As a PK and a personal finance coach, Amberlee Rich has a heart for helping pastors and the church steward their resources to further God’s kingdom. She and her husband, James, developed Steward Lab, an online coaching program for churches, the Steward Lab Podcast, and their 1-on-1 coaching business, Rich Living Coaching.

There’s an unrealistic expectation out there that pastors need to have their lives perfectly put together. Yet, we all know that we’re sinners, and far from perfect. Many people expect that their pastor is good with money. However, statistics reveal that around 40% of pastors experience financial stress, and many are struggling to meet their basic needs (Center for Stewardship Leaders, 2019). Many pastors are struggling financially and don’t feel like they can openly share that with people in their congregation. 

After coaching forty pastors on their personal finances for multiple years, we’ve been able to see what’s really going on inside the lives of pastors throughout America. The reality is that no two situations are the same, but there are many common themes that we do see. Overall, there are six principles that we’ve seen transform pastors’ financial lives.

1. Recognizing the importance of Biblical stewardship. 

The concept of Biblical stewardship is easy to agree with and much more challenging to live out. If answering honestly, most pastors would say that this is an area they need to grow in. It’s countercultural and challenging. 

When anyone fully embraces the concept that what we have is a gift from God, everything changes. Psalm 24:1 says, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” What we have belongs to God, and we’re stewarding His resources.

We are responsible for using the resources and gifts we have to further God’s kingdom, and that means we have to be intentional. Ignoring or passing financial responsibilities to your spouse is not the answer. When a pastor takes Biblical stewardship seriously, a ripple effect occurs in the congregation.

2. Getting your personal finances in order will reduce stress and burnout. 

No one becomes a pastor for the money, but many pastors leave the profession because of it. Approximately 70% of pastors report feeling overwhelmed by their financial situations, leading to burnout and the need for second jobs (Jerichohill, 2021).

Many of the pastors I’ve worked with have second jobs, so they can make ends meet. The problem then lies in sustainability. How long can a pastor work part-time at a church (usually clocking in full-time hours), have a second job, and have a family? This can be very challenging and requires intentionality. Pastors need an incredible financial defense to lower their expenses, pay off debt strategically, and invest for the future. Maximizing housing allowance helps pastors pay less taxes, making their income go further. 

3. Plan for the future. 

Many pastors we work with are just trying to survive right now; they’re not contributing to retirement, and many have opted out of Social Security.

No matter where you’re at financially, don’t put off planning for the future. You need to be prepared, and the earlier you do so, the better. Time is a massive component when investing. By preparing for the future, you’re able to release your position at the right time, instead of holding onto it out of necessity. 

4. Being a positive example matters. 

Many of the pastors I’ve worked with admit that they’ve avoided and deflected questions and comments about money because they didn’t feel qualified to answer or respond appropriately. So many of the pastors I’ve worked with have deep-seated guilt and shame around money. Therefore, they avoid preaching about it and helping others in this area.

A recent survey found that only 25% of pastors felt qualified to discuss financial issues in their sermons (J.D. Roth, 2024). But once a pastor becomes equipped and feels like they’re being good stewards, they start sharing about this sensitive topic.

5. A culture of generosity doesn’t happen naturally; it has to be cultivated. 

If you want to encourage your congregation to be generous, you have to be generous yourself. Research indicates that churches with generous leadership see a 20% increase in overall giving (Center for Stewardship Leaders, 2019).

Generosity needs to be communicated, encouraged, and practiced. And if the people in your congregation are living paycheck-to-paycheck and are super stressed about money, generosity will be a challenge. This is why it’s so important to be equipped and provide resources to help your congregation be a generous people as God has called them to be and to be good stewards of all their resources.

6. Money needs to be talked about in churches. 

Jesus didn’t shy away from this topic. The challenge here is to talk about money without it feeling like the church is trying to get something out of it. This is a reason why many pastors shy away from bringing up the topic.

But providing resources to your congregation can not only help the people in your church trust God with their money more, but it will also help your congregation to be less stressed, have better marriages, have more free time to serve, free up money to give and serve others, and the list goes on.

By openly talking about money, your church will become more sustainable and will likely be able to have a greater impact. This will help you be able to continue the work God is calling you to do. Plus, studies show that churches that address financial literacy report higher levels of congregant satisfaction and engagement (J.D. Roth, 2024).

Overall, when a pastor gets their personal finances in order, they’re less stressed, not as likely to burn out, more present, and feel more equipped to help the people in their congregation. Don’t try to pretend that you have your personal finances in order if you really don’t. Getting help isn’t a sign of weakness, it’s a step towards being intentional with all the resources God’s given you. 

Remember, you don’t have to do this alone. Sharing your financial transformation with honesty and vulnerability will help others in your congregation feel validated and heard. And as a personal finance coach, I’ll leave you with a few questions to ask yourself. Don’t skip this. This is where transformation happens.

Take some time to reflect on these questions:

• In what ways am I avoiding or neglecting my personal finances? Why?
• If I were intentional with my personal finances, how would this help me? My marriage? My family? My congregation? Etc. 
• What is one small change I’m going to make today to become a better steward of the resources God has given me?
  
  

If you’d love to have some 1-on-1 help on your personal finances or would like to connect with us to get Biblical stewardship resources into your church, schedule a free call. 

What’s the difference between a financial coach and a financial planner or advisor? If you’re looking for help budgeting, paying off debt, or just getting a handle on your day-to-day finances, then you will want to work with a financial coach. If you want help with strategic tax planning, investing for the future, or making sure you have the proper insurance coverage in place, then you will want to work with a financial planner.