A Word to the Wise – Karl Vaters
The Way People Commit to the Church Is Changing—Here’s How
The way people make commitments is changing. Unhealthy churches whine about it.
Healthy churches do something about it.
People are as committed as they’ve always been. They just commit in different ways now.
1. For blocks of time, not long term
If they want to commit in chunks, let’s give them chunks to commit to. Then leverage that experience into long-term, consistent giving.
2. Through relationships
People don’t give to projects as much as they give to people. People in need. People they know. People they trust. People who lead by example.
3. Because we ask
A lot of pastors are afraid to ask people for help, face-to-face. We feel like we’ll be imposing. But it’s not imposing. Often they’re waiting for us to step up and make the request personal. To let them know we don’t just need someone, we need them.
4. To something worth committing to
People won’t give just because a church, ministry or denomination is where they’ve always given. The work must be practical, valuable and trustworthy. We have to constantly prove ourselves worthy of that trust
Build a Bridge…This is not an answer. But it’s a start.
It’s not enough to get church members to give a week of their time or a once-only big gift. Churches need weekly helpers and steady givers. But getting people involved in a way that suits their new schedules and answers their trust issues is how we get that snowball rolling.
If we start with an understanding of some of these principles, we can build a bridge from one-time events to long-term commitments. We can inspire people to become strong, steady givers and volunteers.
Karl Vaters, 11.10.25, The Way People Commit to the Church Is Changing, https://karlvaters.com/people-commit-changing/
The Way People Commit to the Church Is Changing—Here’s How
The way people make commitments is changing. Unhealthy churches whine about it.
Healthy churches do something about it.
People are as committed as they’ve always been. They just commit in different ways now.
1. For blocks of time, not long term
If they want to commit in chunks, let’s give them chunks to commit to. Then leverage that experience into long-term, consistent giving.
2. Through relationships
People don’t give to projects as much as they give to people. People in need. People they know. People they trust. People who lead by example.
3. Because we ask
A lot of pastors are afraid to ask people for help, face-to-face. We feel like we’ll be imposing. But it’s not imposing. Often they’re waiting for us to step up and make the request personal. To let them know we don’t just need someone, we need them.
4. To something worth committing to
People won’t give just because a church, ministry or denomination is where they’ve always given. The work must be practical, valuable and trustworthy. We have to constantly prove ourselves worthy of that trust
Build a Bridge…This is not an answer. But it’s a start.
It’s not enough to get church members to give a week of their time or a once-only big gift. Churches need weekly helpers and steady givers. But getting people involved in a way that suits their new schedules and answers their trust issues is how we get that snowball rolling.
If we start with an understanding of some of these principles, we can build a bridge from one-time events to long-term commitments. We can inspire people to become strong, steady givers and volunteers.
Karl Vaters, 11.10.25, The Way People Commit to the Church Is Changing, https://karlvaters.com/people-commit-changing/
- Ten Practical Ways to Encourage a Discouraged Church (Sam Rainer, Church Answers)
- Marriage and Divorce in 2025: Five Trends Shaping Today’s Families (Barna)
- State of Theology Report Shows Encouraging, Concerning Signs (Lifeway Research/Baptist Press)
- Loyalty Is a Consequence of Leadership (Admired Leadership Field Notes)
Thank you for reading. Please share it with pastors and other AMSs you believe would benefit.
To the praise of His glory,
Ray
P. S. I also host the “SBCAL Podcast with Ray Gentry” each Tuesday morning.
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