Beginning with the End
www.rsistewardship.com
Beginning
with the
End in Mind Joel Mikell President
"
Beginning with the End in Mind Planning for a Successful Capital Stewardship Campaign Michelangelo was once quoted as saying, “I saw the angel in the marble and I carved until I painting or sculpting. One of my seminary professors, Dr. Robert Burton, once challenged me
get there. No doubt, churches enter into capital stewardship campaigns primarily to raise money! a “missional” need in other countries; but there is a common thread–they all require the raising of resources above and beyond what the operational budget can generally provide. When I was a brand new consultant with RSI over ten years ago, I’ll never forget Dr. Jim Keith, my teacher and mentor, challenging us to “never lose sight of the fact that though a church engages RSI to raise money, the end result will and should be much greater spiritual
As President of RSI, I have had the opportunity and privilege of leading capital stewardship programs in over 100 churches across America, assisting them in raising almost a half billion
This time has been one of the greatest experiences of my life.” How does a church experience people, change hearts, and transform the church?
5151 Beltline Road, #900
D a l l a s , Te x a s 7 5 2 5 4
1 . 8 0 0 . 5 2 7. 6 8 2 4
www.RSIstewardship.com
1.
disciples.” Whether it is a children’s facility, a new worship space, or a debt elimination/reduction
2. 3. 4. 5.
a clear mission and purpose. It cannot be viewed as optional. People give to vision and ministry
transforms individual lives, grows giving to the operational budget, mobilizes and energizes leadership, brings clarity and focus to the church’s mission and vision, and 6. strengthens community and unity within the congregation, as opposed to an experience that becomes disappointing and frustrating, creating an unpleasant memory. moment that should transform your church–it must be done with excellence.
Key leadership must be involved and engaged early in the stewardship journey. Ultimately, 80% of what is pledged will come from 20% of the people. These individuals are your or small group leaders, team leaders, committee
Beginning with the end in mind, give consideration etc.). You want to be sure you have answered their questions and addressed their concerns before
In the church, raising money is deeply The biblical teachings around stewardship call us to remember and embrace the truth that everything we have–indeed everything we are –is a blessing and a love gift from God. God deeply and passionately loves and cares for us as His children and demonstrates that love by giving. “For God so loved that He gave…” Stewardship also reminds us that we are not the owners. God is, none of it is ours; thus every decision with respect to our possessions requires us to spend time with the “owner of the stuff.” will for my life and my resources as it relates to your will for my church? A capital stewardship God before
the leaders, so go the people! If they are not on board, you are destined for failure.
See the campaign as a catalyst in growing your stewardship culture. Be careful not to see a capital campaign as simply an episodic experience. Rather than viewing a capital campaign as a “timeout to raise money,” capture the moment as a springboard and platform to grow giving to the annual operating budget, in personal money management, cultivating those with the gift of generosity, and planned giving. If a capital stewardship campaign is done correctly, each of the above areas can be addressed and enhanced. Our experience has been that, contrary to popular belief, giving to the operational budget typically goes up following a capital campaign. One effort does not have to “cannibalize” the other!
Your project must be driven by your vision to reach people for Christ.
Manage your expectations from the outset.
Successful capital stewardship campaigns must be clearly connected to a church’s vision to accomplish Christ’s singular purpose for the church
to set the church up for a success experience! Be very careful not to lead the church into a
5151 Beltline Road, #900
D a l l a s , Te x a s 7 5 2 5 4
1 . 8 0 0 . 5 2 7. 6 8 2 4
www.RSIstewardship.com
“perceived” failure. Set reasonable and reachable churches, assisting them in raising in excess Set goals with respect to involvement, vision casting, leadership development, prayer, an extraordinary “God moment” in the life of the church could be seen as a disappointment if expectations are not clearly and visibly spelled out from the start.
Use a consultant. Research shows that churches raise considerably more money and have a more positive experience when they partner with an experienced group Typically, churches will raise one times their annual budget doing a capital campaign on their own. RSI will raise an average of two to three times that same amount. Just as a church will
forces with The Pursuant Group, a progressive, interactive fundraising and communications RSI to offer the local church the most innovative stewardship resources available, continuing RSI’s legacy of charting the course and staying on the cutting edge. RSI’s heart is in the local church, and our passion is to transform the stewardship culture one church the ministry of stewardship as a calling, utilizing processes and resources that are innovative and creative. We would love to help you in your
counsel in the area of raising resources. Almost without exception, a successful experience– connected to the passion and intensity of planning and preparation prior to the launch of a capital campaign. Conversely, there is a direct correlation between a “less than desirable experience,” often with results that fall below expectations, and the attitude that connecting resources to vision in the church is little more than a “fund raiser.”
Joel Mikell
President, RSI Church Stewardship Group
For additional information, visit our website at www.RSIstewardship.com or contact Steve Estes or Morgan Boardman
cases, for a decade or more.
5151 Beltline Road, #900
D a l l a s , Te x a s 7 5 2 5 4
1 . 8 0 0 . 5 2 7. 6 8 2 4
www.RSIstewardship.com
Beginning
with the
End in Mind Joel Mikell President
"
Beginning with the End in Mind Planning for a Successful Capital Stewardship Campaign Michelangelo was once quoted as saying, “I saw the angel in the marble and I carved until I painting or sculpting. One of my seminary professors, Dr. Robert Burton, once challenged me
get there. No doubt, churches enter into capital stewardship campaigns primarily to raise money! a “missional” need in other countries; but there is a common thread–they all require the raising of resources above and beyond what the operational budget can generally provide. When I was a brand new consultant with RSI over ten years ago, I’ll never forget Dr. Jim Keith, my teacher and mentor, challenging us to “never lose sight of the fact that though a church engages RSI to raise money, the end result will and should be much greater spiritual
As President of RSI, I have had the opportunity and privilege of leading capital stewardship programs in over 100 churches across America, assisting them in raising almost a half billion
This time has been one of the greatest experiences of my life.” How does a church experience people, change hearts, and transform the church?
5151 Beltline Road, #900
D a l l a s , Te x a s 7 5 2 5 4
1 . 8 0 0 . 5 2 7. 6 8 2 4
www.RSIstewardship.com
1.
disciples.” Whether it is a children’s facility, a new worship space, or a debt elimination/reduction
2. 3. 4. 5.
a clear mission and purpose. It cannot be viewed as optional. People give to vision and ministry
transforms individual lives, grows giving to the operational budget, mobilizes and energizes leadership, brings clarity and focus to the church’s mission and vision, and 6. strengthens community and unity within the congregation, as opposed to an experience that becomes disappointing and frustrating, creating an unpleasant memory. moment that should transform your church–it must be done with excellence.
Key leadership must be involved and engaged early in the stewardship journey. Ultimately, 80% of what is pledged will come from 20% of the people. These individuals are your or small group leaders, team leaders, committee
Beginning with the end in mind, give consideration etc.). You want to be sure you have answered their questions and addressed their concerns before
In the church, raising money is deeply The biblical teachings around stewardship call us to remember and embrace the truth that everything we have–indeed everything we are –is a blessing and a love gift from God. God deeply and passionately loves and cares for us as His children and demonstrates that love by giving. “For God so loved that He gave…” Stewardship also reminds us that we are not the owners. God is, none of it is ours; thus every decision with respect to our possessions requires us to spend time with the “owner of the stuff.” will for my life and my resources as it relates to your will for my church? A capital stewardship God before
the leaders, so go the people! If they are not on board, you are destined for failure.
See the campaign as a catalyst in growing your stewardship culture. Be careful not to see a capital campaign as simply an episodic experience. Rather than viewing a capital campaign as a “timeout to raise money,” capture the moment as a springboard and platform to grow giving to the annual operating budget, in personal money management, cultivating those with the gift of generosity, and planned giving. If a capital stewardship campaign is done correctly, each of the above areas can be addressed and enhanced. Our experience has been that, contrary to popular belief, giving to the operational budget typically goes up following a capital campaign. One effort does not have to “cannibalize” the other!
Your project must be driven by your vision to reach people for Christ.
Manage your expectations from the outset.
Successful capital stewardship campaigns must be clearly connected to a church’s vision to accomplish Christ’s singular purpose for the church
to set the church up for a success experience! Be very careful not to lead the church into a
5151 Beltline Road, #900
D a l l a s , Te x a s 7 5 2 5 4
1 . 8 0 0 . 5 2 7. 6 8 2 4
www.RSIstewardship.com
“perceived” failure. Set reasonable and reachable churches, assisting them in raising in excess Set goals with respect to involvement, vision casting, leadership development, prayer, an extraordinary “God moment” in the life of the church could be seen as a disappointment if expectations are not clearly and visibly spelled out from the start.
Use a consultant. Research shows that churches raise considerably more money and have a more positive experience when they partner with an experienced group Typically, churches will raise one times their annual budget doing a capital campaign on their own. RSI will raise an average of two to three times that same amount. Just as a church will
forces with The Pursuant Group, a progressive, interactive fundraising and communications RSI to offer the local church the most innovative stewardship resources available, continuing RSI’s legacy of charting the course and staying on the cutting edge. RSI’s heart is in the local church, and our passion is to transform the stewardship culture one church the ministry of stewardship as a calling, utilizing processes and resources that are innovative and creative. We would love to help you in your
counsel in the area of raising resources. Almost without exception, a successful experience– connected to the passion and intensity of planning and preparation prior to the launch of a capital campaign. Conversely, there is a direct correlation between a “less than desirable experience,” often with results that fall below expectations, and the attitude that connecting resources to vision in the church is little more than a “fund raiser.”
Joel Mikell
President, RSI Church Stewardship Group
For additional information, visit our website at www.RSIstewardship.com or contact Steve Estes or Morgan Boardman
cases, for a decade or more.
5151 Beltline Road, #900
D a l l a s , Te x a s 7 5 2 5 4
1 . 8 0 0 . 5 2 7. 6 8 2 4
www.RSIstewardship.com
