The Church’s Business: Pastor, Are You Missing Something? Tithes, Tithing...

The Church’s Business:
Pastor, Are You Missing Something?

By: R. Shane Casebolt

Perhaps one of the greatest challenges to a pastor is the daunting task of raising money for the fulfillment of church related commitments. Beyond the need for meeting its overhead expenses, which includes salaries, rent or mortgage expenses, utilities, office supplies, and the other things church-goers often take for granted, many churches support missionaries, homeless shelters, and other worthy causes in the community. So the pastor tries to instill in its church body the responsibility of the tithe, and the noble character of giving generously. Some pastors spend a few minutes teaching the touchy subject just prior to the collection of the offering, reminding the congregation of what the bible says about giving, sowing and reaping, and the blessings of being a “cheerful giver”. After all, since God loves a cheerful giver, who wouldn’t want to give whatever they could to know that they are doing something God loves?

Consider this. A business receives its income from its customers as a result of goods sold or services rendered. If the business wants to increase its income, it has to generate more sales. It can do this by increasing the number of customers it serves, or by increasing its prices for the goods or services sold.

Now consider the church. A church receives its income in the form of tithes and offerings from its congregation. If a church wants to increase its income, it has to increase the size of the congregation, OR, the congregation’s personal income must increase, thereby enabling each member to give more. An increase in personal income translates directly into a greater dollar amount for the tithe (10% of $1,000 is more than 10% of $800, for example.)

So, in order to increase the tithes and offerings of his church, the pastor either has to increase the size of the congregation, or help the members of his congregation receive an increase in personal income. The first approach is clear, and I believe every pastor seeks out ways to increase his church attendance. But the second approach is less obvious, and I believe often overlooked by the pastor. Yet, by helping the church membership realize an increase in its personal income, the second approach offers a more consistent income stream to the church, and also indirectly addresses the first approach, as well. As the church realizes an increase in its income, it will be more able to participate in its vital duties to the community and the mission field, and other benevolent causes. This involvement will inherently attract more people to the church, thus increasing the size of the congregation.

The question then, is How does a church help its congregation increase their personal income? For many workers, the answer is simply praying that their work will be blessed and that their boss will recognize the anointed excellence God has placed on their work and reward them accordingly. For the entrepreneurs in the congregation, the church can do much more.

In practically every gathering of people there exists an entrepreneur – a business owner, or someone with a great idea that wants to become a business owner. There are many challenges associated with starting and operating a business enterprise – raising starting capital, developing business and marketing plans, finding reliable workers, facilities, and resources, etc., the list can be intimidating. If the church leadership has expertise in the area of running a business, it should teach the methods of business to the aspiring entrepreneurs, and enable them with whatever resources it can to help the entrepreneur achieve his or her goals in business. Help them develop a business plan, connect them with unemployed or underemployed people from its own congregation, lease (or donate) services or space to them to serve as a launching pad for the business, or even provide seed money to launch the business in the marketplace. Chances are that within the church congregation of any given church, there is a great idea that will produce significant revenue for the entrepreneur, and consequently, the church.

About the author.
R. Shane Casebolt is the founder and Managing Member of Kingdom Associates, LLC, and the Managing Member of the Christian Automobile Association. He served 10 years as president and CEO of Theta Group, Inc., a Huntsville, Alabama based electronics manufacturing enterprise, and has assisted other businesses in marketing and business plan development. He has also counseled individuals in the areas of personal finance and retirement planning. Mr. Casebolt holds a Bachelor’s degree in Technology Management, with a minor in Mathematics, and a Master’s degree in Business Management (MBA), with an area of concentration in Technology Management.