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First Quarter Review
Numbers for the first quarter of 2018 should be ready for your finance committee and generosity team to review. What trends are evident compared to the previous two to three years? Is giving stable, rising or declining? What do you see about expenses? The numbers...
The Dickson Order
I had the honor of recognizing the Rev. L. A. Cumberland and Mrs. Mary Alice Cumberland as the newest members of the Dickson Order of the Mississippi Conference of the United Methodist Church. The presentation was made at Mt. Olivet United Methodist Church, where Rev....
Creating a Culture of Generosity offered by The Mississippi United Methodist Foundation
Creating a Culture of Generosity is an experience for churches of the Mississippi Conference designed to develop a lasting culture of generosity. All of the required tasks are easily scaled to fit a variety of congregation sizes. The selection of optional tasks make...
Fellowship In Christian Stewardship
The Foundation has partnered with the Rev. Kurt Appel’s “Fellowship In Christian Stewardship” ministry for the past two years. The ministry assists churches in executing an excellent pledge campaign for the annual operating budget. Kurt’s work with ten pilot churches...
People of Faith Do Not Automatically Give
Many leaders in churches are Boomers, who think about giving to the church in the world of the Builder Generation. The Builders are more faithful in attending and in giving to the institutional church. The Builders generally did not need encouragement to give. But the...
Easter
He is Risen! He is risen, indeed! Alleluia!
Opportunity to Give
Easter is quickly approaching. This is an excellent time to receive a special Easter Offering. The use of the funds will depend upon your financial circumstances and goals for ministry. You may wish to simply invite people to make a gift for Easter. The money would...
Lenten Disciplines
One of the most talked about disciplines for Lent is that of fasting. People often choose to give up sweets, chocolate, soft drinks, etc. I suggest that we might also want to think about a fast from stuff for a portion of Lent. In The 7 Experiment, staging your own...
The Deadline for Scholarship Applications Is April 2, 2018
The Mississippi United Methodist Foundation reminds you that we have moved up the scholarship application deadline. The move was made in order to assist students in making decisions about school choices. The applications are due April 2, 2018 and award letters will be...
Generosity Begins with Beginning
As a pastor I heard many people over the years say, “When I am in a better financial place in life, I will begin to tithe.” What they were really saying is that they will begin to give. Tithing is generally considered to be 10% of one’s income. These folks usually...
Something New
“But forget all that it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.”- Isaiah 43:18-19 NLTI was...
Be Kind and Rewind
“Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience." Colossians 3:12 NLTBe kind and rewind! Did you ever see that phrase on an old VHS videotape cassette label? It was...
Thank You
“Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”- I Thessalonians 5:16-18 NLT Over this past week, I said goodbye to my mother as she entered the church triumphant. I...