Normalize Money Conversations to Restore Generosity By Paige Whitaker

Let’s Talk About Inspiring Generosity!

Generosity is still alive and well in the hearts of believers — but somewhere between intention and action, it often gets stuck. While Christians genuinely want to give and steward their resources well, many feel unsure about where to begin or too overwhelmed to discuss it at all.

The result? Fewer open conversations about money… and fewer opportunities to build the kind of financial confidence that leads to a life of purposeful giving.

But that can change — and ministry leaders are uniquely positioned to help.

Why Silence Around Money Is Holding Us Back

Most believers don’t need to be convinced that generosity is a good thing. But even those with a heart to give often feel unsure of how to get there. They’re carrying debt. They’ve never built a budget. They aren’t confident about what stewardship looks like beyond tithing — and sometimes not even that.

In many churches and ministries, conversations about money only surface during a fundraising campaign or a financial crisis. That makes them feel high-pressure, one-sided, or transactional. Over time, this reinforces the idea that money is something we either have enough of or don’t — and if we don’t, we stay quiet.

But stewardship is not about having money. It’s about how we manage what we have — and that starts with honest, ongoing conversations.

How to Create a Culture of Financial Fluency

If we want to see generosity flourish, we need to make financial stewardship a natural part of discipleship. That means moving beyond isolated teachings and toward financial fluency — in our language, our leadership, and our rhythms.

Here are a few ways to make that happen:

• Weave financial literacy into existing environments
  Consider adding budgeting tools, saving strategies, or debt-reduction tips to your church app, small group materials, or discipleship classes to help your members manage their finances effectively. Think bite-sized and practical — even a one-page “starter plan” can go a long way.
• Invite guest speakers who can teach without shame
  A trusted expert or peer from your community can bring a fresh voice. Look for people who can make conversations about money feel hopeful, not heavy.
• Encourage testimonies about financial growth
  Don’t limit platform stories to significant financial gifts. Celebrate the woman who started her first budget. The young adult who set up recurring giving. The couple who paid off a credit card and made their first tithe.
• Create safe spaces to ask questions
  Host “ask me anything” events around stewardship and giving — especially during seasons like January (when people make fresh starts) or fall (when budgets are being finalized). Let your people know it’s okay not to have it all figured out.
• Talk about money outside of giving appeals
  When money is only mentioned in the context of giving, it can feel one-dimensional. Integrate financial wisdom into your sermons, leadership trainings, and conversations about holistic discipleship.

What Happens When We Normalize It

When we talk about money openly and consistently, we dismantle shame and confusion. We equip people with tools to steward wisely — not just to give more, but to live with more peace and purpose.

And as they gain confidence, something powerful happens: generosity becomes a response, not a burden. It becomes an act of worship, not a transaction. And tithing — that practice that once felt out of reach — becomes something more believers see as possible.

“Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.”

-Proverbs 15:22 (NIV)

Even conversations about money — especially those — benefit from wise counsel and trusted community. When we open the door, we make space for growth, healing, and transformation.

Paige Whitaker is the Brand Growth and Partnerships Manager at 316 Financial, a faith-based bank that tithes 10% of its profits to ministries and organizations that advise on the Gospel and uplift communities. She is passionate about building meaningful connections that support the Church and help ministries thrive through creative collaboration and purposeful financial stewardship. www.bank316.com

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