The #1 Reason People Fail at funding dreams
On April 27, 2011, 212 tornadoes ripped through Alabama, tearing the state apart. The damage was disturbing. One of the places affected was my hometown of Pleasant Grove. The street where I grew up was turned inside out. I later learned that the twister was an F-5, the biggest possible. I said to myself, “I…
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Why “Somebody Should Raise Money” Means Nobody Will
When natural disasters strike, I get a lot of messages. People text me, tweet me, Facebook me, email me, etc. At some point in the message or conversation, I inevitably read this phrase: “Somebody should raise money for these people in need.” Honestly, I think most people are hoping that I’ll raise the money. And…
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The Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right Fundraising Formula
In the 1990s there was a popular Nintendo game called Contra that I played constantly. Even as I type this, nostalgia is overwhelming me. Man, I loved that game. And yet, at the same time, I hated it. Because I couldn’t conquer it. Then one day, I learned something. Something life-changing. Earth-shattering. History-making. Something that…
Read More5 Steps To Getting Ahead On Year-End Giving
The #1 issue that every church, big or small, has to address with accuracy, sensitivity and timeliness. In our culture, we live in a “wait until I have to do it” mentality. That’s the same way you should view your givers. However, there are some things you can do to make sure giving isn’t TOO…
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Guide to Fundraising: Excuses Are Lies That Keep Us Broke
Over the years as I developed this guide to fundraising, I’ve talked with people who have had a dream they wanted to fund. There are some excuses that I have heard, and continue to hear, more than others about why they can’t reach their fundraising goals. Here are a few of the most common: I…
Read MoreRocketCast 007: Grow Church Through Social Media
We spent some time chatting with Justin Wise, founder of Think Digital, about the place of today’s social media. In this interview, we discuss: How to grow church through Social Media There are may ways to attract people, increase engagement, and improve giving in your church. During this informative podcast interview, Casey Graham and Justin…
Read MoreWhy Every Church Needs A Volunteer “Champion”
When volunteers are recruited, trained and released into ministry, there is a risk that they will still start to pull in different directions. Without someone to champion volunteer connections, volunteers can quickly become discouraged with their progress and confused about their specific roles and responsibilities. My friend Tim Stevens used to always say, “Unless it’s…
Read MoreA Prayer For Worship Leaders by Leaders of Worship
Worship services are the #1 thing that evangelical churches do every week that impact the most people at the same time. It happens EVERY week. Worship Leaders and Pastors are constantly under pressure to lead in wisdom and truth. So, this prayer is a gift of encouragement to church leaders around the world.
Read MoreHow to Recruit More Church Leaders With the 20% Rule
I recently addressed the challenge of not having enough volunteers in the post 3 Strategies For Church Volunteers Recruitment. However, the thought of adding more volunteers to the team may be overwhelming. You are maxed out. You are doing everything you can to keep up with your responsibilities and the people who are already on…
Read MoreHow to Improve Your Sermons With A Feedback Team
One of the best books I’ve read recently is Creativity, Inc. by Ed Catmull, the CEO of Pixar. While it’s certainly not a preaching book, I came across an idea that I recently leveraged in a sermon series at Gwinnett Church. It’s an idea called The Brain Trust. As you know, Pixar has this amazing streak…
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