A Financial Lesson for Christian Ministries from the Tortoise

The tortoise, you ask? Yes, you remember the tortoise, don’t you—the one that beat the hare? His motto was “slow but steady wins the race,” and that lesson holds true in the financial realm, both for individuals and for ministries. The kind of faithful industriousness required for stable financial lives is certainly Scriptural: See the book of Proverbs. At eGiving, we’re committed to supporting ministries with tools that help them build stable financial scenarios that help them further the Kingdom, slowly but steadily.

Personal Financial Perspectives

Many individuals wish that they could impact their churches or other Christian ministries in significant ways, but 80% of Americans live on a monthly basis. Those of us who do live month-to-month typically don’t have the kind of emergency fund recommended by Dave Ramsey and other Christian and secular financial counselors. In fact, according to one study, nearly a third of Americans have no savings for emergencies. “For a large number of Americans, savings is minuscule or non-existent and they are one paycheck or one minor setback from financial disaster.” In a financial climate like that, many prospective givers have no business—or capability—making large one-time donations to your ministry or any other cause. In one sense, we’re all a bunch of charity cases.

Untapped Financial Potential

The financial scenario shouldn’t altogether prevent the typical American from being able to give; in fact, God still requires faithful, sacrificial giving from His people. Since getting personal finances in order includes carefully following a monthly budget, giving relatively small amounts on a regular basis can be realistic. Over time, those small amounts given faithfully can really add up and help ministries impact their communities for Christ. When ministries allow for only one-time gifts or high-value amounts, they limit themselves and prevent the majority of potential givers from being able to participate. When old-fashioned (and insecure) methods like pledges and paper checks are the only means of giving offered, they can additionally isolate their younger-generation advocates and impede the progress of their ministry goals.

Real Financial Partners

For ministries who want to connect with the average American and the younger aspects of the demographic, eGiving offers premium solutions. The keynote tool we offer is recurring electronic giving, through EFTs. Many ministries hold fundraiser banquets requesting pledges from those who attend. Relying on pledged amounts means relying on a giver’s remembering to mail a paper check in the mail each month. Instead, we offer the necessary tools and training to enable your ministry to securely receive automatic regular gifts with no end date in view. Our other tools also come with premium training and support, provided by our ministry minded professionals.

When ministries partner with eGiving, you can benefit from those with ministry hearts who truly minister to your ministry, slowly and steadily helping you make improvements and reach your ministry goals.