Church Giving Statistics - Offerings Are Down But the Help Churches Are Giving Families Is Up

May 1, 2010 - PRLog -- Colorado Springs, CO - New research from over 1000 churches shows that offering plates are lighter but the needs of people are heavier for churches across America.  The 2nd annual http://www.STATEofthePLATE.info research was conducted by http://www.MAXIMUMgenerosity.org and Christianity Today International.  Over 150 news stories about this research has appeared in major newspapers, radio stories, TV reports, and magazines across America and around the world - - including the front page on the Washington Times, NPR news, Associated Press radio, NBC, CBS, Fox, ABC, Christianity Today, Chronicle of Philanthropy, and many more.

The research shows that 38% of churches have experienced a decline in giving this past year.  The year before 29% of churches saw a decline in giving.  Brian Kluth, founder of www.MAXIMUMgenerosity.org, says "This two year drop in church giving is unprecedented in our lifetime.   While churches are in uncharted waters financially, they are stepping up like never before to help families in their church and community."

According to the http://www.STATEofthePLATE.info research, here are ways that churches are planning or considering helping people in the coming year:

• 74% of pastors will preach on financial topics
• 65% will offer financial classes, courses, seminars (examples: www.DaveRamsey, www.Crown.org, etc.)
• 50% will make helpful financial pamphlets available
• 48% will make volunteer financial counselors available
• 42% will give out Bible devotional on finances/generosity (example: www.GenerousLife.org)
• 30% have increased funding to help needy families in the church and community

In Kluth's home church in Colorado Springs where he has been the pastor for 10 years, benevolence giving has gone up ten fold.   Kluth says, "We used to give about $6000-$7000/year to help people in need, but this amount has now grown to $60,000-$70,000 per year.  This is about 10% of our overall budget.  In the past year alone, we helped 300 families with lodging, meals, food gift cards, gasoline, rental/mortgage assistance, medicine, and utilities."

This past year, Kluth's church commissioned him to become a full-time Generosity Minister-at-Large for churches and Christians around the world.  His work includes national research on giving and financial practices, writing, creating generosity materials for churches, media interviews, guest speaking, and leadership training.  Kluth says, "In the book of Haggai, God allowed cold economic winds to blow to get people's attention.  They had become materialistic and were living for their own pleasures.  God used challenging economic times to help people consider their financial ways and to make giving to God a priority in their lives.  Scarcity helps lead to clarity.  I believe we are in a similar time in our world history and I am grateful I can be used by God to help make a positive difference in the lives of churches and people."  Kluth is in the process of releasing a book with Moody Publishers that is called, "Experience God as Your Provider - Finding Financial Stability in Unstable Times."

To see the key findings and graphs, go to: http:www.STATEofthePLATE.info   To contact Brian Kluth, call 719-930-4000 or email bk@kluth.org.

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MAXIMUM Generosity was founded by Dr. Brian Kluth to provide resources, speaking, and media interviews that inspire greater generosity and increase giving. Kluth is a pastor, bestselling author, speaker, and a leading media authority on philanthropy.