Generosity is a key that can unlock doors for the spiritual growth of givers, as well as improve the economic health of a church. It’s a powerful one-two punch that releases freedom and growth.

Cultivating generous givers in the church is important, but it can seem daunting. Whether you prefer to do it yourself or hire a consultant, consider these three important steps in your generosity strategy: model, teach and challenge.

The strongest way to lead a generosity movement is to model it yourself. Authentic leaders help create a culture of generosity by demonstrating obedient, joyful giving.

People in the church want to learn the way of following Jesus, and they need to see their leaders transparently demonstrating it. Modeling generosity can be as simple as sharing what God has done in your life as an obedient giver.

Teaching principles of generosity in the church is the next step. Though teaching this is important, many pastors don’t want to touch the subject. I commissioned Barna Group to find out how many pastors preached on giving/generosity over the course of a year, and why they did, or didn’t, preach on it.

Of the 600 senior pastors in the research study, 77 percent had preached on stewardship and giving, with nearly a quarter of the group avoiding the subject. I was pleased to see so many preaching on it, but there are still many missing out on this key ingredient for church growth.

The pastors who did not preach on giving shared their reasons. Some felt it was not a necessary topic. Others said giving is only for mature believers. Still others were simply uncomfortable talking about it.

Of those who spoke on giving and generosity, almost half of the pastors reported an increase in giving in their church. Just over half either said giving stayed the same or they were not sure of the outcome.

Regardless of whether you have preached on generosity, there’s always a time to start, and there’s always room for improvement. One area that many pastors skip over in their teaching is the basics of giving and the differences between tithes and offerings. Many people in our churches are just starting their giving journey, and they need to know how tithing is different than the offering they occasionally give.

Regardless of whether you have preached on generosity, there’s always a time to start, and there’s always room for improvement.

If you want to go to the next level, incorporate the concept of above and beyond giving in your teaching. This area of giving is typically for mature tithers wanting to partner with the church in a greater way. An example of this is Kingdom Builders, the giving platform Rob Ketterling started at River Valley Church in Minnesota.

Maybe you’ve spoken about tithing or generosity but haven’t seen the results you were hoping for. Try a different approach.

Mark Batterson once challenged nontithers in his church to start tithing and watch how God blessed their lives. Three hundred people accepted the challenge. Over the course of the following year, giving was up 40 percent, and there were countless stories of spiritual growth and miracles with the new tithers.

Another creative option is implementing a Dollar Club. I recently visited Cross Point Church in Nashville, Tennessee, and was impressed when I saw the impact of its program. Here’s how it works: The members are encouraged to give one $1 above their monthly tithe, and the funds are used to bless someone in need every month. (Check out the Dollar Club videos at crosspoint.tv/dollar.)

Lindsey Molander, the Dollar Club coordinator, said, “The Dollar Club has been successful because it is a tangible way for people to make an immediate difference. They see that a contribution, no matter how small, can make an impact in the world.”

As an optional twist, encourage your church members to give the equivalent of $1 a day throughout the year. Just think of what your ministry could accomplish in your community if each family gave $365 above the tithe for outreach efforts!

Don’t hesitate to challenge your congregation to step up in faith and do something bold for the Kingdom. There’s an excitement and joy that comes with giving to something that aligns with your values, and everyone is able to take even a baby step in the right direction.

When encouraging people to grow in generosity, make sure you weave the vision of the ministry into your language. Money follows vision!

Cultivating generous givers in the church is a crucial ingredient in the growth and health of a church. Don’t worry if you haven’t preached on generosity yet. It doesn’t have to be difficult, and it doesn’t have to feel awkward. Have fun with it! Try something different.

Start with a smaller group, such as your staff, and see what God can accomplish in people who grow in obedience and generosity. Expand the generosity movement from there, and celebrate the God-stories along the way.

This article originally appeared in the March/April 2018 edition of Influence magazine.

More information on cultivating generous givers is available from AG Financial.