Today I want to share with you some ideas on How To Write An Annual Report For A Church
The mere thought of putting together a church annual report can cause
church staff members to feel intimidated and overwhelmed by such a foreign task.
Fear not! Completing this exercise is not as challenging as it may seem.
The following video will explain how to create a fun yet thorough annual report for your church.
What Should Be Included In Your Church Annual Report?
Typically, the first question that comes to mind when putting together a report of any kind is,
“What important elements should we include?” One major concept to keep in mind
when creating the report is that it should be more about inspiration
and your ministry and less about the financial aspect of running a church.
Think of it as a casual presentation woven together by uplifting stories, inspiring images
and videos, encouraging data and achievements that will build confidence in the ministry,
and a glimpse into the upcoming year that will help your congregation understand your church’s
vision for the future. Inspirational Stories
This is as simple as it sounds. Gather moving stories happening in the church throughout the
year that will inspire both current and new attendees. Be sure to include great examples
of how God and your church have impacted the lives of people in your community.
Relevant Pictures And/Or Videos Including images of real people in your
ministry is a great opportunity to showcase God, your members, the volunteers in your church, and
events that your church has put together. Videos are also a nice touch if your report is digital.
Both images and videos offer an excellent opportunity to show people that their
contributions are being put to good use. Statistics And Achievements
This section of the report should be used to present statistics related to attendance,
tithes, a building campaign, money given to missions, baptism numbers,
and other relevant information. The goal here is to be transparent and have congregants feel
like they are truly a part of the process, and not to overload the readers with tons of data.
Simple and interesting is the way to go here. An Overview Of Future Plans
After using the previous sections to touch on stories,
highlights and statistics from the past year, this section should be dedicated to laying out
plans for the coming year. Use this part of the annual report to fill your church in on
upcoming events, recent developments, and any other exciting information
that will build confidence in your ministry and clearly demonstrate
your church’s vision for next year and beyond. Examples Of Annual Reports From Other Churches
These are some real church examples of annual reports you can find inspiration from.
You can also find a link below to find a full list of these reports.
How To Use The Report Once It Has Been Created You have created a comprehensive church
annual report that will both educate and inspire your readers. Great! Now what?
Here are some ways to use the report once it has been completed.
Add The Report To Your Church Website This is an excellent way to demonstrate
transparency to your congregation while also making your church attractive to visitors.
Mention The Report During Your Services Your services provide a great opportunity
to casually mention the report to your church. No need to make a big announcement;
just work it into the service at a time that seems natural.
Email It To Current Members, New Members, And Visitors
This is another effective way to build trust and confidence about the plan for
the future of your church. Personally Distribute It
Hand your annual report out to visitors, new volunteers, families, and individuals who have
recently joined the church. Going the extra mile by hand-delivering the annual report will mean a
lot to people who interact with your church on a regular basis. The positive impression and word of
mouth could result in increased attendance and greater generosity when people tithe.
Software To Assist With Church Reporting Whether you need help with your annual
report or contribution statements, or you just want an accounting solution that is
specifically made for churches and nonprofit organizations, Aplos was specifically created
with the needs of your church in mind. Learn more about our church reporting tools,
budgeting features, and church accounting solutions by clicking the link below.