Stewardship That Moves Mountains: Lessons from David Ashcraft’s Leadership Journey

When it comes to faith-based leadership, few stories are as rich with wisdom and practical insight as that of David Ashcraft. For more than 30 years, he led LCBC Church through seasons of bold vision, financial clarity, and mission-driven generosity, cultivating not just buildings, but a culture of obedience, trust, and spiritual maturity.

In this exclusive video conversation with Dr. James L. Davis, Ashcraft shares the convictions and strategies that shaped his leadership legacy. From the very beginning of his tenure at LCBC, he never saw financial giving as separate from someone’s spiritual walk. He purposefully taught stewardship throughout the year, not just about money, but about time, resources, and responsibility. “You’re responsible for measuring what you do,” he often told his church. He emphasized that stewardship is an important component of discipleship, and avoiding the topic was a disservice to the church’s growth, both numerically and spiritually.

But like many pastors, Ashcraft wrestled with the tension between Old Testament tithing and New Testament grace giving. It wasn’t until a fellow pastor challenged him directly, “What do you and Ruth do?” that he realized the power of personal testimony. From that point on, he shared openly how he and his wife gave 10% off the top, plus additional gifts, and even displayed a simplified version of his household budget during a service. The result? LCBC’s giving increased by 50% in one week and hasn’t dropped below that point.

A pivotal strategy that fueled long-term generosity was the 90-day tithe challenge, inspired by John Maxwell. Ashcraft reminded people that obedience brings blessing, even if the blessing doesn’t come in the form of material wealth. His own stories — cars lasting 300,000 miles, free flights through airline miles, and divine provision for medical needs — brought this principle to life. “You could call it coincidence,” he said, “but I call it God.”

Ashcraft also helped shift the culture in how other churches viewed their lead donors. Rather than avoid knowing who gives (out of fear of favoritism), he introduced a system of donor care that valued generosity as a spiritual gift, on par with teaching, serving, or worship. LCBC’s campus pastors now steward their top 100 givers with intentional outreach, including calls, conversations, and personal “Thank you” messages, tracked by a point system that ensured no one was overlooked.

When it came to capital campaigns, Ashcraft approached them with the discipline of a leader and the heart of a shepherd. Each campaign began behind the scenes with one-on-one meetings, vision casting over dessert nights at his home, and transparent communication with staff. His goal wasn’t just to raise money, but to elevate the spiritual decision-making of his people. He once saw $12 million pledged by 230 families before the campaign was even publicly announced. That campaign, and many others, were grounded in prayer, wisdom, and a clear process.

His leadership has shown that stewardship is not about guilt, it’s about invitation. It’s not about chasing big donors, it’s about calling the church to obedience. And it’s not about keeping systems secret, it’s about teaching pastors how to lead boldly in an area that so often is associated with fear and discomfort.

In Ashcraft’s words, “If you are the leader, you’ve got to be doing it yourself.” The local church cannot function without faithful giving. And as he’s proven over the years, when leaders model generosity, invite participation, and show appreciation, the results can be miraculous.

To watch Part 1 of this 3-part series, click here. Stay tuned to the continuation of life-changing truths with David Ashcraft in our next LeadershipYOU blog!