Churches - are you reaching out to help people in their time of need?  This is a time where we need to spend less time preaching about tithing and other matters of "the law" and spend more time reaching people.  I'm not saying that there is not a time and place to educate on these important matters.  However, this is not the right time of emphasis, as a rapidly increasing number of folks are doing all they can to make ends meet due to job losses, pressures from an increasing debt burden, a drop in income, etc.  If we meet the needs of our congregation and those in the communities around us, the giving will happen, as people will be committed to their churches in ways that they never have been previously.

For instance, do you have a financial education program in place?  Do you have a financial counseling ministry?  Do you have a well-defined benevolence program?  Are people being helped?  How much of your church budget is going toward meeting people's needs? 

This is likely the most profound time of financial need that our congregations will ever see.  Are we responding with the hands and feet of Jesus, or are we just being a big mouth?