New Year’s resolutions date back over 4,000 years to ancient Babylon. For early Christians the first day of the new year became the traditional occasion for thinking about one’s past mistakes and resolving to do and be better in the future. John Wesley created the Covenant Renewal Service, most commonly held on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day.

Modern-day churches see January as a fresh start with new sermon series, more opportunities to get involved, and upcoming events. January is also the perfect time to connect with your lapsed givers.

Here are a few ways to welcome back givers that may have lapsed or are at risk of lapsing.

2.  Sort these givers based on yearly giving totals and put them in 3 categories – Bands 1-2, Band 3, and Bands 4-5. 

3. Connect with these givers individually to re-engage them with your church. 

• Band 1 & 2 Givers: those giving between $1-$999 a year 

a. Send an email: invite these givers to attend an upcoming event, to connect with a home fellowship group, or join the new sermon series in-person or online. Remember to include a way for them to ask for prayer or seek help from your church.

b. Text message: follow your email with a text message that asks how you can pray for them.

This groups of givers is an excellent demographic for financial education courses that include:  FreedUp, budgeting, saving, and generosity. Need help with these financial courses? Schedule time to discuss these programs with us. 

 

• Band 3 Givers:  those giving between $1,000 – $4,999 per year

a. Send an email: invite these givers to consider volunteer/service opportunities and ask them how you can pray for their family. Include your contact information so they can easily reach you.

b. Text message: follow your email with a text message and encourage them to give you a call.

This group of givers would benefit from the following financial education courses similar to budgeting, generosity planning, and tax-smart giving. We have curriculum to lead your givers through these courses, contact us for more information.

 

• Band 4-5 Givers: those giving $5,000+ per year

a. Phone call: personally call each of these givers. Invite them to meet for coffee or lunch and get to know these financial leaders. Remember to ask how you can pray for their needs.

b. Send a follow-up email from your phone call or voicemail.

This group of givers is demographically right for the following financial education courses: legacy living, personal estate design, tax-smart giving, and wills and trusts. Need help with these financial courses? Schedule time to discuss these programs with us.

Your church should be a community focused on building and growing relationships with all givers. Reaching lapsed givers needs to be a Kingdom-building priority to ensure your discipleship programs comprehensively meet your community’s needs.

Develop your financial discipleship strategy for 2022 – contact us for proven solutions to your funding needs.