Church Donations
Hold Steady
Giving to churches appears to have withstood the effects of the recession. More than two-thirds of congregations in the U.S. saw their fundraising results increase or remain the same during the first half of 2009. Read the article. |
Greetings!
This electronic message is a monthly communication to pastors from your United Methodist Foundation of Louisiana. We hope you will find the articles useful and informative. Feel free to print or forward electronically the information in these messages to members of your congregation.
Each issue will give you pertinent articles on annual giving, capital campaigns and/or planned giving. |
 Celebrate Church with Year-End Giving Ideas!
Order customized year-end giving brochures for your church, and help your congregation with end of year gift options. Some gifts can even provide income for a lifetime, and all gifts help the church continue its ministries. Click here to view a sample. |
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Upbeat Focus
La. Continues to Rank Low for Foreclosures
The number of Louisiana homeowners on the brink of losing their houses dropped nearly 23% in October from the month before, the 11th-biggest plunge out of any state and the District of Columbia. RealtyTrac says that one out of every 1,459 Louisiana households got a foreclosure-related notice, compared with the national average of one per 385 homes.
Be United Methodist, and Live Longer!
Seventy-five percent of deaths in recent years occurred among Seventy-five percent of deaths in recent years occurred among people aged 65 and older. When comparing the death rates of each United Methodist annual conference with the death rates for the geographic area served by that conference, United Methodists in the Louisiana annual conference experienced a 14% lower death rate than that of the general population of the state (11.5 per 1,000 versus 13.17 per 1,000 for the general population).
Not only do Methodists experience longer life on earth, but an eternity afterwards.
La. Credit Card Delinquency Rates Down
The percentage of Louisiana residents who are late on their credit card payments dropped by 3.4% from the second quarter to the third quarter. During the third quarter, Louisiana's credit card delinquency rate was 1.14%, according to TransUnion.com, compared with 1.18% in the second quarter. The average credit card balance in Louisiana was $5,218 in the third quarter, compared with the national average of $5,612.
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What You Can Do Now to Increase Giving
If giving at your church could be better, (and whose couldn't), read these 12 specific items Lovett Weems recommends.
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November Stewardship Sermon
Thanksgiving--an integral part of faithful stewardship practice
Do we as pastors overlook the chance to say thank you to the congregation for their faithful giving? Read the sermon. |
PastorBlast!
