A Message from Central’s Stewardship Committee
Congregations that approach financial stewardship from a biblical perspective do not view money Christians give to their church merely as a way to pay its bills. Rather, such congregations see financial contributions as a way to help people grow spiritually in their relationship with God by supporting their church’s mission and ministry with a percentage of their incomes.
Central’s Stewardship Committee has selected a stewardship program in this spirit. This year’s fall stewardship efforts will teach biblical and spiritual principles of generous giving.
This way of viewing stewardship is based on the biblical philosophy of the need of the giver to give for his or her own spiritual development, rather than on the need of the church to receive. Instead of treating people like members of a social club who should pay dues, we will treat people like disciples of Jesus Christ who want to give unselfishly as an act of discipleship. This model of stewardship encourages people toward proportionate and systematic giving in response to the question, “What percentage of my income is God calling me to give?” During morning worship on Sunday, October 29, we are asking everyone to make their financial commitments to our church’s mission and ministry in Florence and around the world.
Everyone who completes an estimate of giving card does so voluntarily by attending morning worship on Sunday, October 29. Even if you do not feel the need to complete and estimate of giving card, we urge you to attend this special celebration Sunday. The procedure of completing and turning in cards is done in such a way that no one feels personal embarrassment if he or she does not fill out a card.
During this Sunday morning worship experience, our guest leader will conduct a brief period of instruction and inspiration, leading to by people making their commitments as a confidential act of worship. Thank you in advance for your participation. In this year’s stewardship effort.