Distilled: Church Finance Made Simple

Live Your Parable

Get your church MBA just 10 minutes at a time! On Distilled, we break down complex church financial topics into simple, actionable insights that you can use today in your church. Brought to you by Parable Bookkeeping and Accounting, we make managing church finances easier, one episode at a time.

  1. Jun 22

    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 Recommended church giving platforms mentioned: Planning Center, Pushpay, Tithe.ly, and Overflow

    13 min

  2. Jun 16

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

    Episode SummaryIn 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 TakeawayA 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 MentionedThe 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

    14 min

  3. Apr 22

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

    SummaryMany 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 TakeawayYou 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 MentionedThe “Core Four” episode of Distilled (deep dive into Get, Keep, Have, and Gave)

    11 min

  4. Apr 13

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

    Episode SummaryIn 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 TakeawayIf 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 MentionedParable (church financial systems & support)Distilled Podcast (for ongoing church finance insights)

    12 min

  5. Mar 23

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

    Episode SummaryWhat 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 TakeawayYou 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 MentionedMortarstone Annual Generosity ReportMortarstone Annual Giving WebinarChurch Finance Made Simple resource hub

    12 min

  6. Mar 12

    Ep. 29: The 5 Seasons of Church Funding Most Pastors Skip

    pisode SummaryIn this episode of Distilled, Kira Echeandia and Dan Pourbaix sit down with Craig Fatt from Injoy Stewardship to unpack a powerful framework for church generosity: the five seasons of church funding. Too often, churches operate in constant “harvest mode”—asking for giving without cultivating the culture that sustains it. Craig explains how healthy church funding follows a natural rhythm similar to farming: prepare, plant, grow, harvest, and rest. When churches intentionally move through these seasons, generosity becomes discipleship rather than pressure. The conversation explores what each season looks like in practice, why pastors often skip key stages like preparing and resting, and how churches can align their ministry calendar with a healthier rhythm of generosity. Whether you're leading a church or shaping its financial strategy, this episode offers a practical framework for building a sustainable culture of generosity. Key TakeawayHealthy church generosity isn’t built through constant fundraising—it grows when churches intentionally walk through the five seasons of funding: prepare, plant, grow, harvest, and rest. Resources MentionedInjoy Stewardship2026 Stewardship Planning Resource from Injoy Stewardship

    15 min
  7. Ep. 28: Why Your Church Needs a Funding Plan

    Feb 23

    Ep. 28: Why Your Church Needs a Funding Plan

    Summary: Most pastors spend hours figuring out where ministry money should go, but almost zero time ensuring that money actually happens. In this episode of Distilled, Dan and Kira are joined by Craig Fatt from INJOY Stewardship Solutions to bridge the gap between "having a budget" and "having a funding plan". Craig reveals why a budget without a funding plan is like a "car without wheels" and why your leadership meetings need a "vision shift" from scarcity to abundance. If you've ever had to say "no" to a ministry dream because of a spreadsheet, this conversation is for you. One Key Takeaway: The 1:1 Rule - For every hour you spend on your budget, you must spend an equal hour on how you are going to fund it. Resources Mentioned: Free 2026 Stewardship Plan: https://stewardshipplan.injoystewardship.com/Pastor Roundtable (March 3rd): Focusing on building and construction. https://pastorroundtable.injoystewardship.com/

    11 min
  8. Ep. 27: What is the benefit of a Church CFO?

    Jan 15

    Ep. 27: What is the benefit of a Church CFO?

    Episode Summary:In this episode of Distilled Church Finance Made Simple, Dustin Alexander and Jim Sheppard of Generis discuss the critical role of high-level financial oversight in the church. The conversation highlights the value of a fractional CFO, who provides the "financial architecture" and long-term foresight that smaller or mid-sized churches often lack but cannot afford full-time. By leveraging fractional staffing, churches gain objective expertise and a broader frame of reference from someone working with multiple congregations. The experts also explore common "financial landmines," such as overextending on building mortgages and mismanaging payroll-to-income ratios based on a church's specific ministry model.One Key Takeaway:The CFO serves as a "financial architect" rather than just a reporter. While a controller or director of finance focuses on presenting historical financial statements, a CFO is responsible for long-term forecasting and identifying potential "red lights" before a church makes irreversible decisions, such as taking on a large mortgage or overstaffing.

    11 min
See All (37)

About

Get your church MBA just 10 minutes at a time! On Distilled, we break down complex church financial topics into simple, actionable insights that you can use today in your church. Brought to you by Parable Bookkeeping and Accounting, we make managing church finances easier, one episode at a time.

Information