How to Start a Stewardship Ministry: 5 Steps for Church Leaders

Have you ever sat through a sermon where the pastor scolded the congregation for not giving enough? (Cue the awkward squirming.) The truth is, stewardship isn’t just about money in the offering plate. It’s about something much bigger—how we manage everything God has trusted us with.

Church stewardship is a biblical principle that covers the church budget, people and mission. In fact, stewardship was one of the first commands God gave Adam and Eve in the garden:

God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” — Genesis 1:28 (NIV).

From the beginning, God called us to care for His creation. When He said “subdue the earth,” He didn’t mean abuse it—He meant care for it so it can grow and thrive. Everything still belongs to God, but He’s given us the responsibility to steward it well.

How to Start a Successful Stewardship Ministry

That’s the heart of a stewardship ministry—helping people live out God’s call to manage what He’s given us. But it’s not just a class or a budgeting tool. It’s about creating a culture of generosity, obedience and financial peace in your church. And the good news? Starting one doesn’t have to be complicated. If you build on the right foundation, your stewardship ministry can change lives for generations.

Here are five steps to help you start a successful stewardship ministry:

1. Agree on the vision.

Every ministry needs clear direction—and stewardship is no different. That starts with leadership. Before you launch anything, ask:

• Why are we teaching on money?
• What do we want people to experience?
• How does this tie into our church’s bigger mission?

The vision for your stewardship ministry should be about freedom, not fundraising. This isn’t about bumping up giving numbers—it’s about helping people live with open hands and generous hearts.

Keep your vision simple, inviting and rooted in Scripture. One great place to start is 1 Timothy 6:17–19, which tells us to put our hope in God, not wealth, and to be “rich in good deeds” and “generous and willing to share.”

That’s the kind of culture your stewardship ministry should aim for. When people see that everything they have is a gift from God, they can let go of fear and embrace generosity. And when your church’s vision is that clear, people know where the ministry is headed—and they’ll want to be part of it.

2. Set clear goals.

Once the vision is in place, it’s time to get practical. The best goals are simple, measurable and easy to explain. They answer the question: What do we actually want this ministry to accomplish?

Here are a few that work well in most churches:

• Help people become givers. Not to pad the budget, but because generosity changes lives. When people open their hands, God does something powerful in their hearts.
• Grow Christ-centered stewards. Whether someone has a little or a lot, the goal is the same: to see money God’s way and understand how to use what we’re given for His purpose.
• Teach what the Bible says about money. From Proverbs 22:7 (“The borrower is slave to the lender”) to Proverbs 13:22 (“A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children”), people need to know how Scripture applies to real life.
• Lead people to freedom from debt. Debt steals peace and keeps people stuck in the past. But as Christ followers, we’re given the opportunity to erase the past: sin debt and financial debt.
• Encourage saving and planning. Saving builds margin and helps people say yes when God calls them to act.

When you set goals like these, you give your stewardship ministry a clear win. You can always come back and evaluate whether you’re moving the needle toward the goals you set.

3. Build a strategy.

Now that you know your goals, it’s time to create a plan for how to reach them. This is where you map out the how, when and where of your stewardship ministry.

Start by looking at the tools and programs available—like Financial Peace University (FPU)—that can help you teach God’s principles in a proven, practical way. But remember: People in your church are at very different financial stages.

Some are struggling just to make ends meet. Some are stable but haven’t yet stepped into generosity. And some have surplus and need discipleship in managing wealth God’s way. Think about how your stewardship strategy can minister to each group in different ways—whether through classes, coaching or personal mentoring.

You’ll also want to settle some key details:

• Where will the ministry meet?
• How often will groups gather?
• Will you offer one-on-one coaching, small groups, self-paced options—or all of the above?

Finally, don’t forget about communication. Money is a sensitive topic, so don’t expect people to jump into a class just because you put a signup link on your website. Be intentional about planting seeds. Share stories and testimonies in the church bulletin, highlight stewardship in Sunday school classes, and make announcements from the stage.

We know this may seem like a lot to handle, but you’re not alone. Our FPU team can help you choose the right mix for your church and get everything set up so your financial ministry feels simple and doable. Just remember—the more people hear about the freedom God offers through stewardship, the more open they’ll be to taking the first step.

4. Form the team.

Okay—you’ve got the details ironed out. But who’s going to run this show anyway? A strong stewardship ministry doesn’t happen with just one person. You need a team of leaders who live out what they’re teaching.

Think through the different roles your team may need—like facilitators to lead group studies, coaches or mentors for one-on-one guidance, and admins to handle logistics like registration and setup.

If FPU is a good program for your church, we’ll help equip your leaders—and set you up with everything you need for a successful financial ministry. With the new EveryDollar and built-in digital coaching (free for everyone who goes through FPU at your church), your members will have the tools to keep winning with money long after the class ends. Plus, pastors receive one full year of FPU for free so they can experience the content first before leading others.

And the good news? You don’t have to be a pastor to lead a class. Anyone with a heart for helping people experience financial freedom can step up. FPU leaders also get free access to the course so they’re prepared to guide their class with confidence.

At the end of the day, it’s not about having a perfect lineup—it’s about building a team of people who love God, love others and are willing to walk alongside your church family as they learn what stewardship looks like.

5. Put the plan into action.

This is the fun part! You’ve done all the planning and prep work—now it’s time to launch your stewardship ministry.

As you get started, keep checking in: Are we meeting the goals we set? Things will shift from year to year, and that’s okay. Some seasons may focus more on personal growth, while others may lean toward outreach.

For example, God may lead your church to run a stewardship campaign to support a local food bank or shelter during the holidays. Or He may call you to rally resources for missions.

Yes, a stewardship ministry will help people become better managers of their money—but it’s about more than budgets and debt. The real win is seeing people use their resources to live out the Great Commission: sharing the Good News and making disciples.