Comments on: Snowmageddon Cancels Church: Communicating a Crisis

By: Noreen

Noreen — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 08:04:04 +0000

I agree with Mark about the key missing piece–the ability to let people know how they can bring their offering. However, for us it’s with the perspective that people’s tithes and offerings are a key part of their worship to God, and a Christian discipline we want to enable them to practice. While we were snowed out (we’re in the DC area, too), we did much the same things Ryan did, but added info about online giving. Which some folks did, and which increased the number of people we have giving online regularly. We get so funny about “the money stuff” in churches, don’t we? But it doesn’t have to be at all awkward if we just remember WHY God calls us to give. So in the same way we remind our people–financial giving is yet another opportunity to glorify God and humble ourselves before Him.

By: Chad

Chad — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 09:30:25 +0000

Mark & Marshall
As a full time staff pastor at both a small church previously and now a relatively large church i can agree that the offerings are indeed “lost”. Somehow people take a cue from sports and just think of it as a “bye” week for their tithe / offerings. But i have to say that for the little bit of hassle it was to set up “online giving”, it has been infinitely worthwhile in these kinds of situations.

By: D. Hoage

D. Hoage — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 10:32:46 +0000

This is a great article, considering present realities. However at the risk of sounding like an alarmist, churches also should consider a plan for when the current communication methods, upon which we’ve all come to rely so heavily, either fail or are restricted. What will we do then? I’ve joked that perhaps we should invest in carrier pigeons, but this is something deserving serious attention. We shouldn’t assume things will remain as they are now.

By: Paul Wilkinson

Paul Wilkinson — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 09:26:15 +0000

Mark & Marshall,
I spend some of my time in a Christian bookstore environment and I can tell you that from a retail perspective you don’t make up the revenue from a weather closing the next day.
I would expect that church offerings are not much different, hence the value of automatic withdrawal or automatic credit card donations.

By: Mark Brooks

Mark Brooks — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 11:05:56 +0000

Marshall, if the church does not receive donations it can not serve as effectively. In my experience lost offerings are lost to the church. The money all too often gets redirected to Pizza Hut!

By: bondChristian

bondChristian — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:57:08 +0000

Mark, is the local church there to serve or be served?
I think you’ve brought up a legitimate issue, but I wonder how much importance we should place on it. Perhaps the offerings aren’t lost… just redirected.
-Marshall Jones Jr.

By: Florida Fence

Florida Fence — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 08:14:48 +0000

The weather has been crazy.

By: Florida Fence

Florida Fence — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 08:14:07 +0000

The weather has just been crazy this year.

By: Mark Brooks

Mark Brooks — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 06:08:50 +0000

This is ALMOST a good post. What is missing? The fact that on a typical snowed out Sunday the church will lose thousands of dollars in lost offerings. That money will never be made up. Why was there no plan for addressing this? If we are so thoughtful about getting our message out about closing, why not about giving? It totally amazes me that this aspect is almost never thought of. Yet with a good plan of action you can address this area also and not lose the offering. We advised our clients on a plan of action that save them thousands of dollars. They used direct mail and online giving to make up the loss of the offering. Any plan of action that fails to address your offering shortfall is a plan that is lacking!

By: Ryan Spilhaus

Ryan Spilhaus — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:57:26 +0000

Hey Frank,
Right now we use a service called Amerilert for texting staff members. It’s designed specifically for emergency notifications.
We like it because it also has options for sending emails or voicemail messages, depending on what people signed up for.
Glad you guys enjoyed the post!