I'm hoping that you've had ample opportunity to utilize part 1 of the New Year's resolutions, #1. Show more gratitude.
I'm sure you have been on the edge of your seat wondering about resolution #2. Well I know I have. Here it is:
#2. Stay intellectually curious. - I keep up with the development/stewardship world primarily through six excellent blogs. These are the ones that I recommend:
The Grow Report: Every Thursday, Pamela Grow produces an excellent letter highlighting some of the best blog posts that have recently been published. There are always great tips included to make your work better (and sometimes easier).
Movie Mondays:Need some new ideas? A little refresher on the basics? These short (four-five minute) videos by Chris Davenport mean that you don't need to leave your office or home to be trained. The training comes straight to you.
Non-Profit AF: Vu Le writes one of the funniest and most incisive blogs around. Don't be fooled by all the cute photos of animals and birds – Vu has a lot to say about justice and equity that is applicable not only to non-profits in general, but to the church as well.
Future Fundraising: This is a daily blog – generally short but almost always featuring a helpful idea or two.
Center for Stewardship Leaders: Curated by Adam Copeland out of Luther Seminary, these posts are generally more thought pieces about stewardship written by different experts in the field. These posts will expand your thinking about the church and stewardship.
Leading Ideas:From the Lewis Center for Church Leadership, these articles don't always focus on stewardship but they do focus on leadership. And…good leadership can inspire people to be more generous.
While I might not read each one of these posts word-for-word (sorry!), I glean enough from them to know whether or not I'm on the right track, where there is need for improvement, ways to stretch my thinking, and how I can easily slip in a new idea or two. Check out one or two of them and see if you agree. Staying intellectually curious is a way to engage that brain that the good Lord gave us.
Cesie Delve Scheuermann, consultant in stewardship, development, and grant writing, Oregon-Idaho AC
United Methodist Church Giving is about people working together to accomplish something bigger than themselves. In so doing, we effect change around the world, all in the name of Jesus Christ. To read stories about the generosity of United Methodists click here.
