The Director of Stewardship Ministries at the Global Ministry Center of the Church of the Nazarene discusses God's provision, tithing, generous living, environmental stewardship and just about anything else in God's Kingdom that might happen to cross his mind while his fingers and keyboard are in proximity.
Like many men, I am a collector and user of tools. There is no substitute for the right tool as I have proven on those times when I have hammered with a shovel and shoveled with a hammer. Well beyond those “make-do” situations, the right tool skillfully at use in the hand of an expert artisan is a thing of beauty.
Eric Sloane says, “Like the nails on a beast’s paws, old tools were so much an extension of a man’s hand or an added appendage to his arm that the resulting workmanship seemed to flow directly from the body of the maker and to carry something of himself into the work.” Sloan obviously hadn’t observed me opening a can of soup with a pocket knife. Thankfully, I have outgrown that stage in life where I thought every problem could be solved with a bigger hammer and a cutting torch. Even though I learned some lessons slowly, the lesson is that there is no substitute for the right tool in the tool box.
In raising money for the World Evangelism Fund, the local church has a full tool box. The new percentage-based plan, Funding the Mission, opens the door to greater flexibility. All the tools common to the old formula, such as Easter and Thanksgiving offerings and Faith Promise are still in the box. Additionally, Nazarene churches connect with the global mission through a variety of creative new methods, such as partnerships, NCM, Mission Corps, Work & Witness, JESUS Film and a variety of creative Mission Specials. Some interpret the new tithe-like missional giving goal, 5.5% for Nazarene churches across the world, as a “weekly cut” of regular offerings – certainly a tool that some could use, but the variety of tools for raising money for the World Evangelism Fund is far more extensive. The Easter and Thanksgiving offerings and Faith Promise – tools for extending the reach of the local church across the world – are a fit with Funding the Mission.
Nazarene churches have never been more connected to the global mission of the Church of the Nazarene than they are today. Connect by subscribing to Engage, an electric publication rich with current stories of how the Lord is making Christlike disciples around the globe. Use the video resources produced by Global Communications during worship experiences. Explore the teaching and promotional resources offered by Stewardship Ministries and made available at no cost on the Media Library. The toolbox is full and there is a tool that’s right for your church.
Explore the many new ways of getting members to connect with the 600+ commissioned and volunteer missionaries. It is possible that the Wednesday night missionary service is no longer a tool in your box. If it is still useful, then use it. If not, then explore some the new tools. Why not challenge every member of your church to find five Nazarene missionaries and subscribe to their electronic newsletter, add them as a friend Facebook* or follow their updates on Twitter? These tools will connect Nazarenes in the pew with the global mission they support in our very effective denomination.
There are a lot of tools in the tool box with the new funding plan of the Church of the Nazarene, Funding the Mission. My two-year-old grandson went through a spell when he slept with a 3/8 inch ratchet every night. Although he uses it more like a hammer than a wrench, he does love it. Find a mission tool for your church to love and use it.
*Please be sensitive about posting content (especially “spamming” with games) on missionaries’ Facebook pages and profiles. Certain security risks are a reality for many. Don’t be offended if, for these very concerns, a missionary in a sensitive area does not (and cannot) confirm your friendship.
A few weeks ago, I worshipped at Bethel, Ohio, Church of the Nazarene. It happened to be the final Sunday of Pastor Scott Wade’s stewardship series. My first experience through the door was an encounter with a fresh literature display. I immediately knew from the prevalence of Mission Connection, NTS and MVNU literature, Nazarene Compassionate Ministries publications and more that this church is proud to be a part of its denomination. Next, I was warmly welcomed in a clean, bright foyer.
A nice visual of the series theme, One Life – One Love – One Legacy, graced the platform. The worship time was anointed and well-led. After a joke about the denomination sending the director of stewardship to spy on his stewardship sermon, the message began with video testimonies from the congregation. The first was Duke, sporting a 10-gallon hat, talking to his horse about priorities. I know, but it worked, okay? Then two young men shared their paths toward the practice of tithing. The first indicated that it was a result of God’s call. The other conveyed that tithing was easier in college, when income was meager. When maturity and higher income arrived, the decision to tithe was more difficult. Although this was perplexing, the practice has become more meaningful for him and his family.
Pastor Wade complimented the congregation on their generosity and shared Scriptures from Deuteronomy 6:5 and Luke 10:27: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind.” He defined strength as giving all our available resources to his purposes.
After a scriptural exposition from Psalm 116, the message turned practical. This congregation is joining Nazarenes from all over the world in the mission of making Christlike disciples in the nations through the Easter offering for the World Evangelism Fund – only nine weeks away. Sprinkled throughout the congregation, Sunday School class leaders shared how their class plans to take the matter of global mission seriously. They each shared plans for their class’ participation in the Easter offering. The point of the message was clear: use what you have for the purposes of God.
Nearing the end of the service, as the offering was received, two worshippers testified spontaneously about their own tithing experiences. One said that her practice for years was to pay tithe at the end of each month. But one month there wasn’t enough money left for the Lord’s 10 percent. Going forward, she decided that tithe would come from her first check every month. This has become the new pattern for her life. Another reported a financial crisis and the decision to give anyway. The Lord came through with a series of blessings. Literally, the doorbell rang and a financial solution, in the form of a buyer for some real estate, was on the other side of the door.
This congregation and its pastoral leadership take their responsibilities seriously. They recognize that their mission is larger than their own community. They are willing to discuss financial stewardship openly, honestly and biblically. It was a blessed, refreshing stewardship Sunday.
On my virtual stroll around the church I occasionally find some gems, Nazarene websites that rate an A+ on my not-very-scientific stewardship scale. Kudos to these churches who have stewardship on the front burner:
Connecting vision and budget is difficult to accomplish, let alone communicate. Puyallup Church of the Nazarene has done both. http://pnconline.org/291643.ihtml
Philosophy of money and giving are at the center of Fishcreek Nazarene Worship Center’s complete stewardship tab. Insiders will note that I favor this church having served as its Pastor for nearly 5 years. http://www.fishcreeknaz.org/stewardship.htm
A very complete picture of Nazarene missions from the Mountain View Church of the Nazarene is presented by the Missionary President with a very familiar sounding last name. http://www.mountainviewlife.org/ministries/missions.html
And finally, the granddaddy of local church mission pages is found at Olathe College Church whose NMI has its own domain. http://ccnmissions.org/
Please share with me any sites that stand out to you!
