October 2010 Congregational Letter

Dear Friends,

The Apostle Paul wrote to the Church in Corinth: “Do you remember the generosity of Jesus Christ, the Lord of all? He was rich beyond our telling yet He became poor for your sake so that His poverty might make you rich.” (2 Corinthians 8:9). It’s obvious Paul is not talking about money in this text. Instead, he’s talking about the true riches of life, the wealth of life. He says the God of the universe, humbled Himself and came to earth in human form and He went through all the trials and difficulties and hassles that we do. But then He allowed Himself to be falsely accused, put on a cross, and crucified. Think about this – this is the God who created it all – He could have come off that cross in a second but He didn’t. He stayed there to pay for all the sins of the world. And Paul tells the Corinthians – and us – “don’t you ever forget that act of generosity.”

The truth is, friends, the only reason you can have hope for a new life is because of the outrageous generosity of Jesus Christ. And our Heavenly Father’s desire is that we learn to be generous. The Bible tells us that we give because He first gave to us. Your giving – your giving of your time, your energy, your money demonstrates what – Who – you hold valuable. Your generosity creates community, it strengthens your faith and it shapes you into the image of Christ.

At St. Andrew’s we believe that our decisions about giving are spiritual decisions. We are called to give in thankful response to a loving God who has first demonstrated His extreme generosity to us by offering that which is most valuable to Him – His Son – to us.

In the next few weeks you will receive a booklet in the mail entitled, “Living Beyond Myself: My Response to God’s Grace.” It offers a reflection on the biblical understanding of your giving, and more importantly, your generosity. I hope that you will read and discuss the material with your family or friends as you prayerfully consider your financial support of St. Andrew’s in the coming year.

So often people ask me if their giving really matters; St. Andrew’s is such a big church. Yes! Your giving truly matters. The average person at St. Andrew’s gives $2400 per year. Overwhelmingly, the finances of the church are supported by literally hundreds of everyday folks who faithfully and consistently give back to God with hearts of thanksgiving for all He has done in their lives.

Equally important, your giving makes a difference in the lives of the people in our community as we’ve purchased, from the funds given by many, many people just like you, food and clothing. We’ve paid medical bills, mortgages, utility bills all the while supporting the mission of the church to reach a lost world with the Good News of Jesus Christ, most notably through the planting of City Church, the work of St. Andrew’s Goose Creek, our medical clinics, and our ongoing missionary support.

Friends, the Lord calls us into an ever-deepening relationship with Him. The gods this age are being judged, most notably the god of money as the global economy is rocked. My prayer is that we would learn to trust our loving Heavenly Father, who knows our need, more and more completely. Let us joyfully return to God an offering from our life, for where our treasure is, there will our hearts be also.

For the Kingdom,

Steve