Creating a culture of generosity requires a better story. We’ll teach you how to tell it.
Do you ever find yourself talking about stewardship like it’s a game of Taboo? Whatever you do, don’t say the wrong word! Or maybe it’s felt like a tightrope walk. If you lean too hard into giving, your congregation might pull back. But if you back off, the money needed for ministry might not be there.
Too often, it’s a scarcity mentality that debilitates leaders and congregants alike. When that happens, operating out of fear, not abundance, can become the over-arching narrative.
Creating a culture of generosity requires a better story. We’ll teach you how to tell it.
7
4
5 hours, 30 minutes
$55
In this first self-guided session, you’ll unpack the various ways stories get told in your church, as well as the different mediums those stories are told through. While stewardship may have been difficult to articulate in the past, you’ll gain a spiritually grounded vision for giving that shifts your culture.
From examples found in the Bible to learning how to set the right expectations for your council and staff, this session will underscore the importance of leadership when it comes to creating a culture of generosity. Do you know the four things councils should do? You’re going to find out.
There are two key ingredients in any strategic ministry vision: identity and activity. Clarifying the message – the story – around both is critical, and this session will effectively empower you. With examples of plans and helpful tools for putting them together, you’ll have everything you need.
In the final session, you’ll return to a theological foundation that creates a culture of generosity. Instead of having to talk about money constantly, the principles of effective stewardship free you and your congregation to live in abundance, not fear or scarcity.
This course will help you harness the skills of agile leadership and faithful stewardship – allowing you to be nimble enough to respond to a changing cultural landscape.
By the time you’ve completed this course, you’ll have the tools you need to think and talk about stewardship in new and powerful ways—along with a framework for creating a culture of generosity in your faith community.
Here's everything you get for just $55:
Rev. Mike Ward, CFRE is the fourth partner in the 44-year history of GSB Fundraising. Mike began his relationship with the firm as a client while serving as VP of Advancement for NovusWay Ministries in Arden, NC. Prior to his work at NovusWay, Mike was a parish pastor during two congregational capital campaigns. As a part of the North Carolina Synod, Mike is involved in full-time stewardship ministry. His clients include congregations, camps, seminaries, and social service agencies. He is a popular speaker at conferences in the areas of annual funds, campaign, congregational partnership, major donor development, and more. His first book, Abundance: Creating a Culture of Generosity was published and released by Fortress Press in January, 2020 where it became the publisher's #1 title of 2020. Mike’s previous service on boards includes the ELCA National Church Council and the ELCA Youth Ministry Network. In his spare time, Mike is a beekeeper and manages between 12-15 hives per year. While his wife teaches Spanish, Mike’s daughter is in graduate school and his son is in college at NC State.
Learning happens best when you do it together with folks who are on the same journey as you are.
That's why our private social network, the Faith+Lead Learning Lab, hosts conversations about course content with other learners, instructors, TAs, and community leaders.
Want to bring Creating a Culture of Generosity to your Bible study, small group, or even your entire congregation?
Choose "Enroll a Group" at checkout and select how many people you'd like to provide access to the course. You can go through the course together in-person, watch lessons together via Zoom, or even create a private group in the Learning Lab where participants can connect asynchronously.
