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Igniting a Life of Generosity

Author: Chris McDaniel
Date: 09.08.2012
Category: Resource Mobilization

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What if…there were so many men and women in your organization’s “generous givers” circle—that when you reviewed possible future board member prospects, you had ten times more qualified candidates than open spots?

What if…before your organization mailed the monthly appeal letter, hundreds and hundreds of generous givers—prompted by the Holy Spirit—sent in their checks and made online gifts BEFORE you asked for the contribution?

What if…the stories of sacrificial giving in your church were so numerous—and so life-changing—that a revival broke out even before your pastor broke out his sermon?

What if…God prompted you to use the funds you’ve saved for a special “this is for me” purchase…and you diverted the money to a friend in need? No fanfare. No name. No tax deduction. And…what if you realized that this act of generosity (and obedience) actually produced more joy than your original plan?

If any of these “what if’s” capture your imagination, then you’ll resonate with the quick-reading message of “Igniting a Life of Generosity,” a 21-day journey to help Jesus followers experience the joy of generosity.

Published by ECFA, this 60-page powerhouse will impact your head, your heart and your wallet with 21 short stories and call-to-action ideas like:

Day 1: A 20-something receives a company car and so he tries to sell his personal vehicle. No buyers. He prays. God speaks: “What are you going to do with the money if I sell your car?” Oops! Plan B kicks in. His deal: “OK, God, if you sell my car, I’ll give a sizeable portion to this [needy] family.” No surprise—car sells. Anonymous cash delivered to needy family. No surprise—immense joy experienced by a young steward.

Day 13: (You gotta read this one!) In the late 1800s, a young girl in a Pennsylvania church, Hattie May Wiatt, was prompted by God to begin saving money for a larger church building. Yet she dies in her youth. Good news: the pastor took the 57 cents she had saved and inspired his congregation to multiply that into $250—and the multiplication continued so that by 1912, the church had expanded and grown to over 5,600 members.

Day 14: A graduate school student learns the power and joy of giving monthly (in six-month specific commitments) rather than writing just one check—and being done with it. The author says that igniting the generosity gift also involves faithfulness and asks, “When you think of wanting to become more faithful, what is one thing you believe God is nudging you about?”

So what if…instead of hassling givers, manipulating givers and shaming givers, our churches and nonprofit ministries actually INSPIRED givers and challenged their heads and hearts with Scriptures and stories—so that their check writing and online giving would be prompted by their attentive ears to the Holy Spirit’s nudges?

Light the fire and share this powerful mini-book with your generous givers and those who have not yet experienced the joy of giving.

Keywords: Lausanne, Chris McDaniel, Resource Mobilization, generosity

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Reply Flag 0 Thumbs Up Thumbs Down Sas_Conradie (4)

United Kingdom

This is actually John Pearson’s book review of Chris McDaniel’s book ’Igniting a Life of Generosity’. It was not clear from the file that I sent to be posted on the Lausanne Conversation site. I attach the correct file. Sorry for the mistake!

John Pearson’s blog is worth subscribing to. He has excellent weekly book reviews and other thoughts around management from a Christian perspective. Sign up for his blog through the following site http://www.managementbuckets.com/ubasicpage.jsp?siteid=39009&pageid=469041.

Sas Conradie