I started (and finished!) the new book FEARLESS CHURCH FUNDRAISING:
The Practical and Spiritual Approach to Fundraising by Charles LaFond while flying today to the East Coast for the Church Pension Group Board meeting.
Two words: BUY IT!
Two more words: USE IT!
It is the most comprehensive, helpful stewardship resource I have read in years. Charles LaFond -- fundraiser/monk/priest not only tackles the obstacles to giving well, but provides step by step how-to's for successful annual campaigns as well as planned giving and capital campaigns. I kept on wanting to shout YES! to every page I read (which I know would have bothered the people sitting around me on the plane) -- it is that good. Not only does he capture eloquently what I've been preaching and practicing for years, he adds to it with not only a practical approach to stewardship, but outlines for christian education and adult forums.
Everything from calendar for planning to vision and mission development to stewardship with youth -- it's all here, and it's under 220 pages long.
It's not rocket science, it's the Gospel. Charles lays it all out well.
This has been perhaps the best, most practical time spent on a plane that I've had in years!
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