Distilled: Church Finance Made Simple

Ep. 34: Is Venmo Putting Your Church At Risk?

Summary: Venmo, Cash App, and Zelle can make church giving feel quick and easy—but convenience can come with hidden risks. In this episode, Dan and Greg from Parable unpack why peer-to-peer payment apps can create tangled bookkeeping, donor tracking issues, tax confusion, privacy concerns, and transparency gaps for churches. They also explain the difference between personal Venmo accounts and Venmo for charities, why dedicated church giving platforms are usually safer, and how churches can transition to better systems without making giving harder for their people. One Key Takeaway: Convenience should never come at the cost of clarity, accountability, and trust. Churches need giving systems that protect donors, simplify bookkeeping, and help every dollar stay on mission. Resources Mentioned: Parable Financial Summit and budgeting toolkit: liveyourparable.com/financial-summit [http://liveyourparable.com/financial-summit] Recommended church giving platforms mentioned: Planning Center, Pushpay, Tithe.ly [http://Tithe.ly], and Overflow

Ep. 33: 3 Mid-Year Church Money Moves That Could Make or Break the Year

EPISODE SUMMARY In this episode of Distilled: Church Finance Made Simple, Kira and Morgan unpack 3 Mid-Year Church Money Moves That Could Make or Break the Year. The conversation walks church leaders through how to pause at the halfway point of the year, review giving trends, check cash health, and realign spending with ministry priorities. Instead of treating a mid-year financial review like a dusty accounting chore, this episode reframes it as a stewardship moment: a chance to avoid December surprises, make confident pivots, and ensure the budget still serves the mission. ONE KEY TAKEAWAY A mid-year financial review is not just about the numbers. It is about making sure every dollar is helping your church move toward lives changed, ministry done well, and financially healthy decisions for the second half of the year. RESOURCES MENTIONED The episode mentions Parable’s budgeting and church financial toolkits, built from experience serving over 500 churches. Listeners can download them at: liveyourparable.com/financial-summit [http://liveyourparable.com/financial-summit]

Ep. 32: Every Dollar On Mission. How to Actually Understand Your Church Finances Pt.2

SUMMARY Many pastors feel overwhelmed when they look at their church’s financial reports. Spreadsheets are full of unfamiliar categories, long account lists, and numbers that feel difficult to interpret. In this episode of Distilled: Church Finances Made Simple, Dan and Kira explain how church leaders can simplify financial oversight without becoming accountants. Instead of getting lost in complicated reports, they introduce a simple framework that helps pastors understand the financial health of their church at a glance. The framework focuses on four core questions: How much did we get? How much did we keep? How much do we have? And how many people gave? By tracking these numbers consistently month-to-month and comparing trends across a 13-month window, pastors can gain a clear pulse on their church’s financial health. The goal isn’t mastering accounting theory. It’s creating clarity so leaders can steward resources wisely and focus their energy on ministry. KEY TAKEAWAY You don’t need to understand every financial detail to lead well. Tracking a few consistent numbers over time can give pastors a clear view of their church’s financial health. RESOURCES MENTIONED * The “Core Four” episode of Distilled (deep dive into Get, Keep, Have, and Gave)

Ep. 31: Less Math. More Ministry. How to Actually Understand Your Church Finances Pt.1

EPISODE SUMMARY In this episode of Distilled: Church Finance Made Simple, Kira and Dan unpack what it really means to move from “less math” to “more ministry.” Many pastors feel stuck managing finances instead of leading people, but the real issue isn’t just money, it’s a lack of clarity and systems. This conversation reframes church finances as a tool to fuel mission, not compete with it. By aligning every dollar with the church’s purpose and adopting a higher-level, “CFO mindset,” leaders can move out of the weeds of bookkeeping and into strategic, forward-looking decision-making. Through practical examples and real stories, Dan and Kira show how understanding your finances empowers better stewardship, builds trust, and ultimately accelerates ministry impact, not slows it down. ONE KEY TAKEAWAY If you want more ministry, you have to identify where you’re stuck in “more math.” Take time this week to pinpoint the areas where finances are creating confusion, friction, or distraction, whether that’s clunky systems, lack of clarity, or avoidance altogether. Awareness is the first step toward building systems that actually support your mission. RESOURCES MENTIONED * Parable (church financial systems & support) [https://liveyourparable.com/accounting-for-churches/?pa_utm_source=distilled&pa_utm_medium=episode-summary] * Distilled Podcast (for ongoing church finance insights)

Ep. 30: What $18 Billion in Church Giving Reveals (That Most Pastors Are Missing)

EPISODE SUMMARY What can $18 billion in real church giving data teach us about generosity? In this episode of Distilled: Church Finance Made Simple, Kira and Dan sit down with DeWayne McNally from Mortarstone to unpack insights from one of the most comprehensive generosity studies ever conducted—spanning 661 churches, millions of households, and nearly $18 billion in donations. The data reveals a surprising tension: while overall giving and participation are rising, median giving is declining. In other words, more people are giving—but fewer are growing into consistent, mature givers. This conversation explores what’s driving that shift, including the rise of early-stage givers, increased reliance on top donors, and changing year-end giving patterns. More importantly, it challenges church leaders to rethink generosity—not as a funding strategy, but as a discipleship journey. ONE KEY TAKEAWAY You don’t have a giving problem—you have a discipleship opportunity. Without intentional guidance, new givers won’t naturally grow into consistent, generous stewards. RESOURCES MENTIONED * Mortarstone Annual Generosity Report [https://mortarstone.com//annual-generosity-report-landing?utm_source=internal_email&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=generosity-promo] * Mortarstone Annual Giving Webinar [https://mortarstone.com/events/2025-annual-giving-webinar] * Church Finance Made Simple resource hub [https://churchfinancemadesimple.com]