Year end giving is one of the greatest opportunities you have to inspire generosity and expand your church’s mission. Studies show that 31% of annual giving happens in December, and nearly 12% comes in the final three days of the year. When churches prepare well and communicate clearly, they not only meet financial goals but also strengthen faith and deepen participation across their entire congregation. This season is a gift to your ministry when approached with intentionality and vision.

1. Start with Vision, Not Need

People give to vision, not maintenance. Before sharing financial goals, tell stories of life change and transformation. Show how generosity leads to real impact in your community and beyond it. Help people see themselves as part of something God is doing that extends far beyond budget line items. Highlight a few things that you hope to see the Lord accomplish in your church in the coming year while also praising God for the faithfulness and fruit you witnessed in 2025. When people catch the vision of what could be, their hearts naturally open toward giving.

2. Make It a Ministry Moment

Year end giving is more than a financial appeal. It is a discipleship opportunity and a chance to shepherd hearts. Preach on generosity from Scripture, highlight testimonies of transformed lives, and remind people that giving is an act of worship and trust in God’s provision. While people often feel loaded with stress about the holidays and year end obligations, you can use this season as a time to reorient them toward the worshipful heart of Christmas. Generosity becomes a pathway to joy when we frame it biblically and celebrate it as spiritual growth.

4. Invite, Encourage, and Celebrate

Use every channel available to you, including services, email, and social media, to communicate your vision clearly and consistently. Celebrate early wins and share updates along the way. The clearer you are on your messaging, the better. Help people understand not only what they are giving to but also how to give. Should they bring their gift on the last service of the year? Can they give any week in December? Is there a special envelope? Does a designated fund appear in your online giving platform, such as “2025 Year End Gift”? You may think you have been really clear, but remember that people are coming and going, and life is busy during this season. Communicating the same message over and over is not redundant but essential. Thank your people often and specifically. Show them what their generosity makes possible. Finally, after the season ends, celebrate well and report back on how the year end offering made a tangible difference. This kind of follow through builds trust and sets you up well for continued generosity in the year ahead.

 

Consider A Year End Gift to Converge MSC

If you already give faithfully to Converge MSC, Thank You. Your ongoing partnership fuels church planting, strengthens pastors, and advances the Gospel across the Caribbean and beyond. Even without an additional year end gift, you can remind your congregation that their regular support is already helping other churches, church planting, and missions that happens through Converge MSC.

Want to deepen the impact even further? Consider designating a portion of your year end offering to partner with Converge MSC. It could be as simple as saying, “A portion of your gift today is going to Converge MSC to plant churches, strengthen leaders, and advance missions across the Caribbean.” Or, if you prefer, choose a specific initiative below and we will provide details to help you cast vision effectively.

Current Opportunities (Give ONLINE)

Dominican Republic Pastors Conference:  This gathering in Santiago invests in local church leaders through teaching, mentoring, and relational connection that strengthens ministry throughout the region.

Discipleship Curriculum and Materials for Cuba:   With limited access to printed and digital resources, these materials become lifelines for spiritual formation and leadership development in Cuban churches.

Bahamas Pastors Training: Quarterly Bible and theology workshops hosted in Freeport equip pastors serving throughout the islands with practical tools and biblical depth.

Mexico Pastors Conference:   An annual gathering in Querétaro that inspires and trains a growing movement of churches and pastors, building unity and fueling continued Gospel advance across Mexico.

Even a small percentage of your offering creates global impact while often inspiring increased generosity in your own congregation.

At Converge MSC, we’re not just focused on what God is doing in the United States—we have the privilege of helping to strengthen and expand the church across Mexico. One of the ways we do this is through the Converge Mexico Conference, happening April 30 – May 2 in Querétaro, Mexico.

For our churches in the U.S., this is a unique opportunity to witness firsthand what God is doing through Converge Mexico. Your presence could serve as a great encouragement to our Mexican pastors and leaders. It’s also a chance to explore potential partnerships and discover how your church might play a role in advancing the gospel in this region.

I will personally be at this conference and would like to invite any pastor who is interested to join me. Your registration, along with some conference meals, will be covered, but you or your church would need to cover your airfare and lodging. Rooms at the conference hotel are approximately $70/night and are very nice. Flights should be booked into QRO airport. If you stay through Sunday, we can also arrange for you to preach in one of the Converge Mexico churches.

If you’re interested in attending to encourage and gain vision for Converge Mexico, please fill out this form.

This gathering will bring together pastors, church planters, and ministry leaders from across Mexico for a time of encouragement, vision, and practical equipping.

If you’re a pastor or leader in Mexico and haven’t yet registered, you can do so here.
(Si eres pastor o líder en México y aún no te has registrado, puedes hacerlo aquí.)

Let’s continue to strengthen churches together—both here and across borders!

As pastors and church leaders, we’re always looking for ways to equip, inspire, and strengthen our teams. That’s why I want to encourage you to not just attend the S2 Conference this year, but to bring your team with you. This event, happening May 6-8 in Indianapolis, is more than just another leadership conference—it’s an opportunity to invest in your staff, leaders, and volunteers in a way that will have a lasting impact on your church.

A Time for Inspiration and Growth
S2 is designed to provide practical tools, encouragement, and meaningful connections that will help your ministry thrive. Your team will hear from top-notch speakers, engage in thought-provoking sessions, and walk away with actionable insights that can immediately strengthen your church. But more than that, it’s a time for your team to be refreshed, recharged, and reminded of the bigger picture of what God is doing through His Church.

Celebrating what God is doing Collectively
In the past, we’ve hosted a Spring Celebration Banquet, which was a great way for pastors to expose their congregation members to everything happening at Converge. This year, instead of the banquet, we’re focusing all our energy on making S2 a key moment to showcase all that God has done and is doing through our churches. While it requires an investment of time and travel, we believe it will be an even richer experience for your team.

A Special Gathering for Converge MSC Churches
While S2 is a national Converge conference, we will have a special time set aside just for our Converge MSC churches and leaders during the event. This will be a chance to connect with others in our region, celebrate what God is doing, and strengthen the partnerships that make our movement so impactful.

I’d love for you and your team to join us! Register today at s2con.com and if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out.  See you there!

7 Ways to Make the Most Out of Easter

Easter is right around the corner! If you’re like me (Chris Highfill), you sometimes wait until the last minute to get planning started. But don’t worry—here are some quick tips to help your church make a big impact and create lasting momentum leading into and following Easter.

1. Consider Adding a Service

Easter is the perfect time to experiment with an additional service. You can even frame it as a trial run. If adding a service has been on your mind, this is a great opportunity to see how it works. It will challenge your church leaders to solve problems, implement effective systems, and discover that it’s easier than it seems. Adding a service maximizes ministry potential and provides more opportunities for people to attend.

2. Equip Your People to Invite

Empower your congregation with tools and encouragement to invite others. Provide resources such as invite cards, social media graphics, and even text suggestions for reaching out to friends and family. In the weeks leading up to Easter, inspire them through sermons and testimonies—highlighting stories of how an invitation changed someone’s life. People need reminders and encouragement to extend that simple, impactful invite.

3. Make the Guest Experience Great

As one of my mentors said, “People don’t invite to average.” Make sure the guest experience stands out! Use this time to declutter your lobby, clearly mark guest parking, streamline kids’ check-in, and upgrade your coffee. Ensure every detail communicates warmth, excellence, and intentionality—all in a way that reflects the heart of your church.

4. Give Them the Gospel and a Chance to Respond

Many attending Easter services may have never heard the gospel clearly presented. Share the good news in a way that resonates and connects. Then, provide a tangible opportunity for them to respond—whether through a text-in number, a connection card, or an invitation moment. This step is vital for those who are ready to take their first step of faith.

5. Challenge Them to Come Back

People are motivated by challenges, so invite your Easter attendees to a “Three-Week Challenge.” Encourage them to commit to coming back for the next three Sundays and make it easy by sharing service times and details. Often, the next step for a guest isn’t baptism or membership—it’s simply returning to church the following week.

6. Kick Off a Sermon Series the Week After

As part of your invitation for people to return, announce a new sermon series starting the week after Easter. Make it engaging and relevant for both believers and non-believers. Share a preview during your Easter service so attendees know it’s a perfect time to come back and learn more about God and His plan for their lives.

7. Celebrate What God Did

After Easter, send an email celebrating everything God did. Highlight salvations, first-time guest numbers, impactful stories, and memorable moments. This encourages your congregation by reminding them they are part of a church making a real difference. Don’t miss this opportunity to honor God’s work and build momentum.

Conclusion

Easter is a powerful season of ministry—and with some intentional preparation, it can be a catalyst for lasting impact in your church and community. From adding a service to celebrating what God has done, each step plays a vital role in maximizing the opportunity Easter provides. Let’s make this season one to remember as we point people to the life-changing hope of Jesus!