By Rev. James R. Cook, CFP® If you think Medicare will cover all your healthcare costs when you retire, think again. The sobering reality is that Medicare generally only covers about 60 percent of the cost of basic healthcare services for individuals aged 65 and older. The remaining 40 percent must be covered by […]
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For many people, churches are much more than just buildings. They are sacred spaces that carry great meaning to all who gather there for prayer, community, connection and spirituality. It is for these reasons that churches must take steps to provide safe spaces for occupants and mitigate risk on their properties. Purchasing insurance is […]
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How churches are stretching their budgets through gifts-in-kind organizations By Gary C. Smith It’s a given that with budgets tighter than ever, churches need to be creative in doing more with less. Yet many dismiss one very real resource because they’re convinced there must be a catch. But it’s not too good to be true. That resource […]
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This article is an excerpt from “CHURCH BUSINESS: Making the Business of the Church Easier, Simpler, and Much Less Painful.” By Nathan Freeland Should the pastor know what people tithe? I used to think he shouldn’t. But then I learned about Dan. Knowing the truth about Dan changed my mind. Dan had been a leader […]
Read More >Your church management software is a treasure trove of actionable information … but only if you know how to mobilize it. What are the most important, yet often overlooked, ChMS data points? Gordon Proud: First, member management — who’s attending your church, how often and what classes or ministries they’re involved in. In addition, it’s […]
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By RaeAnn Slaybaugh By anyone’s standards, Tom Lunak, CFO of Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale, has extensive experience in the banking industry. In his career, he has held senior-level titles at, and done consulting work for, several banking institutions. So, it was a pleasant surprise when, a few years ago, he was asked to […]
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Red flags and best practices to better protect your religious organization They’re on the news on a regular basis: stories of church theft, fraud and embezzlement. Sometimes the culprit is the church accountant who intentionally misrepresents church spending. Sometimes it’s the church food pantry director, who purchases food for the church — and $30,000 in […]
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By Kristine Miller You might have already sensed the dramatic shift in the philanthropic landscape. The way in which donors are giving, the number of donors contributing, and the number of organizations donors are supporting are all in rapid flux. Changes to the tax code have given rise to donor-advised funds and other tools that […]
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By Patricia L. Hunter, CFP® What is the “sandwich generation”? This term refers to middle-aged individuals who are simultaneously caring for and supporting their children, as well as their aging parents. They have been given that label because these individuals are effectively “sandwiched” between the obligation to care for their aging parents — who might […]
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Whether you’re an established megachurch with multiple campuses or you’re a small local church in a tight-knit community, it’s equally important to provide a benefits program for full-time staff. But with rates going up by 10 to 20 percent every year, it can be a challenge for smaller churches to keep up. The result? Understaffed […]
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