Wise Practices for the Invitation to Offering
in a Streaming Environment
DO THIS:
You have a story to tell – tell it with passion and conviction. No matter where people are when they are worshipping with you, the church is still doing ministry and living out its God-given vision. Talk about the ways that is happening–and why it still matters.
- Speak with confidence – you believe in your ministry – sound like it!
- Encourage people – inspire people with the good and possible.
- Invite them to participate as they are able.
- Give permission for people not to give and thank them for the other gifts they give via their prayers, their participating in streaming worship, and their service to their neighbor. Thank them for the gift they will give in the future.
- Talk about what the offering does, not about what the mission costs!
- Use pictures to tell your story – best if they are “your people,” but images that represent what you do are an adequate substitute.
- Play music – silence may be golden, but in broadcasting, it is not welcome. Our preference is for bright and lively music here – not a dirge.
- Explain how to participate – if you have electronic giving options, be sure to explain them. Consider a landing page on your website that you can direct people to that demonstrates how to use your particular platform.
- Remind them you still take checks and how they can get them to you!
- SAY THANK YOU! Be gracious and appreciative of the generosity people share and express.
DON’T DO THIS:
- Don’t apologize for asking. Stewardship is spiritual discipline and those who are able need to give far more than the church needs to receive.
- Don’t act awkward – don’t look at your feet, shuffle about, or “umm” and “err.” Your body language may send an entirely different message than your words so work to be sure the message of your mouth is consistent with that of your body.
- Don’t ignore the moment – don’t think that even when the world is uncertain, “Well, this just isn’t a good time to talk about giving.” God is calling you to do ministry, and that requires resources.
- Don’t berate, belittle, or beg.
Remember when doing the offering:
- You have given people instructions – give them enough time to follow them.
- If possible, display them on the screen. If you are providing some sort of downloadable bulletin or program – be sure to include the instructions for giving. Use a QR code or active hyperlink to get people to right page for making a financial contribution.
In all things, give thanks for the faithfulness of God and the work you have been called to do. Those who look for scarcity will be sure to find it. Those who believe in God’s sustaining provision will discover what they need – and what they don’t.