The Smartphone Offering

A few years ago, a pastor asked me, “What trends do you see impacting the church in the future?”  I held up my iPhone and said, “This.”  The pastor was aghast at the answer.  Does anyone doubt now the impact of mobile devices?  Then consider this

• 95% of all Americans own a cell phone
• 250 million smartphones exist in the U.S. alone!
• 77% of Americans have a smartphone. 
• Americans do everything with their smartphones, including shop! In fact
• 37% of in-store retail sales are influenced by a shopper with a mobile device!
• All of the above stats are outdated because smartphone growth is exploding!

So what does this have to do with the offering?  Smartphones and mobile devices have changed the way commerce is done in America.  The result is that even before COVID19, smartphones changed the offering forever. Now more than ever we must learn what I am calling, The Smartphone Offering. Why?

Think about it, who carries a checkbook around with them? Think about it: how many checks do you write a month?  Who has much cash on them?  Yet every weekend, at least before COVID19, we passed a device devised in the 19^th century in front of people asking them to give.  No wonder our offerings are declining.  No one has the means to give that way!  Is the offering dead?

The offering is not dead; it has simply changed!  We have to take the offering to where people are and give them the platforms they most want.  With so many people using their smartphone for just about everything, doesn’t it make sense for your church to let them use it for the offering?  If you are not offering text giving you are missing a great opportunity to connect with donors wherever they are.

I partner with what I feel is the best online provider in America Gyve! Check them out, httpss://gyve.com/

Does your church offer ways in which people can use their smart devices to give?  If not, you are missing an opportunity.

Yes, they can give to your church even if they left the checkbook at home!

So, back to the thought, “The Smartphone Offering.”  The iPhone, which started the smartphone revolution, has changed how Americans do commerce.  If 37% of retail store sales are influenced by mobile devices, what does this say to the church?  In part, it says…

People want to use what they find easy, and they are comfortable with.  With so many people carrying around a smartphone doesn’t it make sense to allow them to use that device to give?  Text giving is one of the easiest and fastest ways to give.

Smartphones have indeed changed the offering.  The question is, what are you going to do about it?

Mark Brooks – The Stewardship Coach