“The main reason for going to church is not to get our needs met; the main reason, the most important reason, for going to church is to worship God.” - Mark Allan Powell, Giving To God
Did that quote smack you in the face? It was a real wake up call to me when I read it for the first time. I remember when our family left our previous congregation and were searching for a new congregation; we had a checklist of what we wanted in a new congregation: a strong youth program, contemporary praise music, a welcoming atmosphere, and within a twenty-minute drive of home. There is nothing wrong with wanting to find a worship community in which you feel welcomed to worship, but how often do we think about church as either an obligation or a place where we go to get what we need?
What would happen if we began to look at worship as our opportunity to turn total control of our lives over to God? What if the collection of offering during our service was not thought of paying the church’s bills, but a chance to show God how grateful we are for all which we have been entrusted? What if leading Sunday School was not fulfilling an obligation, but a chance to give our time to God’s work in the heart of our youth? What if recycling was not a hassle, but a chance to give respect to God’s creation? How we envision what we give (stewardship) shapes our attitudes toward God and the world. It puts God first and gives us the opportunity to serve God out of thankfulness and respect.
During my time at Lord of Life, I am tasked with designing and implementing an internship project that will give me a chance to grow in leadership skills, as well as benefit the on-going ministry of the congregation. During Pastor Lucas’ time at Lord of Life, he helped to start the Stephen Ministry group, which continues to provide meaningful one-to-one care for people in times of emotional need. I would like to focus my project on a re-envisioning of what “stewardship” means and how it is lived out at Lord of Life.
I will not be able to tackle this project on my own, so I am putting an invitation out to each and every one of you! Would you be interested in serving on a team that will spend the next several months putting together a road map for how we can re-envision stewardship at Lord of Life? This team will be working toward a two-year implementation plan that will move the congregation toward a better realization of how stewardship is a daily part of our lives and a way that we worship God daily. Team members will not be responsible for implementing the road map, but after creating it, if they want to serve, it would be encouraged. If you are interested in being a part of this team, and assisting me with my internship project, please reach out to me as soon as possible,
“Each of your must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” - 2 Corinthians 9:7
Corey