This is a DVD (or streaming video) based program that is easy to facilitate by a church volunteer. Over 2 million people have attended this program which has been offered by thousands of churches. Within 90 days, the average family pays off $5,300 in debt and increased savings by $2,300. It teaches simple steps so participants can get control of their finances. It is primarily focused on motivating people to act and provides simple tools for them to be successful.
- Audience: this program can target church staff, members and supports community outreach efforts.
- Length: 9 units that are 1 ½ to 2 hours long. Sessions held once per week.
- Cost: about $100 per family unit. The grant will cover the cost of materials for clergy and the facilitator materials.
- Pros:
- DVDs are entertaining and action oriented. They include references to scripture to help motivate people into action and understand how God wants people to manage His resources
- Marketing support that includes posters, graphics for websites, listing on the Ramsey website and more.
- Complimentary programs for teens and youth (see Generation Change! And Junior Adventures Bible Study)
- Cons: the cost of materials can be an obstacle for some people to attend. Churches can scholarship (partial or full) some people to help overcome the cost.
John Wesley boils fiscal responsibilities down to just three rules: Earn all you can. Save all you can. Give all you can. Sounds simple, but it’s not easy in today’s culture of consumerism. This twenty-first century translation of John Wesley’s money management philosophy gives everyone in your congregation a new way to think about money. The 4-week church-wide program includes study guides, a leader guide, a DVD, Devotional Readings for Home, and a Program Guide flash drive.
- Audience: adults, teens, children
- Length: 4 weeks
- The materials for this program can be checked out of the Missouri United Methodist Foundation’s library. Participants will need to buy the Earn. Save. Give. book available through Cokesbury in either paper back or E-book for $9.37 (Jan 2017 price).
This comprehensive guide to financial well-being is designed by United Methodists for United Methodists. Saving Grace is also designed to be very flexible, allowing for use as a personal study, or use one-on-one or in group settings. The basic course has six units (Participant Workbook), complemented by three units specifically for clergy (Clergy Workbook). Each unit features a video to supplement learning and discussion, offering real life examples to reinforce learning. The units can be offered as an adult Sunday school curriculum, in a retreat setting, or a course offered to the public.
- Length: Includes six one hour units:
- All Manner of Good
- Getting Started: Tracking Expenses and Income
- Giving and Saving
- Understanding and Eliminating Debt
- Spending
- Adjusting the Spending Plan
- Pre-Course/Work Instructions: Six worksheets are included in the curriculum to help participants prepare for the course. The six worksheets include:
- Goals to Achieve this Year
- What I Owe/What I Own
- Gift List
- What I Spend
- Money Motivation Quiz
- Money Autobiography
- Cost: MUMF/C2FM will reimburse the cost of one Basic Kit ($80) and Workbooks ($23/each) for Pastors, Church Staff and two Lay Leaders per congregation. Course materials are available for purchase on Cokesbury.com or Amazon (discounts may apply).
- Pros:
- Curriculum is inexpensive.
- Curriculum is very practical and explores the myths of our consumer culture related to money in contrast to a understand and use money in a more faithful, biblical way.
- The course is designed to help participants gain a better understanding of how our relationship with money is closely related to our relationship with God.
- Drawbacks:
- Six units may not be adequate to bring about behavior change in some participants.
This is a 4-week small group study where the author explores what is required to sustain a vibrant life, what we need versus what we want, and what we can do to avoid being pulled into the orbit of materialism. Though it can used for a program prior to a stewardship campaign, it is better to include it as part of a long-term financial ministry that reinforces the desired relationship God want people to have with money and possessions.
- Costs: a kit can be checked out of the Missouri United Methodist Foundation’s library. It includes the book, leader guided, DVD, program tools flash drive. It is recommended that participants purchase their own copy of the book, Cokesbury price is $10.04.
This program is for teenagers. It can be facilitated by a youth pastor, a church member or anyone who has a heart for teens. You can help change the future of the teens in your church and community.
- Length: This is a three-series format that allows you to do all nine weeks of Generation Change consecutively as a youth companion to the nine-week Financial Peace University class, or you can simply pick the individual three-week Generation Change series that most appeals to you and start there. It can be used as a youth bible study or summer camp curriculum.
- The three series are titled: BE who God created; DO more with your money; GO write your story.
- Cost: A package with all three series that includes one participant guide and 10 student memberships is $429. A single series with one participant guide and 10 student memberships is $159. A BE, DO, GO five student membership bundle is $135. A BE, DO, GO single participant membership is $199.
Junior’s Adventures Bible Study is a six-lesson Bible study that teaches kids how to handle money God’s ways. Kids think they’re just having fun, but you know better! Your kids will learn that everything belongs to God. They’ll learn the value of hard work and why serving others is so important. They’ll also learn how to save and spend wisely and how to be content with what they have.
- Length: can serve as a stand-alone class during kids’ ministry time or be combined with your Financial Peace University class. This curriculum features six hour-long sessions that include an illustrated story, fun activities and discussion questions. There are three weeks of bonus activities. In each story, Junior runs into problems and finds the answer he needs in the Bible. Kids will learn how to practically apply those life lessons right along with Junior. The class is geared for children ages 5–12 with activities divided by grade levels K–3 and 4–5. The lessons are:
- Ownership – God owns it all, and we are called to take care of what He gives us.
- Work – God likes it when we work, and He expects our best.
- Give – we show our love to God and others by how we give.
- Save – It’s wise to save so you’ll have what you need when you need it.
- Spend – God wants to have a plan for your money.
- Contentment – we can be content in every situation because God will take care of us.
- Cost: the materials are priced at $3.00 each, with a minimum purchase of 25. They are delivered as a digital product that is downloaded upon purchase.
The title sounds like this is intended for kids, but the audience is met for parents. Participants watch and discuss the lesson in class, then continue the age-specific portion at home. It brings together parents to share ideas and stay motivated.
- Length: There are six lessons with materials that support a Bible study or small group activity for about an hour each. The lessons cover the following:
- Work and responsibility- teaches the work-money connection, the importance of personal responsibility, and how our work reflects our relationship with God.
- Spending and Wisdom – teaches parents to understand their child’s particular God-even bent and how that can lead to wise spending decisions.
- Saving and Patience – shows how parents can encourage delayed gratification and how kids can learn to set specific goals for their saving.
- Giving and Generosity – emphasizes God’s ownership in order for parents to raise generous children and challenge them to step out of their comfort zones.
- Debt and Honesty – Teaches the Bible’s perspective on debt and urges parents to raise kids who can identify and reject the cultural myths that fuel debt’s popularity.
- Contentment and Gratitude – challenges parents to actively protect their kids from the pervasive “bigger is better” messages in our culture and to encourage an attitude of contentment rooted in humility and gratitude.
- Cost: the leadership materials cost $149, the individual materials are $59.