Self-Led Campaigns

There is usually the temptation among some church leaders to lead their own capital campaigns. They see this as a way to save money on the initial cost for a campaign Consultant, and there are usually some fears about bringing in an outside Consultant. When leaders think about leading their own campaign, they assume their people will give the same with or without a Consultant, and the only difference is help with the organizational structure. History shows that very few churches can raise as much on their own as they can with an outside Consultant – Consultants can usually raise two to four times as much as a church can on its own. But there is a lot more to this issue.

Some churches and church leaders have had positive experiences in leading their own campaigns, but it is not the normal response we hear from those in the trenches. When church leaders are honest with themselves, there are several common threads they experience in a self-led campaign. The following comments are condensed from pastors who have led their own campaigns:

They have raised less money, creating a much greater total cost either in the amount of money spent of interest, or in increased construction costs from the delays in their building schedules;

They have involved relatively few people, with the same few doing everything;

It has consumed the time and energy of the pastor and staff, who have become fund raisers and lightning rods for problems;

Their people do not listen as well to their own leaders ("you know too much about me" comments), unless there is an outside "expert" who can bring direction and accountability;

They have made many mistakes that could have been avoided;

Many campaigns have had a heavy emotional cost with negative feeling tones; and

A self-led campaign assumes all your people already support the church's vision, that they have already resolved stewardship issues, and that they already have this high level of commitment to give sacrificially.

A self-led campaign assumes the victory of the campaign is in its organizational structure, in doing the tasks, and in the marketing aspects of the campaign, while ignoring the real truth that the victory of the campaign is in the hearts of the people before it goes to their checkbooks. Why start on page two? Most churches need help to start on page one. This is where TLC shines!

Pastor Dan Cook

Lakewood, New York

Self-Led Campaigns