Church
Why are Church JOGs Unique?
If you are here, we know you are an excellent JOG facilitator. Thank you for your commitment to sharing this message within the church!
The church context is unique. Ministry leaders and church staff members carry spiritual responsibility, financial tension, and often unspoken wounds around money. An entire church community includes people with varying levels of income, and in all different stages of life.
Early JOGs with key leadership and staff have the potential to be the catalyst for a church-wide shift in culture toward generosity. This page is designed to equip you to facilitate the JOG in these groups with wisdom and confidence.
Types of Church JOGs & Common Nuances
- If senior leadership (pastors, elders, spouses) are in the room, we have found that the standard content of a typical JOG is both appropriate and effective. Serving in church leadership does not automatically mean that someone’s heart is fully surrendered in the area of generosity. In many cases, this experience can be just as meaningful and formative for them as it is for anyone else.
- Senior leaders are often accustomed to teaching, leading, and evaluating content. In this setting, it is important to gently but clearly help them remain in participant mode. They are not the teacher in this space. They are not there to critique the flow. They are there to receive.
- During the JOG, the focus should remain personal rather than organizational. However, there will be time at the end for reflection, strategic questions, and even some vision-setting around how this experience might continue to take root within the life of the church.
- If the entire church staff (not just senior leadership) is in the room, it is helpful to remember the unique realities many staff members carry. This group may include people serving on modest ministry salaries, people wearing multiple hats, and people who may carry wounds or tension around finances from their ministry experience. Many are tired. Some may be quietly approaching burnout. For that reason, this experience should feel like a deposit into them, a gift of encouragement, healing, and renewal rather than another demand or expectation.
- Be thoughtful about the stories you choose to share. Certain generosity stories, while inspiring in some settings, can unintentionally discourage or distract staff who feel financially stretched. Stories for this audience are curated carefully for that reason. The goal is to create space for encouragement, healing, and heart formation, not comparison or pressure.
- It is also important to remember that simply working at a church does not automatically mean someone’s heart is fully surrendered in the area of generosity. Yes, many on staff sacrifice deeply. Yes, they faithfully give their time, energy, and talents every day. But this experience still has the potential to meet them personally, to bring encouragement, restore joy, and deepen their understanding of God’s generosity in ways that can be just as transformational for them as for anyone else.
- If this JOG includes a mix of people from across the church (not just staff or senior leadership), expect a wide spectrum in the room. You may have new believers, mature believers, high-capacity givers, financially stretched families, skeptics, and deeply committed members all sitting side by side. This diversity is a strength, but it requires clarity and care in how the experience is framed.
- Assumptions cannot be made about where people are spiritually or financially. Some in the room may have significant resources, while others may be navigating debt, job uncertainty, or financial anxiety. Because of this, the invitation to generosity must remain rooted in spiritual formation, never comparison or pressure.
- During the JOG, the focus should remain personal rather than institutional. Even if church vision or future initiatives are on people’s minds, it is important to protect the space as one of reflection, surrender, and openness to what God may be doing in individual hearts.At the same time, experiences like this often become powerful momentum starters within a church. As individuals encounter the freedom and joy of generosity, it can naturally create ripple effects that influence culture, relationships, and future ministry impact. Organizational conversations and next steps may emerge later, but the foundation always begins here, with transformed hearts and a renewed vision for what God can do through His people.
Story Selection
Language on why story selection is important goes here.
Senior/Executive Pastor & Elder JOG
Short language on this JOG type here.
You can find all the recommended videos for this group in the playlist below.
One Day JOG
Session 1
- Rachel and Mike Erkmann
- Tim Keller
Session 2
- Tom and Brie Hsieh
- Handful of Rice
Session 3
- Pete and Deb Ochs
- Alternative: Jimmy and Laura Siebert or Jason and Leslie White (Caveat: These stories include radical giving to the church)
- Alan and Katherine Barnhart
- Introductory Language: This couple goes into some specifics—you may have noticed this is one of the hallmarks of Generous Giving stories: to invite people to share specifics in safe environments that spur one others on to toward radical generosity. They are likely stewarding more money than most of us in this room. But I want you to listen for two things: Notice Alan’s early orientation toward trusting God with his giving, and notice the principles they are living out in their family and in their business.
Session 4
- Renee Lockey
- Introductory Language: About halfway through the video she’s going to start lacing up her shoes. I want you to listen for what she says!
- Alternative: First Presbyterian Church of Orlando—Cup of Rice – Casts vision for how this message can build momentum in a church.
- Closing: Karen and Jorge Balza or I Like Car
Two Day JOG
Session 1
- Rachel and Mike Erkmann
- Tim Keller
Session 2
- Tom and Brie Hsieh
- Handful of Rice
Session 3
- Renee Lockey
- Introductory Language: About halfway through the video she’s going to start lacing up her shoes. I want you to listen for what she says!
- Pete and Deb Ochs or Bill and Vonette Bright
- Alternative: Jimmy and Laura Siebert or Jason and Leslie White (Caveat: The subjects in these stories are radically giving to their church)
Session 4
- Alan and Katherine Barnhart
- Introductory Language: This couple goes into some specifics—you may have noticed this is one of the hallmarks of Generous Giving stories: to invite people to share specifics in safe environments that spur one others on to toward radical generosity. They are likely stewarding more money than most of us in this room. But I want you to listen for two things: Notice Alan’s early orientation toward trusting God with his giving, and notice the principles they are living out in their family and in their business.
Session 5
- First Presbyterian Church of Orlando—Cup of Rice – Casts vision for how this message can build momentum in a church.
Closing: Karen and Jorge Balza or I Like Car
Church Staff JOG
Short language on this JOG type here.
You can find all the recommended videos for this group in the playlist below.
One Day JOG
Session 1
- Rachel and Mike Erkmann
- Introductory Language: I know we have established we won’t ask you for money, but we’re going to pass around a sheet and ask you if you would like to donate your organs. [Pause for laugh] Of course we’re not asking you to do that! As we encounter people’s stories throughout this time, we’re inviting you to watch for how people are listening to God’s prompting in their lives, and consider what he might have for your life.
- Tim Keller
Session 2
- Tom and Brie Hsieh
- Alternative: Jami and Clint Kaeb – Great for a church that has a ministry focus on adoption.
- Handful of Rice – Great for a church that has a ministry focus on sending missionaries.
- Alternative: Bishop Hannington – Great for lower income church that is more outward-focused.
- Alternative Add (if time allows): Brandon and Ashley Stathes – Part 1
Session 3
- Optional opening: Brandon and Ashley Stathes – Part 2 (no discussion)
- Scrapping for a Cause
- Alan and Katherine Barnhart
Session 4
- Renee Lockey
- Introductory Language: About halfway through the video she’s going to start lacing up her shoes. I want you to listen for what she says!
- Alternative: Broughton Family – Great in a suburban setting, casts vision for how to involve your children in generosity.
- Closing: Karen and Jorge Balza
Church CONGREGATION JOG
For this group, many of the stories in the standard JOG can be effective with some additional context-setting when introducing the videos.
You can find all the recommended videos for this group in the playlist below.
- Rachel and Mike Erkmann
- Introductory Language: I know we have established we won’t ask you for money, but we’re going to pass around a sheet and ask you if you would like to donate your organs. [Pause for laugh] Of course we’re not asking you to do that! As we encounter people’s stories throughout this time, we’re inviting you to watch for how people are listening to God’s prompting in their lives, and consider what he might have for your life.
- Alan and Katherine Barnhart
- Introductory Language: This couple goes into some specifics—you may have noticed this is one of the hallmarks of Generous Giving stories: to invite people to share specifics in safe environments that spur one others on to toward radical generosity. They are likely stewarding more money than most of us in this room. But I want you to listen for two things: Notice Alan’s early orientation toward trusting God with his giving, and notice the principles they are living out in their family and in their business.
Connecting with the Host Church
Since every church context is unique, facilitating for a new church might take a little more communication before the JOG. Generous Giving sends a survey to each church that they will send to you that includes key information about the church which will help you select the most effective stories, and be aware of any nuances.
Questions to Ask
When connecting with your Host Church, ask the following questions:
- Inquire if they would be willing to share if there is any past hurt around money/finances in the church
- What is the personality type of the Senior Pastor? Does he enjoy talking about generosity/money?
- Suggest videos you think will be helpful from the lists above and if you aren’t sure between two of them, ask the host to watch both videos and pick the one that would be best for them.
AV Needs
Closing the JOG
What are some clear points we can give the facilitator on how to close each type of church JOG successfully? What does “success” look like?
The key is that this JOG isn’t a one and done experience at their church. But this can be an experience that is used to build a culture of generosity in their church. At the end it’s great if you as facilitator can encourage them to find a volunteer generosity couple in their congregation who might be able to lead JOGs. They can always suggest they can get in touch with Church Team at GG afterwards to think through a strategy of how to build a culture of generosity. church@generousgiving.org
Contact Us
Need some help leading up to your Journey of Generosity, or on-site at the event? Email our team at church@generousgiving.org.