Churches and ministries should always be careful and prayerful when it comes to their finances. Our finances must be above reproach.
 
Like so much else in society, the way people buy and give is changing.  Electronic giving is becoming more and more popular. If you don’t provide that type of giving as an option, you do so at your own peril.  Many people don’t write checks anymore. Period. Are you giving them the option to give electronically, and even with their mobile phone?  If not, the sooner, the better.

As you know, Millennials are now the largest generation in the history of the United States – even bigger than the Boomers.  They are also rapidly growing in influence and starting to provide leadership in society, business, and, yes, even in many churches.  Are we ready in church and associational life to reach the lost, to disciple the saved, and to assist and mentor them to be leaders?  If not, we need to be.
 
Here are some helps for us to better understand, connect with, disciple, and deploy millennials.

This week is the week before the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention in St. Louis, MO.  I hope you will pray for this important meeting of the largest Protestant denomination in America June 14-15.  I plan to be there (as well as the Southern Baptist Conference of Associational Leaders (SBCAL) prior to the Convention).
 
As we pray for and think about denominations, associations, and the SBC, in particular, below are some perceptive observations from various sources.
 
I hope they will be helpful to you and to those you serve.
 
To the praise of His glory,
Ray
Pr. 3:5-6
 
Quotable Quote: “I pray that God would enable the thousands of smaller SBC churches - mine included - to see the individual and collective potential that rests in God moving through our congregation to reach the world for his glory.” Travis Smalley: So-Called "Smaller" Churches and the Future of the SBC

Pastors face many challenges.  One of the most critical is working with the church to call the right staff for the right need at the right time, and for the staff to serve as a team. Someone has wisely said that churches should consider the Three C’s before calling any staff: Character, Competence, and Chemistry.
 
I hope the articles today will be helpful to you and to those you serve.
 
To the praise of His glory,
Ray
Pr. 3:5-6
 
Quotable Quote: “The most common church staffing mistake happens when an organization simply doesn’t know who they are or where they are going.” Jay Mitchell: The 7 Most Common Church Staffing Mistakes