Change. Do church-goers really like it? Some say they do, while others prefer stability. But, ask any pastor seeking to move their congregation closer to God and to reach new people with the Gospel, and they'll tell you that change is a necessary characteristic of a church.
Often, the biggest changes in a church will come in the form of a new worship style, a re-vamped kids program, or a different way to do Sunday school/small group ministry. But, have you ever considered the change...as in dollars and cents?
This week, I was listening to a podcast with pastor Paul Martin about changes in church, and something he said caught my attention. It had to do with the way we take up offering. When we pass around the offering plate (or in some places, the chicken bucket), we alienate the younger generations of adults.
Consider this...the offering system in place at the majority of churches relies on people using checks or cash. However, many people in their 20s, 30s & 40s have done away with those forms of payment in favor of the debit card. Yet, you don't find very many churches set up to receive debit payments.
Sure, there are charges associated with such a set up, but if you have a large enough volume of users, it will pay for itself. So, while you and your leadership talk change, why not consider a way to let debit card users tithe with the card.
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