branding and you should avoid that when implementing an online strategy for your church.  Use the same logo and maintain the same personality from social media to your website.  People would be confused about your ministry if you use a friendly tone on social media but a serious tone on church websites.

 

Social media reaches a wide audience but results vary depending on how active you are and the way you interact with those who follow you.  Post content regularly and engage members with a variety of images, video, and questions related to sermons.

In order to have success online, you’ll likely need help and members of your congregation are the best group to consider.  Request them to connect with the church profiles on social media and share blog posts from the church website.  As the congregation grows, observe church websites of larger churches to get an idea of what works and implement that to your online strategy.

Technology is improving at a high rate and techniques that worked several years ago may be a waste of time today.  For instance, in 2007, you might have sent messages to your congregation through mail and that was likely effective.  But, is that method as effective now?

With the rising use of the internet, apps and ministry websites can influence the following your ministry has as more people use mobile devices to stay connected.  Here are some apps that can benefit your ministry with regard to communication, creativity, and scheduling of tasks.

 

Typeform helps you prepare reports, surveys, auditions, song submissions, and issue new member sign-ups.  Aside from the money you save by not using paper sign-up forms, Typeform helps centralize your data and eliminates any confusion that comes with outdated excel spreadsheets.

 

Do you still email spreadsheets or print documents to send to church members?  Google Docs has simplified the process as your files are uniform and consistent so members of the congregation know of any changes.  Since documents are updated in real time, members always get the latest version of what the ministry has planned.

 

Trello is a project management app that helps plan your schedule with regard to events, conferences, and services.  This app is easy to use and allows you to keep everything organized as you can quickly view the progress of all projects.

 

Spotify improves the way you play music before, during, and after a service.  If you normally play CD’s, you may have found that they can be slightly inconvenient, right?  The main benefit with playing music from Spotify playlists is that you can update them live and access them from anywhere.

 

Quip is similar to Google Docs but it combines documents and allows discussions to take place without using email.  As a result, each day may be productive as members are able to communicate with each other in real time.  Ministry websites are great for bringing the congregation together through the week while these apps can lead to a better service!