One of the best practices of congregations with a strong stewardship focus is to communicate frequently with their congregational members through quarterly statements. Think about Quarterly Giving Statements or Summaries as a Plus.

A Plus:

• Another opportunity to say "Thank You" to people for their generosity.
   
• A vehicle for sharing the stories of how a person's giving has impacted and changed lives.
   
• A way of lifting up the importance of giving throughout the year in the life of the church.
   
• Combines communicating what people gave to your mission and ministry while providing people with the necessary records for completing their income taxes.
   

 Here's a suggested schedule:

1. Now is the perfect time-before the end of the year-to send out a Giving Statement or Summary and invite people to fulfill their 2010 commitment or go beyond what they have committed or given-to-date.
    
2. In the season of Lent or before Easter, send out a summary of financial giving and invite people to worship on Easter.
    
3. In May, invite people to give throughout the summer months, even as the ministry of the church continues and plans are made for the fall.
    
4. In August, as people transition from summer into fall, invite them to participate in your fall programming and catch-up on their giving, if they are behind.
    
5. And here's a Plus: in January as a summary of their previous year's giving to provide people with a record of their giving for their income tax filing.

With people being asked to financially contribute to a variety of worthy causes, communicating the stories of the ministries of their home church will be appreciated by your members and help to cultivate generous givers to the ministries that they love.

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Written by Jonathan Buuck, Director

The James Company