Peering over his bifocals, he looked like a tired old hound dog. "I dunno," he moaned. "We've been doing this for two years, now, and we only got us one new church member."

• One-sixth of all Americans (about 43 million, or 17 percent) move each year. Most of these move within their area. The New Family Bureau specializes in reaching families new to your area. • An estimated 13 million children move each year. The number one reason for joining a new church is for the children's ministry. • The average American moves 12 times in a lifetime. • Moving is the third most stressful event in life following death and divorce (Employee Relocation Service). • Mayflower Transit tells us that the typical mover is a family, married, between ages 25 and 44, and has two children between ages 2 and 11.

Common courtesy kept me from saying, "Duh!"

So I didn't. I just took a sip of diet soda [that's "pop" to you folks in Michigan] and watched him munch his salad.

"So," I asked, "How much do you suppose [that's "reckon" to you folks in Kentucky] this family tithes each week?"

"Oh," he said, "I reckon [that's "suppose" to you folks in California] they give 'bout $50 per week."

Good tithers, I reckoned. [I'm Kentuckian.]

Writing on a restaurant napkin with a felt pen — even the fine point variety — is cumbersome. But I had a point to make.

"Let's run the numbers," I suggested. "Each month you spend $55. From that you got a family who gives $200 per month." The duh word wanted to come again, but didn't.

"Over the course of the year, you'll be $1,740 ahead."

"Yeah, well, I ain't in it for the money," he moaned again.

Funny, I thought, when he thought he was losing $55 per month, it was a stewardship issue. Suddenly, when he realizes he's money ahead, it becomes a greed issue.

I looked him dead in the eye.

"Duh!" I blurted out. Sorry, couldn't help it.

Supposing the right reverend pastor Gloom and Doom gets another tithing member over the next two years. His $660 investment is now bringing back $4,800 per year. No, my friend, that's not greed. It's good stewardship.

Reaching new movers is a powerful tool. And it's not just good stewardship. It is also an effective outreach ministry. Granted, you will become frustrated with number of errors in your list, but use them anyhow. Design your direct mail piece to appeal to the few folks who may have gotten on the list by mistake.

The New Family Bureau has been supplying new mover lists for nearly 20 years. To contact them, call, 1-812-372-1663. Have your fax number ready, if you have one. They will send you a free cost estimate by fax or by mail.

How to design a direct mail piece for new movers? See idea #5.