If you’re like most churches, the end of the year is busy—it’s likely the busiest time of the year. You have Thanksgiving meals to provide, Christmas services to plan for, children’s performances to choreograph, giving statements to finalize, etc.
It’s no wonder churches tend to skip creating an engaging end-of-year impact report to show congregants and community alike what God did through the church during the past year.
But the fact is, you’re likely too busy to create an end-of-year impact report. Every volunteer hour spent serving, planning, and ministering deserves to be captured in a way that celebrates what God has done in the past year. An end-of-year impact report shows your congregation (and your broader community) the bigger picture of why every volunteer hour and dollar given truly matters to the work of God through your church. The more your church is doing, the more you need something like an end-of-year report to showcase all of it.
Your end-of-year impact report is far more than another item to check off your list as you move toward next year. Here are nine essential reasons your church needs to create an end-of-year report this year.
1) Celebrate God’s Work
Isaiah 12:4-5 reminds us, “Give thanks to the Lord; proclaim his name! Make his works known among the peoples. Declare that his name is exalted. Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things. Let this be known throughout the earth” (CSB). The Bible tells us that celebrating God’s work among our people isn’t a minor act; it’s the call of God’s people.
Your end-of-year report allows you to celebrate all God has done over the past year. Celebration is good for the heart. It’s too easy for us to focus on the past year’s struggles. When you share your church’s story of the last year, you can focus on all the good that has happened through your church.
2) Engage Your Congregation
An end-of-year report is a powerful tool for linking your congregation to your church’s larger vision. It showcases your church’s progress and highlights the incredible work being done to achieve that vision. By sharing these successes, you can spark greater interest among your members, encouraging them to get more involved in your ministry. People are often motivated to contribute when they see the journey you’ve started and want to be part of finishing what you’ve begun!
3) Inspire Generosity
People give to vision. Your end-of-year impact report is, above anything else, a vision document. It’s your opportunity to tell the story of how you’re achieving your vision. People want to give to churches with big visions and work toward achieving them.
4) Improve Transparency
In today’s world, trust has to be earned, not expected. Most people won’t give regularly to a church they don’t trust. An end-of-year report is your opportunity to share how you’ve stewarded the money that’s been given. It sets a foundation for a relationship of trust between your church and your donors.
5) Support Leadership Planning
You can hand your report to every member of your leadership team so everyone is on the same page when you start planning for next year. Your team can use the report to inform next year’s goals and refine your priorities. With concrete metrics and stories in front of them, your leadership team will be more prepared to see where additional resources and focus should go in the coming months.
6) Communicate with Community Partners
If your church has partners in your community (or even denominational partners), an end-of-year impact report helps you tell your story to your partners so they have better ideas about how they work with you. Often, partners are some of the last to hear about what your church is doing. If they don’t know, they can’t help. Your report allows them to partner with you next year on the projects that move you toward your vision.
7) Build Momentum for Future Projects
A strong report will get your congregation excited about next year. By celebrating what’s been accomplished, you’ll create anticipation. You can also include a sneak peek of upcoming projects, adding to the excitement.
8) Create a Compelling Narrative About Your Church’s Impact
Everyone loves a good story. Your impact report allows you to tell a cohesive story of what God has done through your church. By weaving together numbers, events, and testimonies, you create a compelling big-picture view that helps your congregation see what happened and why it matters.
9) Strengthen Your Church’s Legacy
Your church’s end-of-year report is a historical document that will give future generations of congregants the story of God’s work through your church. Through your report, you’ll be able to preserve key moments, stories, and ministries for future generations to reflect on and learn from. Do this for a few years, and you’ll leave your church with all the tools it needs to tell the story of God’s faithfulness in your church through the years.
To learn more about how to create your church’s end-of-year report, claim your free copy of our guide, The Ultimate Guide for Creating a Compelling Year-End Impact Report.
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