5 Steps to a Successful Stewardship Ministry

Over the past decade, Gateway Church has developed a stewardship ministry that serves more than 3,000 people a year with 170 stewardship classes. The charge is led by Gunnar Johnson, who is often asked: ?What does it take to develop and maintain a successful stewardship ministry??

Gunnar says it?s really an easy ministry to keep running if you start with a little bit of guidance on the front end. Too many churches start off just thinking in terms of curriculum. People from the congregation aren?t as receptive to this approach because the church is often violating the very principles they are teaching.

Gunnar has a passion to help other churches create thriving stewardship ministries like the one Gateway enjoys, so he has shared five steps that have helped to make theirs so successful:

1. Determining Vision

Gunnar said it's key for the senior leader to be involved in this discussion. The vision of the stewardship ministry must tie into the church?s other ministries from the get-go. Gateway?s pastor had a vision for the people of the church to be radical givers and good stewards. At the same time, God had spoken to Gunnar about building a comprehensive stewardship ministry. Their vision was birthed out of 1 Timothy 6:17?19:

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

These verses lay out exactly what good stewardship looks like: People would be generous, have margin, and put their faith and hope in God. They would not be materialistic, and they would be building up their lives in contentment and serving the Kingdom.

?I think each church has its own unique vision,? Gunnar said. ?There?s not a single mission statement for every church. The leaders of the church have to get together and decide: How are we going to teach on money? They have to determine it from the head. It?s not about starting a class because we should or because giving is down.?

2. Creating Mission

This is when you ask: ?Why are we here? What are we doing? What is our purpose?? Gunnar says mission and vision are easily confused. Gateway sees their mission as being the Great Commission. ?We are going to launch these people out to do what God wants them to do. Our mission isn?t just to teach them biblical principles, it?s to get them active in their faith,? he said. ?At the end of all of our lives, each one of us has a date with Christ. I want every person in our church to hear, ?Well done, good and faithful servant,? because they have been faithful with their time, talent, treasure.?

3. Setting Objectives

Now it?s time to create something you can put your hands on and answer, ?How can we actually do this?? Objectives need to be meaningful, measurable, manageable.

Gunnar explained Gateway?s five straightforward stewardship objectives:

  • To create givers: Not so we can raise the budget or bring in more money, but because God does something in people?s lives when they allow Him to change their perspective about money.
  • To have Christ-centered stewards: I don?t want them to just get wealthy. If they do, I?m okay with that. But whether they have a lot or a little, I want them to be Christ-centered and know what God has purposed them to do with money.
  • For people to be biblically literate: We want them to know what the Scriptures say?where it is and how to do it. Theories come and go. If someone comes in and tries to sell them a bill of goods, we want them to know how it violates biblical principles. If they are being told to leverage debt, they?ll know the truth of Proverbs 22:7 that tells us, ?The borrower is the slave of the lender.?
  • For people to be debt-free: Debt chains us to our past and robs us of our future. If I open a credit card to buy Christmas gifts, it chains me to that year?s Christmas and robs me of what God may have for me. I don?t want the mistakes of my past to hinder my future. That?s what inspires me about being a Christ follower. He gives us the opportunity to erase the past: sin debt and financial debt.
  • For people to be savers: The Bible tells us that wise people save money. A debtor loses opportunities, but a saver is ready when God presents them.

4. Building a Strategy

This is when you determine how, when and where you will meet your objectives. Now is the time to talk about the curriculums out there and how they might fit in. Gateway categorizes people as struggling, stable, solid, or surplus and ministers to each of those groups in different ways. For the struggling it?s a compassionate yet accountable process of benevolence. For the stable and solid, they offer all kinds of classes with practical application. Those with surplus are treated differently, but not better because they have wealth. They experience a time-intensive, slow-going process that helps them become good managers of their wealth.

5. Determine Your Tactics

This is where you lay out your plan. For example, Gunnar said they are planning to run Financial Peace University (FPU) in the spring. He knows how many memberships he needs to buy, has the room secured, a team to run it, registration set up. They do this for each area of their strategy. It?s a calendar-heavy step, and a lot of work goes into it based on their overarching visions and goals.

Once you work through these five steps, you can pull back at any time and ask: Are we meeting the goals we?ve set? Things are going to change from year to year, and that?s okay. ?God will give us a new revelation and call our church to do that, and we?ll move into that,? Gunnar said. ?But creating a healthy stewardship ministry is much deeper than just starting a class. ?

By laying a foundation of interconnectedness with other ministries with leadership support, you will invite a spirit of unity, and where there is unity, there is blessing.

Dave Ramsey has created a program called Momentum to lock arms with churches that want to do just that. Momentum is all about bringing people back to God?s view of money management and cultivating a culture of lasting generosity. Discover today how Momentum can help your congregation.

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Source: http://www.daveramsey.com/article/5-steps-to-a-successful-stewardship-ministry/lifeandmoney_church

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SPOTTED: Elizabeth Taylor's Custom Made 1956 Continental Mark II

Lincoln did not have any new cars to debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show this week, so it brought some classics to show off instead.

Among them was a 1956 Continental Mark II, custom made for Elizabeth Taylor (explaining the license plate), with a paint job and interior designed to match her eyes.

Other famous owners of the 285 horsepower Continental Mark II included Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Dwight Eisenhower, and Nelson Rockefeller.

Have you spotted a rare or unusual way of getting around in your travels? Did you take a photo? Do you like sharing? Let me know via e-mail:adavies@businessinsider.com or on Twitter: @adavies47.

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SEE ALSO: Car Reporters Went Crazy For The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series

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We Don't Recommend It, But Here's How To Use The Latest Sexting App

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Snapchat, a photo-sharing app, has seen massive growth since launching last year in September.

We are convinced that that runaway growth has a lot to do with features that make it ideal for sexting, or sharing risqué photos of yourself with friends.

Or "friends," we should say, who turn around and share those photos with others or post them online.

Snapchat is pretty simple to use. You take a photo, send it to a friend, and decide how long they can see it for, anywhere between one and ten seconds. After that, it's gone.

Click here to jump straight to the slideshow >

Sounds like a pretty good way to send naughty photos, right?

Wrong.

There's no such thing as safe sexting.

While Snapchat tries to deter users from taking screenshots, it's definitely still possible to do it.

Snapchat requires you to keep your finger on the photo the entire time you're looking at it, so mobility is limited. But anyone with two hands can easily figure out a way to make it work. Still, you need to be quick because the clock is literally ticking.

Snapchat will let you know if someone took a screenshot of your photo, but at that point, it's too late because now that person has their own copy of the picture to share with who knows how many people.

At least you've been warned.

We've asked Snapchat founder Evan Spiegel about all the sexting-friendly features he built into the app. After all, why worry about people sharing your photo if it's an innocent snapshot?

He hasn't responded to our questions, asking instead if we've used the app.

We have. It is possible to keep it clean while using Snapchat, as we're doing in this walkthrough. But it also gave us a clear picture of how teens might use the app in the real world.

Click the button on the right-hand side to add friends to share photos with.

You can pull in friends from Facebook or your address book.

Let the sexting begin! Take a picture of yourself or anything, really.

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/businessinsider/~3/1tuEi1lW2Zo/how-to-use-snapchat-2012-11

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DEAR CFA TEST TAKERS: Here's The Most Important Advice You'll Ever Get

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NOTE: We featured this post before the June CFA exams.  The feedback was positive, so we're running it again for you December 1 test takers.
-----------------

I'm not going to give you any tips on how to memorize formulas.  I'm not going to tell you how you can construct an efficient study schedule.

I just have one word for you: coffee.

Maybe Red Bull or some other energy drink is your preferred source of caffeine.  But whatever it is, drink it up!

Test-takers are often told that they have an average of 90 seconds to spend on each question (120 questions for each 3-hour section).  As such, bathroom breaks are often considered wastes of time.

But that's a fatal error.

It's better to be efficient for 5 hours and 50 minutes, then to be inefficient for 6 hours.

So drink your coffee and take your bathroom breaks.


Sincerely,

Someone who sat through and passed all three exams


PS: And don't wear a diaper.  Every CFA test-taker has heard someone joke about this, and some claim they know someone who's done it.  But that's ridiculous.

SEE ALSO: 9 Formulas You Must Know To Pass Wall Street's Hardest Exams

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Apple Takes Back Wi-Fi-Sabotaging MacBook, Replaces It With Shiny New One

Micahel’s new Macbook had a very unusual flaw. Whenever it was connected to his home network, it would take out his modem. Unfortunately, it didn’t take the whole Apple Store’s network down, so he wasn’t able to replicate the problem for the Geniuses. After five trips and a variety of repairs, Apple finally gave up…and gave him a brand new … [More]

Source: http://consumerist.com/2012/11/29/apple-takes-back-wi-fi-sabotaging-macbook-replaces-it-with-shiny-new-one/

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Sprint Raising Rates On Nextel Customers At Same Time As It Shuts Down Nextel Network

It’s been seven years since Sprint merged with Nextel, and there are still millions of customers who continue to use the old Nextel network. With that network’s June 13, 2013 execution date looming on the horizon, Sprint is now jacking up the rates for existing customers in an apparent effort to get them to switch.

Consumerist reader and Nextel user … [More]

Source: http://consumerist.com/2012/11/29/sprint-raising-rates-on-nextel-customers-at-same-time-as-it-shuts-down-nextel-network/

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Flying Fried: Japan Airlines To Start Serving KFC On Certain U.S., European Flights

Full disclosure: We’ve never tried the in-flight fare aboard a Japan Airlines flight, but if it’s anything like the numerous other meals we’ve ingested in midair, it probably clocks in at somewhere around sub-par. So the fact that the airlines will start serving KFC to passengers on certain flights starting next week makes us unsure if travelers will be getting … [More]

Source: http://consumerist.com/2012/11/29/flying-fried-japan-airlines-to-start-serving-kfc-on-certain-u-s-european-flights/

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Fast-Food Workers Reportedly Walked Off The Job Today During NYC Strike Over Wages

Fast-food diners in New York City today might’ve been greeted with a smaller staff than usual, as the “Fast Food Forward” campaign said strikes were scheduled at franchises around the city to protest low wages for employees. Striking workers want to up their hourly pay from the minimum of $7.25 to almost double, $15 and to demand the right to … [More]

Source: http://consumerist.com/2012/11/29/fast-food-workers-walked-off-the-job-today-during-nyc-strike-over-wages/

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Creative Budgeting Tips for Christmas and the Entire Year

Before anyone talks about how it?s too late to save for this Christmas, we would like to point out that it?s never too late to save for an upcoming gift-giving celebration. Obviously, it?s better to start early, which is why putting a plan in place now for your 2013 special occasions is a great idea.

But it?s never too late to save.

Just figure out how much you want to spend, lay out a plan for doing it (such as working extra, selling something, or just simple budgeting), and you?re on your way! Our free custom Christmas budgeting form can help too.

So how do you put together a spending plan in April, or nine weeks out from the event, or while planning for a party that?s 11 months from now? Leave that to the members of My Total Money Makeover! Check out their budgeting tips below. They are easy to implement now and throughout 2013 so you?re set for success all year long.

Extra Paychecks

For people who are paid every two weeks, there is generally an extra pay period twice a year. I use the extra December check this year to cover Christmas. It?s easy. It does not alter my regular monthly budgeting. It is a set, predictable amount. I then create a separate budget for that check. It has to cover presents, special food, Christmas cards, postage, Christmas charities like the Salvation Army bucket, office treats, etc.  ?Jana in Minnesota

A Better Way to Regift

For my budget, I purchased one gift per month starting in September. Also, any birthday gift cards I receive, I use to buy Christmas gifts for other people. It's still for me, but I used my gift to alleviate budget stress and to give to others. I like it. ?Kristie in North Carolina

Got Any Quarters?

Each year I save all of the quarters I receive throughout the year. The quarters I get after filling the car with gas, the quarters received after purchasing groceries ? the list goes on and on. Each year I have around $500. I simply take my jug to the bank so they can exchange it for paper bills. Whatever is there is what I get to spend on gifts. ?James in Minnesota

Gift the Cards

I use the points I earn from my debit card to ?buy? gift cards for my family. They are none the wiser, and my points usually end up right where I need them to be! I don't go into debt, yet I still can get gas, food and merchandise gift cards. It's a win-win to me! ?Jamie in Ohio

Plan Ahead With This Simple Strategy

The overwhelming number of submissions we got on mytotalmoneymakeover.com suggested a very simple and basic strategy. At the beginning of the year, determine how much you want to spend on Christmas. Factor in all the people you want to buy for, spending limits, etc. Divide that dollar amount by 12 and save that amount each month. If you want to spend $1,000, then you set aside 83 bucks a month.

It?s much easier to save $83 a month than it is to spend $1,000 in a mad panic. Even more than that, when you put Christmas on a credit card, you won?t just spend $1,000. Between buying more than you need and paying interest charges, it will be considerably more.

Making a budget for Christmas is good?making one for every month of the year is even better! There are thousands of My Total Money Makeover members making and living on a budget every month. It?s easier than you think! Our budget wizard will get you started in minutes. Sign up for a free trial today and see for yourself.

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Source: http://www.daveramsey.com/article/christmas-budgeting/lifeandmoney_budgeting

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