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The Number One Barrier

Are you your churches number one barrier?

If you asked me what was the number one barrier to raising funds and successfully seeing a churchís vision become a reality I would say the pastor is. That might not get me your business, but hopefully it will get your attention. This is of course a broad over generalization that is not true of every pastor but it is a definite pattern that causes Kingdom growth to be stymied in church after church across the country. If you are not careful it can affect you and your vision. Bill Easum and Bil Cornelius in their book, ìGo Big,î say this, ìPastor if your church is not growing, you are the stopping point. If your church is growing you are the catalyst. Itís that simple.î

Time and again I have seen too many pastors become the number one barrier to a successful campaign. Itís not like they set out to be the barrier to success. Most are unaware that the actions they take cause the church to fall short of their goal. Unknowingly however, pastor after pastor creates barriers that hinder successful stewardship campaigns. In this Stewardship Coach we will attempt to identify the most common barriers so that you can avoid them on your way to a successful campaign.

The barriers pastors have to overcome.

The following list, though not exhaustive, does list the more prominent barriers that pastors must overcome to be successful not only in raising funds but in advancing their vision. Weakness in any area will compromise your ability to move forward raising the funds your dream needs. Here are some of the barriers that we are often up against when we work with pastors.

  1. Limited Vision. People give to vision. The greater the vision the greater the amount your church members will be willing to sacrificially give to support that vision. Small visions generate small dollars. Big visions generate big dollars. If your vision isnít big then donít expect significant buy in to support it. The best program or partnership in the world cannot save you if you have a limited vision. Dream big and communicate big dreams to gain big dollars!
  2. Timid Leadership. Paul told Timothy, ìGod did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self disciple.î That passage should be memorized by every pastor and Christian leader. Easum and Cornelius in their book ìGo Bigî say this, ìDonít delegate raising money to someone else. Youíve got to learn to make the ìbigî ask of yourself. If you donít learn how to ask, it will never happen.î Then in another place they say, ìNever shy away from asking for money because youíre asking for the greatest mission in the world ñ Godís mission to save creation.î This last statement should help us all as we realize that we are not asking for ourselves but for the Kingdom.
  3. Work Ethic. I have found that pastors work hard they just donít always work smart. If you want to raise significant dollars you have to put the work in. While preaching at your friendís church during the campaign might be appealing, staying at home is what you need to do. One thing that we always tell pastors and Christian leaders is that they will live for three years on the results of what happens during the three to four months of the campaign. Could you not give a few extra evenings and hours to see the dream become a reality? Isnít fueling your vision and dreams worth a bit of hard work?
  4. Lack of Passion. Pastor if this vision does not burn in your heart you will never be able to transfer it to your congregation. They will not give to what you are not passionate about. Help your members see that this is indeed a defining moment in the churches ministry. I have had pastors communicate passionately about paving the parking lot and raise thousands of dollars from members who are convinced that doing so will allow more people on the property. I have had other pastors who could not with passion communicate the need to build a new worship center and fell far short of their intended mark. If it burns in your heart that fire will be caught by your members,
  5. Misplaced Priorities. When it comes time to raise funds to support your dreams and visions it is not a time to take a vacation. Everything in your life does not revolve around the campaign to raise dollars but that campaign must be one of your top priorities. Too many pastors view the campaign as just one more program and as a result they do not raise the funds they need. Make sure that itís a front burner issue for you and your staff and you will see greater success.

There are probable many more barriers that could be listed. However these are the most common. Work to avoid them and you can be successful in your next campaign. One great way to avoid these barriers is to have the accountability of a stewardship partner to coach you through the key issues and help you avoid these barriers. We would love to talk to you about how we can help you fulfill your dreams and visions. Give us a call today! Mark Brooks, Founding Partner, The Charis Group

Mark Brooks


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