Reviewing 'State of the Plate' Research Subject of ECFA Webinar

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Generosity Expert Kluth to Discuss Proven Ideas for Growing Givers

Contact: Ty Mays, 770-256-8710, tmays@inchristcommunications.com

WINCHESTER, Va., March 31, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- The Bible says God loves a cheerful giver, but during hard economic times, charitable giving may plummet. To help churches cultivate generous donors, ECFA (Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability) will host a live, hour-long webinar at 1 p.m. EDT April 7.

Registration is open for "Reviewing the State of the Plate Research and Proven Ideas for Growing Generous Givers," featuring best-selling generosity author Brian Kluth. Kluth is founder of State of the Plate (www.STATEofthePLATE.info) church-giving research and among the world's leading authorities on charitable giving and generosity.

"This ECFA 'State of the Plate' webinar is vitally important for church pastors, church staff and committee members seeking to have congregations full of blessed, generous givers," said Dan Busby, ECFA president. "The webinar will provide important insights on building a solid donor base and other issues vital to the fiscal well-being of churches."

Kluth, radio speaker for GiveWithJoy.org, is among the world's leading authorities on charitable giving and generosity. His bestselling "40 Day Spiritual Journey to a More Generous Life" (www.GenerousLIfe.org) devotional has been used by more than 1,500 churches and ministries to inspire greater generosity and increase giving.

Topics addressed in this dynamic webinar include:

Highlights from more than 1,500 churches on the "State of the Plate" research concerning giving, budgeting and generosity
Valuable insights from more than 1,400 families in "View from the Pew" research on finances, debt and giving
The five I's: Proven ways to instruct, inspire, influence, involve and ignite people to greater generosity and increased giving
Three things any church can do to help increase giving by 10 percent or more in the next 12 months

Participants in the webinar also will receive $60 in free bonus materials: The eBook "50 Best Practices and 80 Best Websites to Increase Church Giving" and a 12-month stewardship planning calendar worksheet (a $29.95 value) and executive summaries of "State of the Plate" and "View from the Pew," (each a $14.95 value). A question and answer session will follow the webinar.

Registration is free for ECFA members and $39 for registered users. A recording of the webinar will be available following the session through the ECFA website at no cost for ECFA members and $29 for nonmembers.

For further information and to register, visit www.ecfa.org/Events.aspx.

Materials from a "State of the Plate" press conference held earlier this week are available at www.ecfa.org/sotp.

NOTE TO MEDIA: Members of the media are invited to attend the webinar at no cost. Please note, no questions will be taken during the event. To request call-in details or to schedule an interview after the event, contact Ty Mays at (770) 256-8710 or tmays@inchristcommunications.com.

ECFA, founded in 1979, provides accreditation to leading Christian nonprofit organizations that faithfully demonstrate compliance with the ECFA standards pertaining to financial accountability, fund-raising and board governance. For more information about ECFA, including information about accreditation and a listing of ECFA-accredited members, visit www.ecfa.org or call 1-800-323-9473.