The most irrelevant time of most church services is when the plate is passed.

And it’s not because unchurched people don’t know what’s happening.  It has nothing to do with HOW you ask people to participate.  Those things are important, but the reason your offering is irrelevant is most people don’t have cash or checks.

You’re asking them to participate, but it’s literally impossible for them to do so.  We’re living in a cashless society, and it’s about time the church realized this.

The old rule of fundraising involved passing a plate and asking people to make on-the-spot donations.  This way of fundraising is broken, because the offering time is irrelevant to most people.  The new rule goes digital.

Your church might offer online giving, but that’s not enough.  You’ve got to emphasize it.  In fact, it’s time that you make digital the default!

I know you’ve got questions.  You’re wondering how to deal with people who worship Jesus by placing a physical check in a physical offering plate.  You’re wondering if a kiosk in the lobby is going to alienate people.  You’ve got a finance team worried about fees and charges.

In 2012, we can help you with all of that.  We can to teach you the new rule and we can give you a step-by-step plan to make it happen.

HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:

1. Become a Giving Rocket member today.  You get a trial for $1, and after that, it’s $99 a month.  I promise you this – if you apply the stuff we teach you for the next 12 months, you’ll see an increase.  And if you don’t, we’ll simply give you your money back.
2. Sign up for the Giving Rocket Tour.  We’re going to talk about digital giving in person.  It’s a free, one-day event happening in 9 cities.  Pick the city near you and sign up now.

In 8 days, we kick off the first ever Giving Rocket Tour.  We’re traveling to nine cities, and stopping at nine churches to teach you the NEW RULES OF CHURCH FUNDRAISING.

This event is completely free, and we’re even providing lunch.  Over the course of several hours, we’re going to give you a TON of help so 2012 can be a great year in your church.  I can’t wait to meet some of our members, and I can’t wait to serve you.

You can still register for the tour.  Bring three people from your team and come say hi.

One of my goals in 2012 is to read 100 books.  A lot of people have made resolutions and want to stick with them this year. I wanted to recommend a book and offer you a chance to get a free copy.

My friend Richie Hughes has written a lot of great books, but this one is super applicable to starting out the new year and making good choices.

You can get a free copy of Start Here, Go Anywhere.

Here’s how:

1. Post or tweet the following: “Poor choices in the past do not destroy your future potential to do great things http://amzn.to/pTsPfr”

2. Leave us a comment below that you did it

3. We’ll pick the top 10 winners next Wed, Jan 25 and let you know if you’re on of them and get you a free copy sent to you.

Check out this 5-star review: “A MUST READ!!!!! No matter what you are faced with, in whatever capacity – we all have choices to make… big or small. This book helps capitalize on the importance of every single choice and re focusing on not just the present moment of making a decision, but the long term effect that it has as well. No matter what choices have been made up until now, it’s not too late to turn around and begin making better choices with a better perspective and mindset.”

Does Giving Rocket really work? Yes, but it’s a system not a silver bullet.  Churches who stick with it and apply what we teach regularly see an increase in giving.  Like going to the gym, a few weeks isn’t going to accomplish much…you’ve got to stick to it.  You can try it for $1.

More than 600 churches are committed to financial health and raising more money for ministry through a Giving Rocket membership. Over the last year, we’ve seen God do some incredible things in churches, and we’re fired up about helping even more in 2012. What we’re delivering to members in 2012 is truly amazing, and I honestly believe a Giving Rocket membership is one of the smartest decisions you could make in your church. But don’t take my word for it – listen to these leaders:

“I just wanted to thank you and say GO GOD for all of the Giving Rocket advice and resources for the church. I promise you they have made a tremendous difference in the life of the Journey church’s finances over these last 4 months. From the giving talks, Kiosk, and the Thrive resources for the 4 week capitol campaign we did that raised 1.4 million dollars it has been off the charts, crazy, GO GOD, good stuff. Thanks again God Bless & GO GOD!!” - Darryl Bellar, Journey Church, Fernandina Beach, FL

“Gotta be honest, one of the reasons, @Baypointechurch has survived is because @caseygraham. I am forever indebted to him. #thankful” - Ben Liles, @pben, Baypointe Church, Panama City Beach, FL

“Since we started giving talks in July we saw a 23% increase over June. WHAT? Thanks for your ministry to the body.” - Chris Goeppner, Riverbank Church, Lebanon, NH

“I just wanted to say that I love getting the weekly giving talk script. They are creative and really help every week. For me, this makes the giving rocket subscription worth every penny.” - Rob Champion, Center City Church, Marshfield, WI

“Numbers just in…Our giving is up by 20% from last quarter:) Thanks, Casey, for your investment!” - Jeremy Self, The Church at Lake Travis, Austin, TX

“Just wanted to drop you a note to say thank you. I found your stuff at the end of last month on a recommendation from a friend. I signed up and immediately began implementing your suggestions. We have been doing your suggestions for one month. In this month we have seen an increase in giving by 39%. That is simply amazing. We have now most of your systems in place, and believing for continued growth. Thanks again for all your help and resources, keep them coming.” - Chad Ducote, The Life Church, Houma, LA -

“In the 3 months that we’ve been doing the giving talks, we’ve seen a 50% increase in our weekly offering. And that’s the only thing we changed. We didn’t really start doing any kind of follow-up (yet). We just started doing the 2-4 minute talks before offering and that’s been huge for us. God’s really working through it and it really is simple to get started.”  - Jonathan Chaney, CrossPoint Church, Martinsville, VA

What are you waiting for?  Join Giving Rocket for just $1.  If you apply the principles we teach, you’ll have more money for ministry.

Sometimes, the reason a church fails to grow is not a spiritual issue, it’s a structural issue. I have worked with a ton of churches and most church leaders tell me, “We need to be more organized.”

I’ve never seen a church grow beyond growth barriers and sustain the growth without becoming more organized. The key question I get asked about organizing a church financially or for growth is, “Where do I start?” I tell church leaders there are three things they need to do to get organized.

Three Important Steps to Organizing Your Church

1. Write everything down.
2. Write everything & I mean everything down.
3. Write everything & I mean everything & I really mean EVERYTHING down.

Eight Key Areas of Church That MUST Be Organized

1. Connections
2. Creative Arts
3. Facilities
4. Family Ministry
5. Finances
6. Staff
7. Volunteers
8. Structure

My friend Michael has created a resource that includes over 60 Documents & Forms in these 8 key Areas. It’s hands down the most practical, useful and usable resource I’ve seen. I’m not trying to hype you – I just know it will save you time and help your church. For $99, it’s a super deal.

Here’s the link to get them.

When you get your church more organized, funny things start happening. You’ll have less stress. Things work smoother and better. And you’re able to see more life-change happen.

Our friends at SecureGive offer great solutions to help your church increase the amount of donations giving digitally. It is crucial to emphasize digital giving in this day and age. Check out how they can help your church:

4 Ways Your Church Should Expand your Giving Options:

• In service
• Online Giving
• SecureGive kiosks
• Mobile Giving

This means a person’s gift won’t be limited by how much cash is in their wallet! The average donation through SecureGive technology is over $175! The statement holds true: When giving is easier, people give more! So as we move further and further into a new year, don’t just limit people to Sunday offerings to follow their hearts, but create more opportunities so you can maximize your ministry this year! Contact SecureGive today by clicking HERE and mention this blog post to expand your giving options!

Most of the churches we work with do a decent job of creating a “money going out” plan. In most cases, there’s usually a budget that shows how the money will be spent.

A budget is a spending plan.

But you need a funding plan.

I’m talking about a strategic plan for receiving all the money that’s allocated in the budget. You can have an amazing budget, but without the dollars to fund it, you’ll have an idle spending plan that won’t lead to real ministry.

Maybe your staff, leadership team or finance team has agonized over where to spend the dollars, but here’s an important question: Who is agonizing over actually receiving those dollars? Finance teams are good at critiquing, but who is creating?

A budget shows where the money will go. A funding plan actually gets that money. You need BOTH of these plans.

We created a five-step plan for you. We recorded video, audio and wrote it all down in an eBook. We’ve formatted the spreadsheet.

And we’ve sent this to all of our members. In fact, the only way you will get this practical resource is by becoming a Giving Rocket member. It starts with a $1 trial and continues at $99 a month after that. It will be the best investment you make for 2012. Click HERE to get started with your membership.

A lot of churches we work with have an annual theme.  Some use a phrase like “Thrive”, others have statements like “Do It For Them”.  There is a lot of power in an annual battle cry.  Do you have a theme? If not, why not?

Here is our annual theme this year: Year Of The Member

Everything & I mean EVERYTHING will be about members this year.

I want you to know about a few of the things that we’re going to deliver to our member churches in 2012.  Warning!!! This list is amazing, and only our members are going to get all this stuff.

• We are working on a simple mobile giving and iPad kiosk giving solution…we are going to release something that will make it SUPER EASY to have a mobile giving site and receive kiosk donations with an iPad.  This will be 100% FREE for our members.
• A booklet you can send every giver in your church.  It will be the size of a CD jewel case booklet, and will be perfect to send first time givers or regular givers to say thanks.  It will cost $2-$3 and will be available by the case.  Members will be able to get these at a members only price.
• Complete solutions (video, graphics, communication) for special offerings like Easter and Christmas.  We’re not just going to show members what to do…we’re going to GIVE them all of the stuff.
• We’re adding a ton of video to our line up.  Each month, members get written, audio and video coaching for them and their team.  We’ve contracted with a professional videographer to produce high quality videos.   We’re making video giving talks and video coaching that can be shown to finance teams.

In addition to those things, here’s what members get EACH MONTH as a part of their Giving Rocket core membership.  Everything on this list is included in membership…no additional purchases are required.

JANUARY:  Creating an Annual Financial Plan

• Audio, Video and Written coaching on how to create an annual financial plan
• Done-for-you worksheets and templates to help create and communicate an annual financial plan.
• Members-only interactive coaching call to answer member’s questions about creating a funding plan
• Done-For-You Annual Contribution Statement that’s ready to customize and send to their 2011 donors
• Five Giving Talk Scripts

FEBRUARY: Follow Up

• Audio, video and written coaching on how to follow up with four types of givers
• Video coaching from Bob Franquiz about following up with givers at Calvary Chapel
• Four brand new done-for-you follow up letters (first time giver, digital giver, consistent giver, high capacity giver)
• Four giving talk scripts, plus a professionally produced video giving talk that can be used anytime.

MARCH: Special Offerings

• A FREE members only, in-person workshop in Atlanta where they will create a Digital Giving initiative for their church.
• A complete Easter Offering Package (graphics, video, and envelopes, plus all the coaching and strategy).
• A brand new quarterly contribution statement
• Four Giving Talk scripts plus one video giving talk that can be used anytime.

APRIL:  Digital Giving

• Audio, video and written coaching on making digital giving the default method for giving in their church.
• A full-blown revised and expanded campaign called “Automate the Important” that they can use to intentionally move people to digital giving.  They’ll get brand new graphics, logos, videos, handouts, and sign up cards.
• Four Giving Talk scripts

MAY:  Digital Giving (Part 2)

• Audio, video and written coaching on creating a digital giving culture.
• Four Giving Talk scripts, plus a brand new video giving talk that they can use anytime.
• Sign up for our members only cruise will begin in May…it’s a can’t miss event.
• May is our target date to roll out a mobile and kiosk giving solution.  Members will be able to connect with this at NO CHARGE.

JUNE:  Financial Initiatives

• Audio, video and written coaching on how to do an annual funding initiative
• They’ll get a redesigned version of THRIVE – our complete system for raising money for anything.  All new graphics, messages, and videos they can use to teach their people to THRIVE and set up their church for financial success
• A brand new quarterly contribution statement they can send to consistent givers
• Four giving talk scripts

JULY:  Developing High Capacity Donors

• Audio, video and written coaching on how to disciple high capacity givers
• A Generosity Retreat in a box.  They’ll get all kinds of templates, samples, graphics and videos so they can put on a generosity retreat with key leaders and givers
• Four giving talk scripts

AUGUST:  Talking About Money

• Audio, video and written coaching on how to talk about money in church.
• A carefully researched list of 100 amazing quotes and verses about money.  These statements can pepper all communication about money.
• Five giving talks scripts, plus a professionally produced video giving talk they can use anytime

SEPTEMBER:  The Giving Talk

• Audio, video and written coaching on how to do a giving talk in any style of church
• All new video samples of giving talks that have been used all across the country.  We will show members how to do giving talks in modern AND traditional churches.
• Four Giving Talk scripts
• A quarterly contribution statement that’s ready to be sent to consistent givers

OCTOBER:  Know the Numbers

• Audio, video and written coaching on how to create a spending plan
• Video coaching for finance teams – simply show this video to them and inspire them to create dollars, not just critique them
• A brand new and completely revised budgeting resource.
• Samples, templates and documents that members and their teams can use to create a budget that makes sense.

NOVEMBER:  Christmas Giving

• Audio, video and written coaching on how to do a Christmas offering and inspire people to give at the end of the year.
• All new graphics, templates and video for “The Gift Offering”.  Members won’t have to create graphics…we’ll give them the total package.
• Four Giving talk scripts.

DECEMBER:  Personal Finances

• Audio, video and written coaching on how to help people with their personal finances.
• A brand new personal financial curriculum called “ReThink Money”.  Members will get videos, handouts, graphics and everything they need to run a six-week personal financial class in their church.
• Four giving talk scripts, plus a Christmas-themed, professional filmed video Giving Talk they can use during the Christmas season.

You can get all of this as a member.  And you can save 25% off the membership today if you join HERE and invest in the annual membership plan.