Generosity Accelerator Workbook

GENEROSITY ACCELERATOR WORKBOOK

MEET THE RIVER VALLEY

SETTING THE FOUNDATION FOR GENEROSITY & DEVELOPING A GENEROUS HEART

The key to unlocking generosity is honor and obedience, and this begins with tithing. As pastors, it would be wrong for us to tell our congregations to give to Kingdom Builders without first teaching them to tithe.

When we get this foundation right, everything follows. Most often we dial into the analytics of tithe and above and beyond giving, but generosity begins in the heart. When we disciple our congregations to discover the joy in giving, their heart posture changes and they are ready to take that step into becoming a Kingdom Builder. Here are some practical ways we begin developing generous hearts in our church:

∙ Teach about tithing on the tithe - 10% of our tithe goes to monthly missions support.

∙ Host 5-Spots with missionaries on Sundays5 minute highlights before offering.

“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.”

Malachi 3:10 NIV

APPLY IT

In this room, if every church gave 10% of their tithe to AGWM, how much would we be able to give to missions?

NOTES

THE TITHE IS ABOUT HONOR AND OBEDIENCE. KINGDOM BUILDERS IS ABOUT GENEROSITY.

WHO ARE KINGDOM BUILDERS?

KINGDOM BUILDERS

is a way of leading the great commission through a community who faithfully give above and beyond. From the kids to adults, the profile of a Kingdom Builder is the same. This community is built of individuals and families that prayerfully commit to give, over and above their tithes, to global missions, local church expansion, and future Christian leaders.

It is easy to assume Kingdom Builders are those who are able to give $1M and above, but this is not the reality! Every person in your church has the ability to be a Kingdom Builder. God does not use superstars to do this. It is not about the money people have, but the sacrifice they are willing to make. The way we teach this at River Valley is anyone who gives above their tithe, no matter how little or how much, they are a Kingdom Builder!

One of the ways we help individuals in our church become Kingdom Builders is through this process of Plan, Vision, Dream:

Plan:

First, make a plan to give. When you have plans that are diligent, it leads to plenty (Proverbs 21:5). Whatever the amount is - have the plan in place, work the plan, and be obedient with it. Start there.

Vision: Next, ask God to give you a vision for what He could do through you with His help. This is beyond what you can do in your natural income. This requires you to take a step of faith. Additionally, Habakkuk 2:2 tells us to write that vision down and pray about it! God will supply all your needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19). Stepping out in faith pleases God.

Dream:

Lastly, what would be a dream amount you could give? Hold onto it. This number is only between you and God. Watch as each step of faith you take, God moves you closer to that dream. God can do exceedingly, abundantly more than all we can ask for or imagine (Ephesians 3:20).

MONEY IS THE MECHANISM, GENEROSITY IS THE CATALYST, AND KINGDOM BUILDERS IS THE OUTCOME.

RHYTHMS OF GENEROSITY

Giving is like a muscle. The more you work it out, the stronger it gets. The Lord proved this years ago when Pastor Rob felt prompted to take up a mission offering for the missionaries every week leading into Christmas. In years past, he would hold off on offerings until special events like guest speakers or Christmas Eve. However, what he realized was by holding off on offerings, it meant that once or twice a year you ask your congregation to hit their maximum weight, and the response is limited... In contrast, when the church gave weekly leading into Christmas, giving was actually strengthened and increased continuously until the final gift! After this experience, to strengthen the giving muscle, River Valley has found this monthly rhythm to help cultivate a generous church and increase generosity.

NOTES

Ask, Update, Celebrate, Break

Each month River Valley talks about giving every week and found the cadence of Ask, Update, Celebrate, Break, to work well with our congregation.

Ask:

The first week of the month, we choose our monthly project or partner that we will highlight during our weekend services. We will show a video, have slides ready to present, and announce our partner's goal from the stage. Once this is highlighted we will ask for a contribution.

Update:

The second week of the month, we update the church on how much we raised for the partner or project that we highlighted the past week. We will ask a second time for people to give if they had not had the opportunity yet to contribute.

Celebrate:

The third week we celebrate what we raised! No matter if we went above the goal, hit the goal, or were below the goal, we celebrate generosity.

Break:

The fourth week of the month we will still take offerings, but we will not highlight a specific project or partner.

BARRIERS

LOCAL. GLOBAL. FUTURE.

We like to organize and share about our Kingdom Builder partners in three categories: Local, Global, and Future Partners.

share Builder categories: Partners.

Local | 10%-20%

We are committed to funding the growth of the church locally through expanding our own campuses, planting life-giving, Spirit-filled churches in our communities, and ministering to the hurting in our own backyards. Here are some examples of our local Kingdom Builder partners:

• Building Campaigns*

• Teen Challenge/Dream Center

• CMN

• Prison Ministry

Global | 50%-75%

Through Kingdom Builders, we support key missions projects across the globe. Some examples of our Global Kingdom Builder partners are:

• Live Dead

• Global University

• Speed The Light

• Boys and Girls Missionary Challenge (BGMC)

• Convoy of Hope

• Fire Bible

• Project Rescue

• OneHope

• Project42

Future | 10%-20%

Kingdom Builders believes in coming alongside future Christian leaders to foster a love for the Bible, God, and the lost. Our Kingdom Builders partnerships work with organizations that care for the physical and spiritual needs of our future

NOTES

leaders. Some examples of our Future Kingdom Builder partners are:

• Lake Geneva Bible Camp

• North Central University

• Church Match Scholarships

• Kingdom Builders Youth Global Teams

• River Valley Leadership Institute

People often ask how we choose our partners. You can find our Kingdom Builder Partner Rubric in the appendix.

Apply It:

What organizations do you already give to that fall under these three categories? What other projects are you currently giving to, or would like to give to, that could be a part of your Kingdom Builders? Write them down.

*During years with large building projects, the percentage given to local projects will be substantially higher.

While we have been tithing and giving to Kingdom Builders throughout the year, we focus in during the fourth quarter of the year to continue pressing toward our annual goal. Starting at the end of October through year-end, there are four key phases that create the year-end wave of generosity.

Kingdom Builders Banquet

Our Kingdom Builders Banquet is a special event typically held toward the end of October. We invite 300-400 guests to a semi-formal banquet with the purpose of communicating the heart of Kingdom Builders. The flow of the evening begins with dinner and then we open with worship. We always bring in a special missionary guest who shares their story. It is important to invite boots on the ground front-line missionaries, not organizational leaders. The missionaries provide powerful testimonies and are a physical representation of what a global heart looks like. The Kingdom Builders Banquet starts the wave of generosity leading up to our Miracle Offering weekend.

CREATING THE WAVE OF GENEROSITY NOTES

Miracle Offering Reveal

Two to three weekends after the miracle offering, Pastor Rob will reveal the total number that was given for Miracle Offering. We make sure this is a celebratory moment! In the past we have held worship nights to make the moment even more special.

Final Push

Following the Miracle Offering Reveal, we have our final push to reach our goal before the end of the year. We send several emails to the church, continue to talk about it from the stage during weekend services, and we heavily emphasize stock gifts as year end is when most of those gifts are given.

Miracle Offering

Miracle Offering weekend is huge! It takes place the second week of November and 40-50% of what we bring in the entire year will come from the Miracle Offering weekend. We start talking about Miracle Offering two weeks in advance, asking people to prepare their hearts and to be asking God what He is encouraging them to give. On Miracle Offering Weekend, Pastor Rob preaches a specific message about generosity and expanding the Kingdom of God. He invites the congregation to give the best gift they have ever given! We also remind people that all of the money that comes in goes out to Kingdom Builders partners. The window is open for two weeks for people to give their gift, reminding the congregation each week that they can participate in the Miracle Offering.

AN

GIVING

AFTER

A

FINDING YOUR BULLSEYE

In the Fall of 2020, Pastor Rob realized the importance of finding your “Bullseye.” It’s the gifting or passion that God has placed on your life that is greater than anything else you do within your ministry. For River Valley, that Bullseye is to send out 500 missionaries across the world.

Jesus knew His Bullseye. He told his disciples in Matthew 16:21 & John 18:37:

“From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”

Matthew 16:21 NIV

“For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world -- to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

John 18:37 ESV

NEXT STEPS

AT YOUR CHURCH

Leaders

Inspire your leaders. This includes your staff and elected officials. Share your vision to increase tithe and missions giving. Who are the first five people that come to mind that you need to inspire? Write their names down and send them a text right now to find time to get together.

List

Get a vision for your project list. Where do you feel God is asking the increased giving for missions to go? Make a list of the project names and why you feel God is leading your church to support them. Then, make a list of what you need to do to connect with those potential project partners.

Language

Start changing your language. You do not need to call it Kingdom Builders. Choose what is right for your church and then inform your staff that you are shifting the internal language.

Launch

Pick a date to launch and then launch strong!

GENEROSITY PATHWAYS

Are you ready to take your next step to increase generosity in your church? Scan the QR code to choose your Generosity Pathway.

IN THE NETWORK

Subscribe to River Valley Network to stay connected. River Valley Network is a community of pastors and church leaders who are on a mission to build healthy and generous churches.

APPENDIX

Suggestions to Develop a Global Heart Culture

When missionaries visit your church, have your congregation stand and clap to welcome them to the stage. Demonstrate your heart and honor towards them in that manner. We stand to honor them not because they live in another country or are a hero, but because of their radical obedience, which is something we all should have. Be sure to invite these

missionaries to share in both the main auditorium and kids service!

Another encouragment is to host virtual global teams and global teams! Open the door for your congregation to develop a global heart through experience and it will unlock the generosity in their hearts. Encourage your church members to go on one

as soon as possible. For your staff, provide time off for them to go on one global mission trip per year.

Finally, host “Xplore” small groups as a core group in your small group ministry.

Suggestions for Sharing about Generosity during Weekend Services

INTRO

We are entering the part of our service where we encourage our church in its giving.

We are a tithing church, which means we believe and practice the biblical example of tithing, giving the first 10% of our increase to the work of the local church.

We are also a Kingdom Builder church, which means above and beyond the tithe, we believe God has invited us to generously support the work of God globally, locally, and into the future through strategic partnerships and initiatives.

MIDDLE

Share a bible verse. Verses allow the Word of God to encourage and challenge people to give and be generous.

Share a story. Stories inspire people to give and be generous! These stories can be of congregation members who have had their lives impacted by giving or by organizations who have been blessed by our giving.

Initiatives: Share about the specific project you are giving to. Allow the specificity of a strategic initiative, project, or goal to motivate people to be generous.

CLOSE

I’d like to invite the ushers to come forward.

You can give a number of ways today, as the buckets pass by or online or by text message.

More than anything, your generosity is changing lives, and we want to convey our gratitude in your trust and faithfulness in our church to steward your giving well for the glory of God!

Let’s pray.

Kingdom Builders Partner Rubric

Kingdom Builders Partner Request Form

Thank you for reaching out to River Valley Church Kingdom Builders. We review requests from many different organizations and ministries and it's our pleasure to do so. We use this profile to gather information about specific projects that might align to River Valley’s giving goals.

Please take a few minutes to answer the following questions. We appreciate thorough responses so that we're able to learn as much as we can about your ministry and request. That being said, if we can possibly partner with you, we’ll contact you directly with any good news, as well as to confirm payment information.

1. Email

2. What is the name of your organization (legal entity)?

3. What is the name of your ministry (if different from the name of your organization - legal identity)?

4. What is your name and title within your organization? What is your email address?

Scan this QR code for access to the rest of the form:

RIVER VALLEY 2021 KINGDOM BUILDERS PROJECT LIST

GLOBAL

500 SENDERS FUND

Our vision is to send out 500 missionaries from our church. We are helping to equip and send them.

AFRICA'S HOPE

Provides biblical training for leaders of the growing Church in Africa, equipping them with knowledge and the power of the Holy Spirit.

ARAB WORLD CHURCH PLANTS

Planting churches in sensitive countries in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Syria, Algeria and Yemen.

ARAB WORLD MEDIA PROJECTS

Media ministry resources for current church plant teams.

BARCELONA INTERNATIONAL CHURCH

Supporting the continued expansion and growth of the Barcelona International Church.

BENT TREE ASIA (GLOBAL UNIVERSITY)

Equipping, educating, and training pastors globally for the local church.

CAFE AWAKE: NORTHERN ASIA COFFEE SHOP

Growing coffee shop that serves as a cultural ministry center in Northern Asia, providing gospel access to the unreached.

ESWATINI CAMPUS & CHILDREN'S CUP CAREPOINTS

Investing in our eSwatini church plant and surrounding local churches to change communities through holistic child development and the hope of Jesus.

ASIA PACIFIC CHURCH PLANTS

Raising money for projects and church plants amongst the unreached throughout Asia Pacific.

BETHANY GLOBAL UNIVERSITY

A private Christian College in Minnesota focusing on training missionaries.

BOYS AND GIRLS MISSIONARY CHALLENGE

Beginning the process of missions awareness, concern, and stewardship in young lives by training kids to give sacrificially.

FIRE BIBLE TRANSLATION

The first comprehensive study

Bible, translated into hundreds of languages, created to help pastors and leaders preach, teach, and reach others.

CHANGE30

Inspiring purpose in Russian orphans by providing them with the love, guidance, and resources they need to lead fulfilling lives.

CHINA REGIONAL INITIATIVES

Compassion outreaches, English education, and rural village development are utilized to bring the hope of Jesus into the lives of everyday people living in Northern Asia.

CONVOY OF HOPE: US & EUROPE

Providing disaster relief, feeding children in need, training women to start businesses, and helping farmers in developing nations.

CUBA BIBLE COLLEGE

Training leaders in missions and ministry around the world.

CUBA CHURCH PLANTS

Partnering with missionaries to Cuba on projects such as church construction, school of theology, and pastoral training.

EQUIP LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

Training Christian leaders and mobilizing them to impact their families, businesses, and communities.

EURASIA COFFEE & TEA (BUSINESS AS MISSION)

Partnering with Focus Church to have a multi-purpose meeting venue that will operate as a for-profit cafe in the up-and-coming business and retail district in Estonia.

GLOBAL UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP FUND

Providing scholarships for ministry and church leaders studying outside the United States.

HEALING HANDS GLOBAL (JUNGLE HOSPITAL)

Hospital providing care and support for the impoverished people of Honduras.

INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE MISSION (IJM)

Rescuing and restoring victims of human trafficking and working with law enforcement officials to bring criminals to justice.

GLOBAL MISSIONARY RETREAT

A gathering where global workers can be refreshed through the ministry of a Global Team.

GLOBAL TEEN CHALLENGE

On mission mobilizing people and resources to put hope within reach of every addict.

GLOBAL

GOOD BUREAU

Helping Romanian leaders to make change in their country by offering funding, network, and support.

HAND OF HOPE

Helping to fund water wells in third world countries through Joyce Meyer Ministries.

HEALING HAITI

A Christ-centered ministry leveraging resources to elevate and unify Haitian families to end the cycle of poverty and strengthen the community.

HOPE INTERNATIONAL

Empowering those in poverty through financial training, microloans, and other resources.

INDIA COLLEGE OF MINISTRY

Training 30,000 pastors to plant 25,000 churches in India in this decade.

INDIA LIVE DEAD

A global community of people connected by the heart to introduce India’s unreached to Jesus.

INDONESIA CAMPUS MINISTRY

A training center in Indonesia that teaches young people English and disciples them in their growing faith.

JAPAN AND ASIA CHURCH PLANTS

Helping to plant new churches through a vibrant bilingual church called Lifehouse International. Today Lifehouse has multiple campuses across Japan and in other parts of the Asia-Pacific Region.

JUDE ROCKWELL ACADEMY

An elementary school located in India that exists to assist under resourced children to be able to receive an education.

PRIORITY ONE

Educating and equipping pastors of the global Church through Bible colleges, schools, and leadership development organizations.

LIGHTHOUSE CHURCH

Assemblies of God church heading the national lead team for Ireland.

LIVE DEAD ORIGINS Church planting initiative in Israel.

MESSENGER INTERNATIONAL

Providing believers worldwide with access to life-changing messages through a variety of different mediums.

MIDDLE EAST GLOBAL UNIVERSITY

The Middle East division of Global University reaching the lost and training the found through distance learning.

MIDDLE EAST ONLINE DISCIPLESHIP

Pioneering the development of an online discipleship process for Live Dead Arab World.

MOROCCO INTERNATIONAL CHURCH

The church in Tangier exists to minister to the twenty-five nations of migrants, students, and business people living in Morocco.

MOROCCO HOUSE CHURCHES Supporting the church planting movement in Morocco.

NETWORK211

Using cutting edge technology to spread the gospel in the most difficult places in the world by helping people discover and grow in their journey.

ONE MILLION MEALS (VENTURE)

Partnership between Venture Expeditions and Feed My Starving Children to provide meals to refugees of Thailand and Burma.

ONEHOPE INTERNATIONAL

Reaching children and youth worldwide with the gospel message through print, films, storytelling, audio, and mobile apps.

PAN-AFRICA THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

Seminary focusing on training African leaders for greater effectiveness and growing the African Church.

PROJECT 42

Raising awareness and resources for the 42% of the world that is still waiting for access to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

PROJECT RESCUE

Rescuing and restoring victims of sex trafficking through the love and power of Jesus Christ.

SCRIPTURE TRANSLATION

Providing access to the gospel for various people groups throughout the world who do not yet have access.

SPEED THE LIGHT Youth raising money for missionary projects around the world, including essential resources, transportation, and creative communication equipment.

GLOBAL

THAILAND CHURCH

EXPANSION

Expansion of the national Assemblies of God church in Thailand.

THE GO FUND

Helping mobilize missionaries to the unreached by relieving some of their student debt.

REACHING INDIANS MINISTRIES INTERNATIONAL

Reaching the unreached of India with the gospel message and developing Christlike leaders to change lives and transform communities.

WORLD CHURCH PLANTING INITIATIVE

Planting Assemblies of God churches around the world.

THAILAND NATIONAL CHURCH LEADER DEVELOPMENT

Tools and resources for lay leaders to be trained, equipped and empowered to help lead the Thai national church.

TURKEY CHURCH PLANT

Bringing the gospel to Istanbul, Turkey through a live music cafe, Business as Mission approach.

LOCAL

ASSOCIATION OF RELATED CHURCHES

Churches working with church planters and church leaders to provide support, guidance, and resources to launch and grow life-giving churches.

CAMPUS COMMUNITIES

LOCAL OUTREACH

Community outreach projects specific to the communities of each of our Twin Cities metro area campuses.

CHURCH MULTIPLICATION NETWORK

Equipping and funding leaders to plant healthy, Spirit-filled churches across the United States.

EMERGE COUNSELING MINISTRIES

A place of help, hope, and healing for individuals on a journey to mental health healing and awareness through the presence of God.

FUTURE RIVER VALLEY CAMPUSES

Our vision is to launch 12 new campuses in the Twin Cities metro area and in key communities throughout greater Minnesota.

LA DREAM CENTER

A resource center that focuses on sharing the love of Jesus by finding solutions for homelessness, hunger, and the lack of education through residential and community outreach programs.

LIFE CENTER MINNEAPOLIS

Urban ministry center in Minneapolis committed to transforming impoverished people through the power of Christ.

URBAN TRIBES

Seeks to reach Africa’s fastest emerging urbanizing region in the world through strategic planting of high-influence and high-impact churches.

THE WARRIOR'S JOURNEY

Seeks to help warriors, leaders, and families find the community and help they need. It's an online resource for the military community.

LOCAL PROJECT, RIVER VALLEY CHURCH

Local Project department of River Valley Church that supports and funds local Christian-based and Christian-purposed non-profits.

MERGE TWIN CITIES

Large scale outreach events in the Twin Cities for Hmong, Somali, and Sudanese communities.

MINNESOTA ADULT & TEEN CHALLENGE

A Christ-centered organization focusing on helping people gain freedom from chemical addictions and other life-controlling issues.

LOCAL

NATIONAL BLACK FELLOWSHIP

Partnering to transform the environments, education, and economics of the toughest and most dangerous cities in America through church planting, community revitalization, and raising indigenous leaders.

REACH PRISON MINISTRIES

Bringing the message of hope and restoration of Jesus to Minnesota prisoners.

RIVER VALLEY WORSHIP

Supporting the River Valley Church worship team as they create and perform albums, recordings, and other projects locally and globally.

FUTURE

CHURCH MATCH SCHOLARSHIPS

Funds donated by River Valley that are matched by North Central University for college students.

KINGDOM BUILDERS YOUTH GLOBAL TEAMS

Sending over 150 youth students on Global Teams to four different continents in 2021.

LAKE GENEVA BIBLE CAMP

The expansion of the Assemblies of God District Campground at Lake Geneva, Minnesota.

MINNESOTA FOSTER CARE & ADOPTION

Support existing foster parents and encourage new families and individuals to be involved in the process.

NORTH CENTRAL CHINESE STUDENTS SCHOLARSHIP

Supporting Chinese student immersion and success as they attend North Central University.

NORTH CENTRAL UNIVERSITY

A university focused on equipping and sending leaders into the world to bring the love of Jesus further than we could on our own.

RIVER VALLEY LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE

Raising up thousands of future leaders, providing interns with a community, opportunities in the church, and leadership labs.

RIVER VALLEY NETWORK

Offering innovative resources, events and training opportunities, along with relationship-building for churches all over the nation.

DIGITAL MISSIONS PLATFORM

Personal digital discipleship platforms supporting our missionaries to reach people with the gospel using video trainings translated into native languages around the world.

SEGO CHURCH

Sending River Valley’s own pastoral team to plant a church in Utah.

WILDWOOD HILLS RANCH

A ranch in Iowa transforming lives and strengthening communities by providing healing, hope, and God’s love to children and at-risk youth.