Grace and Peace to you from
God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ!
Today marks the beginning of
many congregations with their “stewardship programs.” Ever since I received the “Baptism of the
Holy Spirit” 35 years ago, I never did another “stewardship program.” I have relied on the Lord to move in the
hearts of His people. And that is where
I am today.
First of all, I thank the
Lord for each of you who are reading this letter. The Lord has a special calling on your life
in your service to Him. Only you can
discern what that calling might be. In
Peter’s first letter to the Church, he says, “Therefore, prepare your minds for
action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you
when Jesus Christ is revealed.”
1 Peter 1.13
Usually when we hear the word
stewardship, we think of our financial giving.
And that is part of what stewardship is, but only a part. Stewardship also includes how we spend our
time. So, what ministries are you
involved? Where is the Lord leading you
to be a witness for Him? Are you being a
“good steward” of the gifts that the Lord has given you? That is the real question for each of us to ask.
Now, for me, stewardship
should not even include raising money to match the budget. But that is the common thinking. And if we get more money than what the budget
is…… “What do we do????”
The scripture is clear that
we as believers are to give a tithe (10% of our gross income) to the Lord’s
work through His Church. We don’t give
an “offering” until our tithes have been made.
Interesting, isn’t it? Malachi
says that we “rob God” when we don’t tithe. (Malachi 3.6-12)
The bottom line is this:
“What is the Lord asking of you?” He
knows your situation….your desires, wants, and needs. Seek His face and see what He desires of you.
It takes roughly $30,000.00
for our St. Mary’s Scholarship Fund for our teacher’s children. Some of you who are reading this are
participating in this fund already and I’m am thankful. I know
that the Lord will tell some of you “not to give” to the fund, but I also know
that to others, He will want you to give to the fund. All I’m asking is that you be faithful to
that which the Lord tells you.
Be Blessed to be a Blessing,
Fr.
Joe
The Reverend Canon D. Joseph
Rhodes
Co-Rector, St. Mary’s
Episcopal School
Tegucigalpa, Honduras
PS: Email me and I will let you know how you can
contribute to St. Mary’s Teacher’s Children Fund.
joetina71@aol.com
