Editors’ Note: We highly recommend that this article be shared with all pastors.
Background
As VP for Finance & Stewardship Director of the Idaho Conference, I’ve been conducting a statistical analysis of all our congregations to identify growth patterns and best practices. During this process, an extraordinary case emerged: the Nampa Seventh-day Adventist Church, under Pastor Chris Evenson’s leadership, has demonstrated remarkable financial growth over a 12-year period without implementing explicit stewardship campaigns or sermon series.
The Statistical Evidence
After reviewing the data shared by Pastor Evenson, I confirmed the following growth metrics:
- Church Budget Growth: 10.65% average annual increase, resulting in a 184% total growth over 12 years
- Tithe Growth: 10.97% average annual increase, resulting in a 202% total growth over 12 years
These growth patterns significantly outpace typical church growth metrics nationwide and are particularly noteworthy given the general trend of decreasing offerings observed across the North American Division.
Resilience Through Challenging Times
The Nampa church demonstrated exceptional financial resilience during challenging periods:
- Pandemic Response: A remarkable 26.8% tithe increase in 2020 despite widespread economic uncertainty
- Recovery Capacity: After a brief decline in tithe during 2022, the church experienced a strong 23% increase in 2023
The Pastoral Approach
What makes the Nampa case study particularly compelling is Pastor Evenson’s humble admission that there wasn’t a specific stewardship strategy implemented. When asked to share his “secret” with other area pastors, he initially struggled to identify specific factors, noting only that “God has been good and our people faithful.”
In our correspondence and his subsequent presentation to area pastors, several implicit factors emerged that appear to have contributed to this financial vitality.
Foundations of Spiritual Vitality Leading to Financial Faithfulness
Based on my 26 years of experience in church leadership and our analysis of Pastor Evenson’s ministry, I’ve observed that financial faithfulness typically flows from spiritual vitality. The Nampa approach appears to include:
- Dedication to Prayer and Personal Devotion: significant time invested in prayer and spiritual connection before addressing church business
- Authentic Pastoral Leadership: alignment between the pastor’s words and actions, creating trust and integrity
- Devotionally-Focused Preaching: well-prepared sermons that nurture spiritual growth rather than explicit appeals for funds
- Relational Ministry: regular connection with members through visits and phone calls
- Intergenerational Engagement: strong support for youth programs like Adventurers and Pathfinders
- Small Group Development: empowering Sabbath School classes to function as effective small groups
- Community Involvement: active participation in community center initiatives
- Consistent Spiritual Rhythm: maintaining a steady presence at prayer meetings and other spiritual gatherings
Key Insights for NAD Stewardship Leaders
- Indirect Approach: Financial growth can occur as a natural byproduct of spiritual vitality rather than through direct stewardship campaigns.
- Leadership Authenticity: Pastor Evenson’s humble approach and personal involvement with all aspects of church life (notably sitting with children during children’s stories) models servant leadership.
- Foundational Practices: Following core recommendations from church and elders’ manuals can yield remarkable results without novel strategies.
- Collaborative Leadership: Engaging elders and treasury team in identifying growth factors creates shared ownership.
- Long-term Consistency: The 12-year sustained growth pattern suggests that consistent, faithful ministry produces enduring financial health.
Conclusion
The Nampa case study offers a compelling counterpoint to strategy-heavy approaches to church finance. It suggests that when spiritual vitality, authentic leadership, and genuine community engagement are prioritized, financial faithfulness often follows naturally as a blessing from God.
This experience aligns with other pastoral testimonies I’ve encountered where ministers who prioritized prayer, followed established church guidance, and maintained consistency in their ministry saw extraordinary results without explicitly focusing on financial appeals.
As stewardship leaders, we might consider how our approaches can nurture the spiritual foundations that naturally lead to financial faithfulness.
By: Oscar “Mike” Sanchez