One very significant knock-on effect of the current economic recession has been that most churches have seen a drop in giving. While we have not been hit as hard as some of my friends, the past twelve months have been challenging and I feel for colleagues who have been compelled to lay off staff, pull back on ministries and deal with the mental pressure of working out what the heck is going on.

My friend Tony McCollum who pastors a thriving church in Shawnee, GA is a guy with a transparent love for Jesus and passion to reach those who don’t know Christ yet. In the new economic reality, Tony has already had to lay off staff and is now looking at some drastic measures that may need to be taken to keep the church afloat. Being a bit of a techno-geek, rather than use preaching time on Sunday to outline the church’s predicament, Tony recorded a video for his folks today and posted it on his blog.

I took half an hour this afternoon to watch it in its entirety. Tony handled the matter wiith clarity and class, but my heart went out to him.

I’ve been thinking about this whole issue of giving during a time of recession, ever since I watched that video and I’m thinking there are probably three kinds of givers in most churches. I’m going to write about them here today and for the next two days.

My experience shows me that in every congregation there are what I will call -

1. OVERFLOW GIVERS

2. OBLIGATION GIVERS

3. OPPORTUNITY GIVERS

1. OVERFLOW GIVERS

This is the phrase I’m using to describe people who give when they’ve got extra and that’s about it. On an occasional basis they may drop something significant into the offering, because it’s part of a surplus they have. However their customary method of contributing to the work of God is to look into their wallets during service on a Sunday morning, check what’s there, work out what they may need for themselves over the next few days and then drop what’s left – the overflow – into the offering bucket.

Of course when things get tight, there is no extra, the overflow does not exist and since their approach to money is that God is not really a priority, overflow givers’ minimal contributions dry up almost completely during a recession.

Most churches have way too many people who think they’re doing God a favor by tossing a $20 bill into the offering and feel sure he understands when their own comforts are taken care of, but his kingdom is not because times are tough.

Of course he understands – he understand that he comes dead last.

More tomorrow …