This year, we are excited to launch our Stewardship Campaign called “Our Best for Him”. Stewardship is our opportunity to manage and invest the resources given to us to the glory of God. We do that by making a pledge for the year from our personal income that supports the church, all while striving for the Biblical standard of the tithe.
When we consider the idea of giving in Scripture, we look to the Biblical witness for understanding. The tithe is an Old Testament prescription in which people would give the top 10% of their produce and resources to God. Their best would go to Him. Of course, that can sound burdensome, but the Law of God is looking for the heart to be in any action it requires. St. Paul emphasizes this in 2 Corinthians 9:7 (ESV): “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
What causes you to give your first and best from the heart? Is it when your husband or wife learned an unflattering thing about you and continued loving you? Is it a mentor who took you under his wing when you had little to offer? Is it a teacher who took time with you when you weren’t feeling good about yourself? These sorts of things awaken faith, hope, and love.
God has done so much more for us in the Gospel. St. John writes in his first epistle- “In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” (1 John 4:9-10 ESV) In Scripture, the people respond by giving their first and best to God. They do that because He gave His first and best to us.
Our goal this year is $460,000 , so we can support all of our ministries like children, youth, music, pastoral care, worship, outreach, and more. The campaign is now officially underway! Would you consider making your pledge before Thanksgiving? You won’t need to begin payment until the new year. That will help us make sure we have all we need for our budget in 2026. I invite you to join with me in prayerfully considering your pledge as we give “Our Best for Him”!