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...
I know a church that wanted to bless a school in the Philippines. The school needed desks for its students. 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...
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...
I once had a pastor offer me this advice: Lead pastors should always ask for a financial review or audit when stepping into a lead role at a new church. He had led several churches and shared some of the financial surprises he had encountered. (None were...
It’s a common scenario. A church with a dwindling congregation and a large mortgage note. Tough decisions are made. Staff cuts. Delayed maintenance. Limited missions support and outreach endeavors. Pastors find themselves struggling to find the way out of a deep...
How does your bookkeeper prefer to pay bills? Most churches utilize online bill pay for most of their bills. Some bookkeepers prefer to mail checks. They sometimes think, “We’ve done it this way for 25 years, no need to change our ways.” I get that change is...
