The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod 1333 South Kirkwood Road St. Louis, Missouri

“Connecting the Mission and the Money” “What on earth are you doing for heaven’s sake”

“Right and Wrong Ways of Doing Things” l Holding a golf club l Developing an investment plan l Recruiting volunteers for congregational activities

Raising Money for Your Ministry l St. Lucre Lutheran Church l “Yes, we care about people, but what we really care about is your money!” l Really???

How is money handled in your congregation? l Lead with your need? l Present the budget and challenge people to meet it? l Conduct a pledge program to meet the budget? l Put money statistics regularly in your worship bulletins and newsletters?

The Big Questions l What do we communicate as our mission or passion? l What are we as God’s people to be about--or how do we keep the main thing the main thing?

Heaven greeting Jesus after the Ascension l The angels greeting Jesus l A conversation that might have taken place l The surprising conclusion l “There is no plan-B!”

The Great Commission l All authority has been given to ME l When going… l Make disciples… l By baptizing… l By teaching… l And I am with you always

The Need is Great l Largest Christian church in the world? l Largest Mosque in the world? l What reaches twice around the world and is getting longer? l Well over half of Americans do not attend church regularly!

The Need Continued... l People exaggerate church attendance by about 100% l About half of all churches in America did not add one new convert in the past year l More churches close (3,750) than open (1,300) annually l “Lost people lose” (85-1 ratio)

Why aren’t we reaching the unchurched? l Spiritual lethargy l Growing inclusivism l Growing disbelief in hell l Busyness l Fear of rejection l Desire to be tolerant l Losing the habit of witnessing

Why aren’t we reaching the unchurched? (cont.) l Lack of accountability l Failure to invite l We go to churches that do not reach the unchurched l THESE ARE REASONS BUT NOT EXCUSES!

Profile of the Unchurched l Unchurched not anti-church l 17 million+ people likely to accept Christ; another 43 million are close (Ablaze Goal) l Most unchurched believe in heaven and hell l Most unchurched have a high view of the Bible

Profile (continued) l Would rather talk to a layperson than a pastor about matters of faith l Easter still a key time to invite l Many wonder why Christians do not invite them to church l Most have a spiritual view of life (1/3 of atheists make that claim)

The Rainer Scale l U5 - highly resistant, hostile (5) l U4 - resistant but not hostile (21) l U3 - neutral, perhaps open to discussion (36) l U2 - receptive (27) l U1 - highly receptive (11)

The Need is Obvious! l The harvest fields are ripe l Many will be receptive l We are God’s instruments l The time is now

Twelve Keys to an Effective Church l Specific mission objectives l Pastoral and lay visitation l Corporate, dynamic worship l Significant relational groups l Strong leadership resources l Streamlined structure and solid participatory decision-making

Twelve Keys to an Effective Church l Several competent programs and activities l Open accessibility l High visibility l Adequate parking and land l Adequate space and facilities l Solid financial resources

Satisfaction and Dissatisfaction Levels l Success in the first six keys raises the level of satisfaction l Success in the second six keys lowers the level of dissatisfaction

Stewardship is a critical part of the picture! l Christian stewardship is the free and joyous activity of the child of God and God’s family, the church, in managing all of life and life’s resources for God’s purposes. l Maturing stewards do the right things for the right reasons!

Managing money is only one part of stewardship l Time l Talent l Treasure l Testimony l Tissue l Trash l Totality

But managing money is critical to stewardship l Positive sharing of what the gifts of God’s people are doing l Developing a “narrative budget” l Connecting mission and money

Stewardship flows out of changed hearts l The Macedonian Christians l Not wealthy... l But wanted to participate l “They gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us…”

Connecting Mission and Money l Closely related l Mission without stewardship is impossible l Stewardship without mission is superfluous

LCMS Mission Statement l In grateful response to God’s grace and empowered by the Holy Spirit through Word and Sacraments, the mission of The LCMS is vigorously to make known the love of Christ by word and deed within our churches, communities and the world.

ABLAZE! l Praying to the Lord of the Harvest, LCMS World Mission, in collaboration with its North American and worldwide partners, will share the good news of Jesus with 100 million unreached or committed people by October 31, 2017.

“One Mission ABLAZE …Igniting the Flame” l Is your congregation’s mission statement one that makes your congregation an inviting and encouraging place? l Does your mission statement have an outward focus or an inward focus?

What about your congregation? l Mission statement? l Vision statement? l Core values? l Connection between mission and money?

Practical Suggestions l Pray for lost people l Remember that all people (also the unchurched) are looking for transcendence, significance and community l Champion a face-lift at church l Be more visitor friendly l Create “side door” events

Practical Suggestions (continued) l Start a new worship service l Revise church budget for outreach l Make friends with the unchurched l Hire a “paid guest” to give you a candid evaluation of a visitor’s view of your congregation

More Practical Suggestions l Don’t just invite the unchurched, but offer to take them with you or meet them in the parking lot l Remember that those who just drop in are probably either in a “crisis situation” or “church shopping”

Make a Difference! l Connect Mission and Money in the right way l “Money really does follow mission” l “Be an ABLAZE mission outpost”

“One Mission ABLAZE …Igniting the Flame” “What on earth are YOU doing for heaven’s sake?”