The Heart of Stewardship, The Practice of Faith

The Heart of Stewardship: The Practice of Faith is a practical and spiritual workbook for treasurers, finance committees, and church leaders who recognize that financial leadership is more than balancing books—it is sacred ministry. Designed as a companion to The Ministry of Money and integrated with resources from the Effective Church Leadership Community (ECLC), this guide equips leaders to approach stewardship as a Spirit-led calling rooted in Scripture, discernment, and mission.

The workbook is organized around three retreats—Spiritual Reframing, Practical & Protective, and Visionary & Sustainable—providing a flexible formation process that can be adapted for one-day intensives, half-day sessions, or ongoing leadership groups. Each retreat includes opening prayers, scriptural grounding, journaling prompts, group discussion guides, and hands-on exercises, ensuring that both the spiritual and technical dimensions of stewardship are fully engaged.

Readers will discover how to:

Reclaim money as a spiritual matter, aligning hearts and resources with mission.

Place calling over budget, using the Calling–Energy–Resources–Discernment (CERD) framework to realign priorities.

Reframe financial mindsets from scarcity to abundance.

Build trust through bylaws, policies, and transparent governance.

Implement ethical fund-handling practices and safeguard against fraud.

Strengthen accuracy in accounting and reporting as acts of discipleship.

Navigate compliance and risk management with confidence.

Mentor successors and envision long-term financial sustainability.

Accessible to leaders of all levels, The Heart of Stewardship is ideal for consulting packages, self-guided cohorts, and church retreats. Its companion resources—templates, webinars, and tools available through the ECLC—extend the learning and help churches implement safeguards, cultivate transparency, and build resilience.

Whether you are a new treasurer seeking clarity, a finance chair struggling with complexity, or a seasoned leader preparing to mentor the next generation, this workbook will equip you to serve with integrity, courage, and joy.

Financial stewardship is not a distraction from mission—it is an expression of discipleship. When handled with prayerful discernment and transparent practices, money becomes not a burden but a blessing, strengthening the church’s witness and sustaining its call.