Whether your school building reopens in May or August is out of your hands for the most part. It is certainly in God’s hands. School leader Bill McGee writes about this so well in his recent article- Don’t Waste This Pandemic.

You may be like me and want to be pro-active and not reactive. So, could I provide 12 questions in Part I? The answers would help you plan now so that your school reopens well. In Part II, I suggest 7 actions, that also need taken now, that will allow you to help the school accelerate into a preferred future.

I do admit a couple of things up front:

How do you know that you are putting yourselves in a position to achieve giving goals in these remarkable times? No one can see the future, but we can lean on God’s promises and steward well what we’ve been given to predict our financial future. Today I want to look at two areas to place effort to reap maximum rewards as you press the reset button on this year’s priorities. Giving is always a trailing indicator of what is happening in your organization. It doesn’t tell you how you’re doing right now. It tells you how you’ve done in the past.

In order to heal, a patient must first acknowledge he is sick. Jesus, in His wonders and miracles, frequently sought ownership in the hurting and a desire for relief.

When Jesus noticed him lying there, knowing he had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to get well?” John 5:6

Some leaders seem to have an innate ability to influence followers, this is an incredible strength.

But, most of our strengths bring along with them a corresponding weakness. It’s important that we cultivate self-awareness of both the positive and negative aspects of each of our strengths.

Lower birth-rates and the devaluing of religion have long term consequences for enrollment and the market demand for a specifically Christian education. While this survey does not measure differences between Christian and non-Christian values, based on other research and data I’ve reviewed, younger generations of Christians are following these cultural trends.

I will say, for most leaders, asking for money is one of the most challenging things that they do.

I will not say that, for most leaders, this becomes easier over time because I don’t think it ever does.

If you are focused on asking well… If you are focused on honoring God with your words … If you are focused on honoring the resources and the work that someone does to actually create wealth and the resources to give.

It should be challenging, and it’s okay for it to be challenging.

If you are worried about being awkward, about how you come across, or if you are coming across looking like you are just after someone’s money, or making the relationship all about money, here is my encouragement to you: The sheer fact you want to not come across as pushy or obnoxious means YOU ARE NOT.

Sensitivity to how you come across is a good thing; it’s a guard on your heart. It is actually something that will help you be who you want to be, which is more of yourself, authentic, and clear that this is about leadership, and, about the fact that you have a plan, you are moving forward with that plan, and giving is what fuels that plan to go forward.

You have three questions to answer for givers whenever you ask for money:

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” Gal 5:1

Musing over my lifetime ‘I wish I had that on a T shirt’ list, my thoughts went back more than four decades: Dateline: October, 1986, an early evening Prenatal Class somewhere in Greater Toronto 

 “I don’t want to tell you about childbirth,” said the progressively minded instructress to us dozen or so fathers-to-be, who pretty unanimously wished we were somewhere else. 

She went on, “I want to draw out what you already know about having a baby!” The shuffling male feet and vacant stares spoke eloquently of our profound ignorance on the subject. 

‘This won’t take long.’ I thought, ‘we may even be home in time to watch the hockey game.!

A healthy system is a beauty to behold. 

Whether it’s traffic lights perfectly timed greeting you with green after green en route to work or a gorgeously executed family dinner that arrives hot to the table with all members ready to eat - systems that work can make life easier, more efficient, and even more enjoyable!

My suggestion to you today is to apply this precision to your follow-up protocol. I want to explain and illustrate simple systems for follow up and then provide you with a toolkit for easy application.

Let’s dive in!

Jesus told us not to worry, for tomorrow will surely bring worries of its own. Yet as leaders, it can feel as though the only way we stay above water is by staying one step ahead.

More is constantly being expected for less.

In a nation that seemingly values the art of business, more than ever before, people voice complaints over simply not being able to “get it all done.”

What I want to suggest to you today is the notion of evaluating our intentionality in order to be our best selves, focused on what truly deserves our attention in our respective ministries.