Situation “What about non-financial generosity? I want to be generous in other ways.” – Claire, Melbourne, Australia Scripture Scripture talks about all kinds of generosity, giving not just our money, but ourselves to God. But let’s be clear: financial giving is required of every believer. “On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.” (1 Corinthians 16:2) Paul recognizes that […]
05
Sep
Sep
Situation “How generous are you inside your family? I want to give outside as well, but am trying to figure out what level of giving to family I should do.” – Martin, India Scripture What does the Bible say about this topic? Let’s look at a few passages. Paul tells Timothy, “Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” (1 Timothy 5:8) Jesus notes that every parent gives good gifts to their children. […]
23
Aug
Aug
“The JOG is something I’d never forget in a hurry. It really touched my heart and left me asking the question. How can I encourage generosity in my church? Because I feel more people need to hear this and get affected as I was.” — Candace from Nigeria
Funding Wisely, Joy Giving
How can foreign donors encourage local giving? Wisdom from Zenet Maramara, The Philippines
14
Aug
Aug
A Great Expert to Answer a Great Question
This was a great question from Sarah. I invited my dear friend, Zenet Maramara of the Asian Theological Seminary (ATS) in Manila, for her perspective. During her tenure, Zenet has led ATS from relying primarily on foreign funds to receiving a staggering 99 percent of funds from Filipino givers. She knows what she’s talking about!
25
Jul
Jul
Several givers have asked, “How can I teach my children about generosity?” Emyra from Indonesia wrote to ask specifically about very young children. She wrote, “How do I involve my family in giving? Especially my 3.5-year-old son?”
First Things First: Discipling Children.
The question behind the question is “How do we pass the life-giving Gospel of Jesus to our children?” Once they grasp the Gospel, they can’t help but become givers.
I asked my friend Niel in Jakarta about this.
21
Jul
Jul
The release of “Joy Giving” has invited deep and thoughtful questions from givers. Many givers have asked how they can encourage their families toward giving and create a family legacy of generosity. David Green, is the founder and CEO of Hobby Lobby, a large American retailer, and the author of Giving It All Away… and Getting It All Back Again. David spoke at our Celebration of Generosity in Hong Kong just a few months ago and has been a great friend to Generosity Path. David once wrote a short piece […]
18
Jul
Jul
Each month, we introduce you to a Christian who is on the generosity path, and we ask them what God’s taught them about giving. This month, meet Christus Frank Antony from India. 1. Gratitude Melts the Heart. Never underestimate the power of a “thank you.” Christus tells the story that launched his family onto a generosity path: “We were finishing Sunday worship and coming out of church. The church has a home for Physically and Mentally challenged poor children on the premises. These children were standing at the gate collecting […]
14
Jul
Jul
I’m afraid that if I give more, I won’t have enough to meet my own needs.
The release of “Joy Giving” has invited deep and thoughtful questions from givers. Jarod from South Africa writes, “How do I get over the fear of lack and not being able to pay bills if I give a certain amount when it comes to giving?”
Jarod goes on to say, “My heart is the issue. How do I open my heart to being generous and more considerate of others than of myself?”
Even as he wrestles with his own heart, Jarod shared this story from his own life:
07
Jul
Jul
Adelia wrote from Indonesia this month, asking, “How do I determine the ministry that God wants me to give to?” She’s prayed and determined what the right lifestyle is. She’s cared for the needs of her immediate family and given generously to her local church. But she wants to go beyond.
22
Jun
Jun
What are the mistakes that people make when they first become wealthy and start giving larger gifts? How can I avoid these?
The release of “Joy Giving” has invited deep and thoughtful questions from givers. Two givers have recently come into large amounts of wealth and emailed to ask the question above.