Threatening Letters! Many churches love supporting missions, pastors, and relief efforts around the world — and that’s a great thing. But when those efforts involve sending money to certain countries, especially places like Cuba, there are some important legal...
One of the most uncomfortable church situations I’ve experienced involved a deacon that insisted on counting the offerings each Sunday. He proclaimed this was his way of serving the pastor and church. Offerings suddenly seemed down, and the pastor became...
I hate lists like this…” How to thrive in 2025!” But here we go, “What to fix in 2026!” As churches plan for ministry in 2026, financial clarity and intentional stewardship will be more important than ever. Rising costs and changing giving patterns mean churches...
Unfortunately, I get this frantic call a few times each year. “My bookkeeper just walked in and quit! What are we supposed to do?” For many churches, the bookkeeper is the quiet constant—faithfully paying bills, processing payroll, tracking giving,...
I’ve served on three different church boards and none of them utilized a finance committee. The board made financial decisions based on recommendations from the pastor or treasurer. I’ve also served as a board member for a non-profit that utilized a...
If you’re a pastor, you probably spend a lot of time on the road — visiting members, attending meetings, running errands, or heading to conferences. Can pastors get reimbursed for mileage? The short answer is yes — and doing it the right way can save you...
It’s fall. It’s cold. Pumpkin spice is everywhere. You might ask “Can I write off my Starbucks coffee?” Here’s the deal — the IRS doesn’t care how much caffeine it takes to get through Sunday. Your morning latte on the way to the...
Philippines. Desperately needed and a great project! They took up several offerings and were ready to purchase hundreds of desks when a storm hit the school. The buildings were destroyed, and the community was in desperate need of food and supplies. The church...
You know that moment when you’re driving home from your day job, already thinking about Sunday’s sermon, and then it hits you—you still need to figure out how to cover the kids’ soccer fees and the car repair that popped up last week? Yeah… that’s real life...
I know — it feels like we just wrapped up the 2025 budget! But believe it or not, it’s already time to start planning for 2026. Getting an early start helps you avoid surprises, gives your board or finance team time to review numbers carefully, and ensures...
