March 17, 2003

TOGETHER:
Stewarship lights path to true joy
___An older woman in our church began ministering to people in an aged-care facility near our church. She faithfully visited, listened to and prayed with her new friends. One of the residents she witnessed to became a Christian, and she said to me: "Pastor, please come and talk to him about tithing. Unless he learns the joy of giving, he won't enjoy being saved like he should." With the approval of the 90-year-old man's family, I was glad to share my tithing testimony.
___Some might wonder why it is important to teach tithing to an old man, but Christians who know the art of cheerfully giving don't speculate.
___My church members sometimes expressed concern as I announced Christian stewardship sermon topics. My response was: "I love to talk to our people about stewardship. If I don't teach them the biblical principles

CHARLES WADE Executive Director BGCT Executive Board

of service and giving, they can never grow into happy and mature Christians."
___On Sundays at Antioch Baptist Church in Palestine, Pastor Roy Duncan stands and announces, "It is time to give the offering." In unison, worshippers heartily respond, "Praise the Lord!" I like that. Healthy churches know that giving is a privileged opportunity for blessing.
___One of the 11 characteristics of a healthy missional church is joyous stewardship.
___Surveys indicate Christians on average give 2.6 percent of their income to the church. Typically, a small minority of church members gives the overwhelming majority of the offerings. Christians have the resources to help their churches do God's work in their communities, across Texas and around the world, but they often cling to their money rather than offer it to God.
___I see the work our churches are doing cooperatively to educate future religious and secular leaders, care for the aged and stand beside children. I rejoice for the privileges of giving and asking Baptists to give. I hear stories about new churches, ministries to the lost and hurting and efforts to strengthen churches, and I thank God for the chance to financially help those ventures.
___Over the years, I have observed that there are two kinds of church members--those whose expression says, "Great, pastor, thank you for letting us know we can joyously give to something that will make a difference," and those who say, "There you go again, pastor, trying to get your hands in our pockets." The former see money as a trust from God and look to invest in kingdom business. The latter see money as theirs and do not want to hear that God has a claim on it.
___Stewardship goes beyond the money we give. How we use our time, spend our resources and consume our world are stewardship issues. When Christians begin to see themselves as God's partners in the world, their attitude changes.
___We have two offices that assist with stewardship issues. The office of personal stewardship addresses individual and family issues, and the office of congregational stewardship offers help for fund raising and church budgeting. I used these materials as a pastor, and I vouch for their effectiveness. These offices provide many resources that help our churches develop the quality of joyous stewardship. You can begin moving toward a healthy, missional church by going to www.ChurchLifeResources.com and www.churchstewardship.org.
___We are loved.

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