Rebecca Closser
Latest Articles by Rebecca Closser
21 VBS Game Ideas for Indoors and Outdoors
Sometimes thinking of exciting VBS games can be a challenge. Of course, classic games like duck, duck, goose, musical chairs, and Simon Says are great options. But you already know about those games...
Top 100 Youth Group Icebreaker Questions
Looking for an easy way to introduce new kids to your youth group that's both fun and low-stakes? Youth ice breaker questions are an easy way to help everyone get to know each other and laugh out loud...
How to Pay Church Interns (W-2 vs 1099 vs Scholarship)
Most church interns should be paid as W-2 employees. Interns rarely qualify as 1099 contractors, and scholarships can only be used in very limited, education-specific situations. Paying interns incor...
How The One Big Beautiful Bill Act Impacts Charitable Giving
For the first time in years, church members who don’t itemize their tax deductions will receive a direct charitable deduction for giving. This new rule removes a common frustration many faithful don...
The $2,000 Rule: How OBBBA Changes 1099's for Churches
For years, churches have followed a $600 1099 reporting threshold, often requiring paperwork for small, one-time payments like guest speakers or musicians. Starting in 2026, that changes. Under the OB...
How to Create a Contact Card for Your Church
If people don’t have your church saved in their contacts, your messages might never see the light of day. A digital contact card fixes that fast! When someone saves your info, it tells mobile carrie...
Church Software Update: Revamped Accounting Search with Reports (Feb 2026)
As a church treasurer or bookkeeper, your tools should work as hard as you do. While ChurchTrac’s accounting search has always been a staple, we knew it could do more. In our quest to revamp it fo...
Clergy Housing Allowance 101
Your pastor might be losing thousands of dollars in take-home pay every year—and the IRS is perfectly happy to let you keep making this classic mistake. The clergy housing allowance is the most sign...
The #1 Pastor Payroll Mistake (It's FICA)
January 1st is often a hopeful moment for small churches. Payroll gets updated, numbers are changed, and things move forward. Unfortunately, this is also when one of the most common pastor payroll mis...