Capital Campaigns in Post-Everything America
The blogs and websites related to church leadership are littered with words, thoughts, and articles that seem to refer to all the things that no longer describe reality. In other words, we are living in a time of saying constantly, “It is just not like that anymore.” We talk about our culture being post-Christian, post-Bible, post-pandemic or something else. And it feels like we are encouraged to look forward but keep being shown the rear-view mirror.
What remains true for churches that are looking to stay alive and adaptable in the future is the need for financial capital. We know God does not need anything to do His work and we are reminded of this as house churches, pub churches, and dinner churches are on the rise as the anti-institutional religion wave surges again. Yet there are still a few hundred thousand churches in our country that are giving it a go with assembling people in a space and mobilizing those people for the sake of God’s work in the community and the world.
Whether it is true or not, it feels like most of western Christianity began worshipping regularly in their pajamas at home. And though we will have to rethink the use of facilities going forward, there is nothing that indicates buildings are going away anytime soon. We have also learned that raising capital dollars is not just for sticks and bricks anymore. For churches of any age, stage, size or denomination, there are simply those times in the life of a church where an extra surge of cash is needed – or could give rocket fuel to a ministry initiative in a critical window of opportunity.
This is true for families and businesses, too. Sometimes you just need a roof at your home. And sometimes the business just needs to upgrade their servers and software. The question becomes, “Where will that extra financial fuel come from?”
And as we navigate a difficult turn into the fast lane of the modern age, churches may need more than clean and safe facilities. Many are eyeing updates that include equipment, technology, and even software that helps them do ministry in more effective ways. In a very real sense, we are leading a two-headed ministry approach – connecting and discipling people both in the scattered church of online space and through the gathered church in our buildings. This has not proven to go away anytime soon – or maybe ever.
Capital campaigns get a bad rap when they are executed poorly. In and of themselves, a church-wide initiative that unifies and re-ignites vision and funding can be a watershed moment in our lives. Those who have had a good experience know what I mean. If communication is clear, if care is used, if discipleship of generosity is emphasized and if the vision is worth investing in, a campaign can take individuals to a new level of excitement and devotion.
I have met more than a handful of people who have said something like, “I went to an entirely new and better place in my faith in God and in my commitment to my church.” Taking this new reality into account, the Auxano Generosity Campaign process helps progress oriented church leaders raise the funds they need to fuel ministry. Campaigns look different today, but the results are the same… resourcing the vision God has given you to make disciples in your community and around the world.
Learn more and talk directly with an Auxano Generosity Campaign Navigator using this simple information form. Only God knows what lies ahead in 2021 and beyond, but we can all count on the fact that the generosity of His people will make all the difference as we get there.
Greg Gibbs is a Senior Lead Navigator for Auxano and leads the Auxano Generosity Team. He is the author of Capital Campaign Playbook: An Insider Look at a Consultant’s Gameplan (2020) and the brand new Creating a Culture of Generosity: A Field Guide for Church Leaders (2021). He is a three-decade ministry professional, pastor, writer and consultant who serves as Executive Pastor of Vintage Church Santa Monica, California.
