Stewardship is for Everyone—But Everyone Hears It Differently

When we talk about stewardship in church, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking one message will connect with everyone. But the truth is, the people sitting in your pews aren’t all coming from the same place. They’ve got different backgrounds, financial situations, and life experiences. If we want to really disciple people well when it comes to biblical stewardship, we’ve got to learn how to communicate in a way that actually lands with the people we’re talking to.

Every Sunday, churches everywhere carve out a moment to talk about giving. But let’s be honest—sometimes that moment can feel a little awkward, routine, or even skipped over without much thought. What if, instead, it became one of the most meaningful parts of your entire service?

When it’s done well, the giving moment isn’t just an announcement about money—it’s a powerful opportunity to disciple your church family, share vision, and inspire joyful, heartfelt generosity.

A strong stewardship ministry has the power to shift how people think about money, stuff, and generosity. But even the best ministry won’t get far if folks don’t really understand what it’s all about. That’s why clarity matters. Without it, people might assume stewardship is only for those struggling financially—or worse, that the whole thing is just a fancy way to ask for more money.

If you want to build a ministry that’s healthy, thriving, and actually helping people grow, you’ve got to paint a clear picture of why it exists. One that invites people in, earns their trust, and shows how stewardship ties directly into following Jesus.

At the Christian Stewardship Network (CSN), we see stewardship as more than managing money—it’s a vital part of discipleship. Small, intentional steps toward generosity and connection can spark real life change. That’s why we’re committed to finding simple, effective tools that make it easier for people—especially those who are new or unsure—to get involved.

In the latter half of 2024 and into early 2025, my church has seen a decline in giving—and perhaps your church has experienced a similar trend. As ministers focused on stewardship, generosity, and church finance, is it possible to steer things in a more positive direction?

MortarStone recently released its 2024 Annual Report, which is based on real data from 537 churches. The report highlights contributions from 941,790 unique giving households that collectively made 43.1 million gifts, totaling $13.7 billion. A closer look at this data reveals interesting trends that can be impacted by ministry.

Many church leaders overlook the true impact of stewardship on their ministries, often limiting it to conversations about finances. That was certainly the case for Sam Gungaloo, a lead pastor of the Washington Conference of SDA near Seattle. When invited to his first Stewardship Impact Workshop hosted by the Christian Stewardship Network (CSN), Sam wasn’t initially convinced.

Are you leading stewardship ministry in your church and looking for fresh ideas, encouragement, or connection? You’re not alone—and you don’t have to lead alone. That’s why the Stewardship Leader Collab Calls from Christian Stewardship Network exist: to equip you with insight, community, and practical strategies that help you build a culture of biblical generosity in your church.