BEGIN THE JOURNEY

A Church's Journey into Lifestyle Generosity

Imagine yourself living in the United States in the mid-1800's. The yen to go west hits you. You gather with other families in a mid-western city preparing for the long wagon ride west. Common among all the assembled pioneers is an emotional mixture of fear, anxiety, second thoughts, as well as excitement and anticipation. Everyone realizes there are risks and costs and challenges, but all these are overridden by a dream: a vision of a new opportunity, a new day, a new life.

The stewardship journey towards Christian maturity for both individuals and churches bears some similarity to those famous wagon train journeys of days gone by. Each person feels some anxieties, some concerns, and has many questions. Everyone know there are risks and the journey will not be made without some cost. But in each of us there is that dream of what can be and that vision of what must be.

Some have suggested that great achievements occur when three things are present--a dream, a commitment to the dream, and a plan to make that dream come true. You and your fellow church members have a dream. Obviously, you have a commitment to that dream. The journey you are undertaking represents the course of action which will lead to the fulfillment of that dream. "Where there is no vision the people perish." (Proverbs 29:18) It might be added that "where there is vision the people flourish"

The journey into lifestyle generosity will be over unfamiliar territory for most people, a journey most have not made before. There will be challenges along the way. This is not a luxury vacation cruise. However, the destination will make all the work worthwhile.

And of course let us not lose sight of our destination--the dream. Our route will eventually lead the congregation to spiritually-motivated and prayerfully-determined financial commitments that will enable you to fulfill your goals. Along with increased financial strength there will also be achieved a new level of spiritual strength. May our goals not only be financial--that we give more, but also spiritual--that we be more. When we arrive at our journey's end we will have discovered both a new level of giving and a new level of living.