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Few congregations have effective year-round programs for stewardship education, tithing and planned giving. Most need help. SALT will help supply that need. SALT, through information provided by "Church Stewardship & Growth Center" will meet the needs of your church by bringing you articles of what others are doing in the stewardship field, suggestions on new programs, audio-visuals, displays, literature, electronic medias, and training materials. It will give you and your congregation the satisfaction of more effectively meeting the needs of the work of Jesus Christ.
The difference between the success and failure of bringing families to full stewardship stature is vested in local leadership. As the chief steward under God, you hold the key of leadership. Use it or lose it!
Walter J. Waddell, III
Church Publishing Manager
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Your income disappears, as though you were putting it into pockets filled with holes! When you bring it home, I blow it away - it doesn't last at all. I have called for a drought upon the land" (Haggai 1, Living Bible). When the Divine Creator and Eternal Provider decides to give or permit inflation, there is little that governments can do to stop it. Only the people themselves, who are the cause of it, can take action which will result in a turnabout of affairs. We are foolish if we think that any political party by itself can settle inflation which is a result of the people's robbing God of His worship, honor, service, and generous offerings.
Politicians are not guiltless, but what about the people? The people ask for steps to stop inflation so that they can get the most for their money, while at the same time demanding individual advantages that sometimes reveal considerable greed and covetousness.
Haggai reports why the people experienced an inflationary problem, as God called the people to repentance and forgiveness: "Is it then the right time for you to live in luxurious homes, when the Temple lies in ruins and you don't care?" Ours is the task to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and get this Good News to almost six billion people in the world today who still do not know Christ and embrace Him as Savior and Lord. Christians generally are giving less than 3% of their incomes to the Lord for Gospel purposes (only a few small denominational groups go beyond this.)
When the people no longer respond to His advice and Word, God takes drastic steps to get the attention of man. He has shaken the United States and world with various
catastrophic events (war, earthquakes, floods, famine, disease), only to shock people for a time and produce a little discussion without getting their interest to return to the Creator-Savior God in repentance, faith and the forgiveness of sins. As in Haggai's day, He has the people's attention now. Are we listening? What is the solution?
Haggai 1, Malachi 1 & 3, and Matthew 6:33 clearly show the steps we are to take. They do not start with the demand that the government and our employers give more income so that financial affairs will be all right again, and then we can give more generously to God. The first step comes from each individual himself and herself: Wherever appropriate, repent for robbing God of the worship, honor and offerings due Him. By trust in Jesus Christ, receive the forgiveness of sins, and accept the strength by God's grace to give the firstfruits and offerings to the Lord. God's love will then be experienced in abundance. As we come to God in faith, He forgives freely and gives His blessings.
Because of inflation, the church needs even greater amounts to carry on the Lord's work. However, the problem and responsibility does not lie with the tithers and proportionate givers who faithfully put the Lord first in their lives and offerings. Those who need to awaken are that great majority of members who give a low portion or percentage (the left-overs) for God's work.
When the great majority of Christians are robbing God and are failing the Great Commission in which God has involved them to reach the 75% in the world who do not confess Christ, they cannot expect God's pleasure and blessings. When in repentance and faith they "seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness," God will fulfill His promise that "all these other things (food, clothes, home) will be theirs as well" (Matt. 6:33). Are Christians ready to take this first step? Only then will the partnership be restored which God intended. Only then will blessings abound.
This is not only the solution to budget problems of individual church members, but also that of local congregations and of the church-at-large in world missions.
Book by Rev. Waldo J. Werning -
"New BeginningsĀ
In Christian Living and Giving is an excellent collection of four sermons, Bible studies and companion resources of sample letters, newsletter articles, and a commitment form. It is a very practical and usable resource for conducting a four-week stewardship or spiritual growth emphasis in a congregation. It includes all the basic ingredients needed for pastors and leaders to conduct a clear, forceful and relevant stewardship emphasis." Rev. Larry Reinhardt, Stewardship Ministry, The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
Published by Neibauer Press - #277 - only $13.95 each
New pewter Prayer Partner pin #1190 for your mission program only $1.59 each
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