If there’s one thing we all wrestle with as pastors and church leaders, it’s this: How do we move the vision forward while stewarding the resources we have?

At Pastors Assembly 2025, we sat in on a powerful workshop with David Dee Duron, Mark Pettus, and Vance Roush that spoke directly to that tension. This wasn’t just a talk on church budgets, it was a mindset shift.

The way we handle our resources can either move the vision forward or hold it back.

Here are a few of the key takeaways, and we encourage you to watch the full conversation on YouTube to catch it all:

Stewardship isn’t ownership—it’s partnership

One of the most freeing reminders was this: everything we have belongs to God.
That means we’re not owners, we’re stewards. And when you stop holding it like it’s yours, you actually start carrying it with more care.

What once felt like pressure becomes a privilege when you recognize it’s not about you, it’s about how you carry what God has entrusted to you.

Stewardship is about multiplying, not just maintaining

Faithfulness doesn’t mean playing it safe. In the parable of the talents, it was the servant who maintained, not multiplied, that was called wicked.

If we’re going to lead with vision, we have to lead with investment, personally and organizationally. Leaders go first. That includes stewarding our homes, our tithe, and our finances with intention.

Structure creates freedom

Healthy stewardship requires standards. The team shared a practical framework for managing church finances:

• The first 10% goes toward tithing, helping other organizations, and church planting
• Next 10% is margin for future opportunities (ex., building purchases)
• 35% is the ceiling for staffing
• 45% is allocated for ministry operations

When you build margin in advance, you create the freedom to say yes when God opens a door.

Steward the givers, not just the giving

One of the most powerful reminders: people are not line items on a report, they’re disciples.

Look for “at-risk givers”, those who used to give consistently but haven’t in 90 days. That’s an invitation to pastor them. Also, don’t be afraid to speak directly to those with the gift of generosity. Identify them, create intentional moments to gather them, and cast a bold, compelling vision for their giving.

At VOUS, they’re called Bricklayers. At Highlands, they’re part of the Legacy Team. Whatever language you use, it’s important to create space for those people to use their gift.

Don’t overlook the finance team

Let’s be honest. The finance department is often the last to be resourced. But if we want our church to move forward, the back office needs to be just as strong as the front platform.

Audit your giving experience. Is it easy? Quick? Clear? Do your people know about corporate gift matching? Are you tracking trends like year-end giving and Easter generosity?

Sometimes people have every intention of giving, but if the process is complicated, they won’t follow through.

Access workshops like this at VOUSCon 2025

This is just one of the many workshops available during VOUSCon weekend. No RSVP required, just arrive early. All workshops are first-come, first-served based on room availability, and included with your VOUSCon ticket.

You can also customize your weekend with a mix of free and paid add-ons, including leadership lunches, live podcast recordings, and after-parties.

Visit vouscon.com to grab your ticket and learn more about how to make the most of your experience.

We hope this workshop encourages and equips you to lead with vision, clarity, and stewardship. Watch the full conversation here: Watch Now

We’re grateful to be running alongside you in the mission through the Friends + Family network. Let’s keep building.

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