Denominations

Personal Finances Financial Health Date (90 Minutes)

• Step 1 – Watch Welcome Video from Bishop Todd Fetters (4 minutes).
• Step 2 – Watch Month #1 Instructional Video (8 minutes).
• Step 3 – Watch Brian and Mary Ellen Testimonial Video (9 minutes).
• Step 4 – Assessment Survey – Please take the survey individually (~10 minutes). These surveys are 100 percent confidential and are for your benefit. The United Brethren leadership will not see your personal assessment surveys. Print out your emailed results and compare them. You will also use these survey results in your Month 2 assignment.
• Step 5 – Choose a Generosity Devotional. If you choose Brian Kluth’s free 40 Day Generous Life Devotional, download it to your phones (go to your app store and search for “givewithjoy” or sign-up for the eDevotional version at GiveWithJoy.org and read Day 1 “God Owns It All” together. Optional: Listen to the Day 1 audio teaching podcast. Take turns on who reads each day’s devotional for the next 40 days.
• Step 6 – Decide on a monthly, 90-minute Financial Health date when you will meet together to work on these things. Write this on your calendars.
• Step 7 – Download and print out the following handouts. Please review them together so you have a better understanding of the 6-month course. Put them in a Financial Health folder or 3-ring binder.

Best Practices Worksheet
Planning Calendar
Online Training 6-month Schedule

• Step 8 – Once you have completed all seven steps for Month 1, fill out the following form. Important: This private and confidential form is sent to the NAE offices (not to the UB offices) and is an important requirement of the grant-funded courses. 
  • Personal Finances Month 1*
    • I have completed Month 1 training.
  • What was the most helpful thing about Month 1 training?*
  • What could we improve in Month 1 training?*
  • What day/time of the month did you decide you will do your 90-minute Financial Health date?*
  • If you will be receiving grant monies or are planning to complete the Church Generosity online course, what is the date you will begin this 6-month pastor/leaders committee-based training as an agenda item during regularly scheduled meetings?
  • Do you have any questions about this course that we can answer for you?
  • Name*
  • Email*
  • Church Name, City and State*
  • Comments
    This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

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Personal Finances Financial Health Date (90 Minutes)

• Step 1 – CATCH UP

If you have not completed Month 1, take time to do so now by clicking on Month 1 above.

• Step 2 – TRAIN

Print the “10 Ways God Provides When the Paycheck Isn’t Big Enough” handout and watch the Month 2 video. Then, watch the video on “10 Ways God Provides When the Paycheck Isn’t Big Enough” (39 minutes).

• Step 3 – GROW

In the coming month, continue reading your Generosity Devotional together. If you missed some days, don’t skip ahead. Some people take 50-60 days to go through a devotional.

• Step 4 – DIG, DISCUSS & DECIDE

Discuss what you learned from the Personal Finances Month 2 video. Go over your Personal Finances assessment survey results and Best Practices worksheet. Use the 6-month planning calendar to identify the Best Practices that you agree to research and work on to improve your family’s financial health.

• Step 5 – PLAN

Over the next 60 days, record all of your expenditures with financial software or on a worksheet (see available resources on the Personal Finances Best Practices worksheet #2 and #3). Watch the “How Do I Set a Budget or Spending Plan?” video.

Once you have completed all five steps for Month 2, fill out the following form. Important: This private and confidential form is sent to the NAE offices (not to the UB offices) and is an important requirement of the grant-funded courses. 

Personal Finances Financial Health Date (90 Minutes)

• Step 1 – CATCH UP

If you have not completed Month 1 or 2, take time to do so now.

• Step 2 – TRAIN

Begin by watching the Personal Finances Month 3 video. Listen to the following podcasts: Principle of Financial Freedom (3:07) and Principle of Counting Your Blessings (10:59). There is an optional activity this month: Text yourself the link to the other podcasts and listen while driving or at home (NAEfinancialhealth.org/resources/bible-keys-for-true-financial-freedom).

• Step 3 – GROW

Start today by “Counting Your Blessings” and recognizing God’s provisions in your life from the last seven days. Record each of these provisions and their financial value in a notebook or send yourself a weekly email with the list of provisions.  Use the 10 Ways God Provides chart to help you recognize God’s creative provisions in your life each week. Begin to set aside at least 10 percent of God’s financial blessings into a special fund, budget category or bank account. You could also put cash in a special place in your wallet or at home to give as the Lord leads you. In the days, weeks, months and years ahead, use your giving fund to faithfully support your local church and the ministries, missionaries, people, programs or projects where God is prompting you to give.

• Step 4 – DIG, DISCUSS & DECIDE

Review and discuss any links from the Best Practices worksheet. Use the 6-month planning calendar to help you focus on your financial health goals for this course. Also, check out some of the video resources, especially the 1-2-minute Q&A videos by Ron Blue in Best Practices #5. Review your progress by tracking your financial expenditures and determining if there are ways you can save money.

• Step 5 – PLAN

Continue to track your expenses and look up more Financial Health Best Practices. Begin making changes in your lifestyle and finances based on what you’ve been learning and discovering in this course.

Once you have completed all five steps for Month 3, fill out the following form. Important: This private and confidential form is sent to the NAE offices (not to the UB offices) and is an important requirement of the grant-funded courses.

Personal Finances Financial Health Date (90 Minutes)

• Step 1 – CATCH UP

If you have not completed Month 1, 2, or 3, take time to do so now.

• Step 2 – TRAIN

Begin by watching the Personal Finances Month 4 video.

• Step 3 – DIG, DISCUSS & DECIDE

Discuss and decide on a book or curriculum from the following list:

God Owns It All by Ron Blue – Personal or Small Group Study – $12.99
Money & Marriage God’s Way by Howard Dayton – $9.87
The Stewards Ways by Jay Link – Free book or free online video course (promo code = free)
Experience God by Your Provider by Brian Kluth – $9.99
Live Free by Servant Solutions – Personal Workbook – Free
No Strings by Debbie Swindoll – $19.95

• Step 4 – PLAN

Continue to record God’s provisions and set aside resources to give. Review online Best Practices that are important to you. Monitor expenditures for 60 days and establish agreed upon financial goals.

Once you have completed all four steps for Month 4, fill out the following form. Important: This private and confidential form is sent to the NAE offices (not to the UB offices) and is an important requirement of the grant-funded courses.

Personal Finances Financial Health Date (90 Minutes)

• Step 1 – CATCH UP

If you have not completed Month 1, 2, 3 or 4, take time to do so now.

• Step 2 – TRAIN

Begin by watching the Personal Finances Month 5 video. Discuss the financial curriculum that you chose last month.

• Step 3 – GROW

Continue to record God’s provisions on a weekly basis and set aside a “thanks offering” to the Lord. Share as you feel led.

• Step 4 – DIG, DISCUSS & DECIDE

Discuss Best Practices resources that will help you meet your goals. If needed, refer to the Best Practices worksheet and planning calendar. Note: If you need affordable health care options, click here.

• Step 5 – PLAN

Continue to work on your spending plan, budget and financial goals over the next 12 months. If you are a pastor or a leader, discuss action steps to have your leaders complete the Church Generosity 6-month, committee-based training course.

Once you have completed all five steps for Month 5, fill out the following form. Important: This private and confidential form is sent to the NAE offices (not to the UB offices) and is an important requirement of the grant-funded courses.

Church Generosity Committee-based Training (up to 45 Minutes During Your Next Regularly Scheduled Meeting)

• Step 1 – Download this 2-page PDF and give copies to those participating in the training. During your committee meeting, watch Month 1 Instructional Video (9 minutes).
• Step 2 – Discuss the “10 Ways People are Influenced to Live Generously” handout, and share one of the 10 ways you have been influenced to live generously.
• Step 3 – Review and choose a generosity devotional that each leader will begin to do with their spouse and/or family. If your leaders choose Brian Kluth’s free 40 Day Generous Life Devotional, have them download it to their smart phones (go to their app store and search for “givewithjoy” or they sign-up for the eDevotional version at GiveWithJoy.org. They should go through this with their spouse or family, taking turns on who reads each day’s devotional for the next 40 days.

After the committee meeting:

• Step 4 – Pastor or the church lay leader should email this page to the leaders on your team. In addition to the Church Generosity training, any interested leaders can choose to use the free Personal Finances training resources to benefit their family.
• Step 5 – After the meeting, have the pastor and one or two key church leaders take the Church Generosity assessment survey. Print out and review the emailed results.
• Step 6 – Download and print out the following handouts. Please review them together so you have a better understanding of the 6-month course. Put them in a Financial Health folder or 3-ring binder.

Best Practices Worksheet
Planning Calendar
Online Training 6-month Schedule

• Step 7 – Once you have completed all six steps for Month 1, fill out the following form. Important: This private and confidential form is sent to the NAE offices (not to the UB offices) and is an important requirement of the grant-funded courses.
  • Church Generosity Month 1*
    • I have completed Month 1 training.
  • What was the most helpful thing about Month 1 training?*
  • What could we improve in Month 1 training?*
  • How many and what type of church leaders are going through this course with you? Examples of church leaders include: elders, council, deacons, finance committee or if others, please describe.*
  • Do you have any questions about this course?
  • Name*
  • Email*
  • Church Name, City and State*
  • Comments
    This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

  Δ

Church Generosity Committee-based Training (20 to 45 Minutes During Your Next Regularly Scheduled Meeting)

• Step 1 – TRAIN

Download and provide photocopies of this month’s discussion handout for all of your committee members. Watch the Church Generosity Month 2 video, which includes teaching on the 7 Keys to Joyful Living and Giving (8 minutes).

• Step 2 – DIG & DISCUSS

Have each person share at least one highlight from your Generosity Devotional reading, 7 Keys to Joyful Living and Giving, or the giving cartoons and statistics from the Month 2 video. Optional: For those going through the Personal Finances training, share a positive highlight from this course.

• Step 3 – PLAN

Start or complete your reading of your Generosity Devotional.

Once you have completed all three steps for Month 2, fill out the following form. Important: This private and confidential form is sent to the NAE offices (not to the UB offices) and is an important requirement of the grant-funded courses.

Church Generosity Committee-based Training (up to 45 Minutes During Your Next Regularly Scheduled Meeting)

• Step 1 – TRAIN

Watch the Church Generosity Month 3 video (14 minutes), which includes teaching on the 5 Keys to Growing Joyful Givers and Giving. In this video, Brian also gives instructions for using the Church Generosity 37 Best Practices worksheet and the 12-month Planning Calendar. Download and provide photocopies of this Church Generosity 5-page document for your group. In addition, send this document to everyone via email, as they will need access to the Best Practices links for the research they will be doing next month.

• Step 2 – DIG & DISCUSS

Over a period of 30 minutes, have each person in your group share a few Best Practices they think should be researched further. Assign and/or have people volunteer to do further research on specific Best Practices and bring their findings back to the group next month.

• Step 3 – PLAN

This month, plan to research your specific or assigned Best Practice by using the website links on the Church Generosity Best Practices worksheet. If you haven’t already done so, complete the readings in your Generosity Devotional.

Once you have completed all three steps for Month 3, fill out the following form. Important: This private and confidential form is sent to the NAE offices (not to the UB offices) and is an important requirement of the grant-funded courses.

Church Generosity Committee-based Training (up to 45 Minutes During Your Next Regularly Scheduled Meeting)

• Step 1 – TRAIN

Download and provide copies of this month’s discussion handout, the Bless Your Pastor brochure and template letter for your church members. Watch the Church Generosity Month 4 video.

Review generosity devotionals so you can choose one for your church families to go through.

• Step 3 – DIG, DISCUSS & DECIDE

Discuss when would be a good time to do the kick off Sunday for the church families to start going through the generosity devotional.  Decide who will work on placing an order for materials and preparing the letter and email to send with the devotional.

Discuss when would be a good time for the Bless Your Pastor initiative at your church. If it will be done at a different time than the generosity devotional, decide who will prepare the letter and email from your church leaders. You can also download the full Bless Your Pastor Kit with additional resources (e.g., bulletin inserts, social media graphics and more).

• Step 3 – PLAN

Encourage people to continue researching their assigned Best Practices resources. Ask them to be ready to bring a report at your next meeting.

Once you have completed all three steps for Month 4, fill out the following form. Important: This private and confidential form is sent to the NAE offices (not to the UB offices) and is an important requirement of the grant-funded courses.

Church Generosity Committee-based Training (up to 45 Minutes During Your Next Regularly Scheduled Meeting)

• Step 1 – TRAIN

Watch the Church Generosity Month 5 video.

• Step 2 – PLAN

Finalize plans for the 40 Days of Generosity and Bless Your Pastor initiatives.

• Step 3 – DIG, DISCUSS & DECIDE

Print and distribute copies of the Best Practices worksheet and planning calendar. Discuss the Best Practices ideas and resources. Start using your 12-month planning calendar to keep track of old and new Best Practices that you would like to continue or start practicing. Decide if there are any additional Best Practices you would like to research before the next meeting.

Once you have completed all three steps for Month 5, fill out the following form. Important: This private and confidential form is sent to the NAE offices (not to the UB offices) and is an important requirement of the grant-funded courses.

Church Generosity Committee-based Training (up to 45 Minutes During Your Next Regularly Scheduled Meeting)

• Step 1 – TRAIN

Download and provide copies of this month’s discussion handout and the Bless Your Church brochure for each person. Watch the Church Generosity Month 6 video. Have people share what they found most interesting and helpful in this teaching video on asset and legacy giving. Discuss how giving out the Bless Your Church brochure to families in your church could be of help to people and benefit your church in the years/decades to come.

• Step 2 – DIG, DISCUSS & DECIDE

Ask for updates from people still researching Best Practices resources. Plug in the agreed upon Best Practices and resources into your 12-month planning calendar.

• Step 3 – PLAN

Plan to implement the chosen Best Practices in the next 12 months. Add financial health/generosity reports to future monthly agendas. Each month, request updates and reports on the results of these initiatives.

Once you have completed all three steps for Month 6, fill out the required end-of-course evaluation form. This is an important requirement of the grant-funded courses. The pastor should complete this form after the committee meeting.