I once gave a volunteer permission to purchase hot dogs and buns for a summer picnic for his small group. I figured he would shop like me, head to the discount store and purchase eight packs each of the $1.49 buns and dogs. (They all taste the same, just...
Online giving and digital payments have become essential tools for churches. Platforms like Square and PayPal make it easy for ministries to receive donations, event registrations, and other payments quickly and securely. However, one common mistake churches...
It happens every year at tax time. A pastor calls us asking for help because they owe far more in taxes than expected. The questions are always the same. What can I do? How did this happen? Often there are no easy answers to the first...
The Volunteer Protection Act popped up in some research I was doing today. I must admit that I’ve never heard of it and think it is a great topic for discussion. Imagine some unfortunate accident at your church. What would you think if you heard someone say:...
If you’re a pastor who occasionally speaks at a conference, teaches a seminar, performs weddings, or receives honorariums outside your church — congratulations! That’s influence. That’s impact. It’s also taxable income. And if you don’t track it properly, it can...
I can remember hating church annual meetings when I was a kid. Kids’ church did not exist. My sister and I sat in the pews contemplating how to escape. My mom kept telling me to sit still while grownups argued for hours over church finances and whether...
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...
