1. The Recession-Proof Church
Funding Ministry In
Challenging Times
Cornerstone Knowledge Network
September 15, 2009
Allen Walworth

2. THE GREAT RECESSION
 MYTH
 REALITY

3. Giving and the Economy
Research 1968-­‐2005 for Giving to Religious Causes
 Six recessions: giving increased in 3, while in 3 others it
declined
 Giving declined in 4 non-­‐recessionary years
 Giving only slightly decreased in 6 of 11 recessionary
years
Conclusion: Church giving does not necessarily go up or
down with the economy

4. FOUR KEYS

5. VISION

6. EXTERNAL FOCUS

7. TRANSPARENCY

8. CULTURE

9. FIVE STEPS TO CREATE
A GENEROSITY
CULTURE

10. 1. LEADERS WHO
MODEL GENEROSITY

11. 2. ADOPT
GENEROSITY AS A
CORE VALUE

12. 3. INTENTIONAL
STRATEGY FOR ALL
TYPES OF STEWARDS

14. 4. YEAR-­‐ROUND
STRATEGIES
• TEACH
• ASK
• REPORT
• CELEBRATE (THANK)

15. 5. ALIGN MONEY
WITH MISSION
• ALIGNMENT—WHY US?
• COMPELLING—WHY THIS?
• URGENT—WHY NOW?

16. FINAL THOUGHTS…
Do not be ruled by fear.
Dare to believe in a generous, abundance-­‐oriented
God
In a lost and hurWng world, the church is needed more
than ever.

17. Thank You
If you have any follow-­‐up quesWons:
Allen Walworth, President and Principal
Generis
allen@generis.com
214-­‐726-­‐2003, cell