Philanthropy Expert Sees Poor Economy as a Wakeup Call for Churches

July 22, 2008 - PRLog -- Rising gas prices, a struggling stock market, and an economic slow down does not discourage Dr. Brian Kluth.  Kluth is one of America's leading experts on church giving.  He is also a pastor, bestselling generosity author, speaker, and media commentator.  He sees America's current and future economic struggles as a wake up call for pastors and churches to teach people God's principles for managing their finances and giving.

Kluth says, "Most people only read an Owner's manual when they are having problems.  With 2350 Scripture verses on finances and generosity in God's Owner Manual, now is the time for pastors and churches to develop plans to teach people Biblical financial and generosity principles."

Kluth reports that the percentage of income that Christians give has been declining for 40 years and that only 5% of Americans give 10% or more of their income to Christian and charitable causes.  Kluth feels a struggling economy will finally cause churches to wake up to the importance of teaching God's Word on finances.

Two years ago, Dr. Kluth released the "40 Day Spiritual Journey to a More Generous Life" Bible devotional.  Hundreds of churches nationwide have ordered copies for every family in their congregation to inspire generosity and increase giving.  This bestselling devotional now has 320,000 copies in print and it is being translated into 43 foreign languages for worldwide distribution.  In Kluth's own church, giving went up 44% after his church gave out copies of the devotional to each family.  A church in Mongolia reported nearly a 60% increase in giving after using the devotional.

Kluth encourages churches to use his Generous Life devotional, Crown Financial Ministries materials, Dave Ramsey courses, and Willow Creek's Good Sense classes to help people get on solid financial footing.  "People today are tired of their debt laden consumer lifestyles," says Kluth.  "They are looking for Biblical answers to inspire and instruct them how to live."

"Thank God for tougher economic times," says Kluth.  "It will motivate churches to help people discover answers in God’s Owner's Manual when it comes to managing their finances and giving."

ABOUT: Dr. Brian Kluth was named the Stewardship Educator of the Year by the national Christian Stewardship Association.  He has been interviewed by NBC TV, CBN TV, NBC Dateline, Moody Open Line, Money Matters Radio, Chronicle of Philanthropy, Christianity Today, and many other major newspapers and magazines.  His websites are www.MAXIMUMgenerosity.org and www.GenerousLife.info.

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About Dr. Brian Kluth and www.MAXIMUMgenerosity.org. Kluth is a leading authority and media commentator on philanthropy and giving to Christian and charitable causes. His www.MAXIMUMgenerosity.org free generosity e-newsletter is sent to 15,000 leaders and individuals in over 100 countries. His most popular resources are the www.GenerousLife.info Bible devotional and the www.MyFamilyOrganizer.org.