Presbyterian Mission Agency nancy crowe Archives

Memphis church finds new life, ministries in storefront

Posted June 25th, 2024

Membership had gone from 1,400 to about 160 over the decades. Maintaining a 10-acre campus, with a tall-steeple sanctuary built in 1950, drained money and energy. Church leaders struggled with the implications of closing or merging.

Presbyterian ruling elder notes that Jesus spoke freely about money

Posted October 16th, 2023

Churches rely on members with more money to power ministries that help those with less. Yet our attitudes about money can fuel or deplete our power to help ourselves and others.

Service dogs in training are part of church’s welcome

Posted June 16th, 2022

After leading the congregation in prayer, the Rev. Dr. Greg Bolt knelt next to the golden retriever in her blue and white service dog jacket.

Be ready to receive planned gifts with policies, procedures

Posted October 5th, 2021

In 2020, 28% of all charitable gifts went to religious institutions, said the Rev. Ellie Johns-Kelley, the Presbyterian Foundation’s Ministry Relations Officer for the Allegheny and Chesapeake Region. Only 8% of Americans gave bequests to a church.

Planned giving is the opportunity of a lifetime

Posted September 27th, 2021

Talking about death is difficult. Yet planned giving, especially in congregational contexts, can clarify what’s important to us and how that can benefit others long after we’re gone.

Estate planning does God’s work after we’re gone

Posted August 30th, 2021

The “what” of estate planning can seem overwhelming to ministers, even those who regularly deal with death. Besides, serving God requires plenty of other earthly details.