QUESTION: Who was a mentor for you in your practice of giving? What did they teach you or show you?

Brave Women Manifesto: “I will yield my financial resources to the Lord’s work.”

Generosity is 

a way of seeing,

a way of thinking,

a way of living. 

Again today Lord, we surrender ourselves to you. Shape us gently, as you always do, to have your generous mind and heart. Show us your way for us O Lord.  

“You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers.... The Lord’s message rang out...—your faith in God has become known everywhere.” 1 Thessalonians 1:6-8  

“And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also...teach others.” 1 Timothy 2:2

One day I found my dad in the garage at his workbench. 

"What are you doing?" I asked. 

His answer forever changed the way I thought about giving.

I'm not sure if i remember this perfectly, but the impact has stayed with me. 

I grew up solidly middle-class. Two working parents; homeowners, mom a teacher and dad a Manufacturing Plant Manager. We had annual vacations and birthday parties. We went out to eat on the weekends. We were not poor. 

Both were always serving in our church with the kids/youth (so they could be around us more and know our friends). Dad helped in church leadership and administration. After my brother and I were out of the house, my dad mentored and "discipled" other men. He has the spiritual gift of helps. When mom retired from teaching she became a women's ministry director. 

Growing up I assumed that all Christians practiced "tithing," setting aside 10% of their income as a gift to the Lord's kingdom. I learned later that historically, this "tithe" was actually a Jewish tax in a theocratic government. A new testament view of giving was not bound by a percentage. 

I knew my parents "tithed" to their church. They also supported a few individual missionaries and ministries that share our "good news" Gospel. Then one day I found my dad in the garage at his workbench. I must have been around 7th or 8th grade.

"What are you doing?" I asked as I walked up to see him with one of his shoes in his hand, and a piece of an old belt in the other.

"I'm fixing a hole in my shoe."

"Dad. You can't afford new shoes?"

"I can, I'd just rather spend my money in other ways."

I knew what he meant without asking. I watched him working with the glue and the shoe for a moment, and then asked, "Do you ever find it hard to give 10% away?"

"Ten percent is easy." He said and I watched forming my next question, daring myself to ask.

"How much to you actually give dad?"

"This year we're aiming for one-third." He said. "But I dont' think we'll make it. We're not legalistic about it."

"A THIRD!??!"

"There's just so much work to be done." he answered. "Can you think of a better way to spend money?" 

We never talked about it again. I'm guessing it wasn't always that much. Especially when he switched to Real Estate and the market went south (Helping them out with "their affairs," I now know their "net worth"). It's not nearly as much as their value to others. They are surrounded by Christians who love them. Meals come to the house every week, and more than that I'm sure. They have been faithful and God has always provided for them. He always will.


GOT TIME FOR A COMMENT? 
Who was a mentor for you in your practice of giving? What did they teach you or show you?

This was also posted at theriverhopes.blogspot.com where Lyn Woodruff left a comment:

LynNovember 27, 2017 at 1:03 PM

The taboo about talking about money and in particular, charitable giving, in our culture (does anyone remember the Seinfeld episode where Jerry and George argue about finding out what each of them is leaving for a tip so as not to look stingy)???....left me utterly without a mentor as to how to create a generous spirit. It was not until I was awakened from transactional Christianity (doing, saying the right things to stamp my passport to a place called heaven) to transformational Christianity (understanding that Jesus came in the flesh not just for my personal salvation, but to move the WHOLE world forward in His resurrected power) that my spirit was moved to see just HOW MUCH there is in the world for each of us to bring THIS HOPE INTO HISTORY....to teach and heal as Jesus did!!! As His disciples, Jesus taught the parables of the Unwise Steward, Talents, and Poor Widow to show us how to move the world forward.....and reconcile it all to Him, by giving volume (generously), value (our best), variety (our treasure, talents, and time) and vigorously (enthusiastically). That has changed everything for me!!

Why this boring infographic? Come on Creasmans! It’s the HOLIDAYS!!!

Why this boring infographic?? 

Because I want you to take in the information. 

It will probably surprise you.

Continent by continent, it shows how likely a person in 2010 was to have personal contact with a follower of Jesus. 

What are the chances 

a person who doesn’t know a Christian 

will hear the gospel?

While Jim has gone to Vietnam numerous times this year, I have been learning more about local outreach in the LA area and studying the values of my home culture. 

In 2017, what do American (Californian) Christians care about when it comes to Mission & Outreach?

Answer: It seems we’re pretty overwhelmed by all the needs close to home. Then there are huge problems of human trafficking and war and natural disasters which all require relief efforts. 

For the most part 21^st century American Christians are most concerned about causes that help people in their temporal suffering. 

The kind of suffering that good people everywhere (and of any belief system) want to help with.

As Christians, we have a worldview that we are eternal beings. Life as we know it here in this messed up world is an immeasurably small part of our existence. Depending on each individuals’ response to Jesus’ invitation to follow him, eternal suffering or abundant life - happily ever after - follows. 

Or do we still believe that?

We do.

The infographic here shows precisely why Jim and I chose this path of strengthening the church in Asia (It's not because we like Chinese food). 

Also consider: ASIA's population is greater than the other five combined (not just 1/6 of the world's population).

Take a look at the odds of a person knowing that “God so loved the world that he sent his only son."

You know the rest of the verst. "Whoever believes on him will not perish, but have eternal life.” (Jesus’ words, John 3:16) 

Compared to other places in the world, those who live in Asia are still the least likely to have a chance to know Christ through contact with a Christian.

Jesus’ last words were, “Go…to the ends of the earth and make disciples,” Acts 1:8, Matthew 28:19. 

At Thanksgiving, we are grateful for those who partner with us to strengthen the leaders of churches in Asia, so that we’ll improve their odds of knowing Jesus.

Thank you to our donors who have desired to invest in the growth and health of Christs’ church in Asia. For those who have felt like anything overseas is just too far away; that the needs here are so great, won’t you please consider contributing somehow in sharing the Gospel to those who are not likely to meet a Christian?

www.crmleaders.org/teams/ethne-asiamentors



Added 11/29: Encouraging women in our church to share with each other who their favorite ministries are I wrote down ours. 

As missionaries ourselves, who do we give to? 

For Jim and I, our priorities for our larger gifts each year are toward work that  focuses primarily on this "Great Commission" of Jesus. Especially in places where people are not likely to hear about him. 

We have six friends on a team in Turkey. I can't write down their names for security reasons. Since 1997 they've been making friends and sharing about ISA (Jesus) that they know of in their Koran. Because of the refugee immigration rocking that country (and some political reasons as weel), what has been "hard soil" for centuries is now "ripe for the harvest."  www.frontiersusa.org

Two missionaries we admire most are Bill & Robin Harris. They are more humble and Christlike than any two people we know. And they are both brilliant, productive world changers. They teach around the world, and are based at the Global Institute for Applied Linguistics. (Dallas, a school associated with Wycliffe Bible Translators). Their work inspires and teaches missionaries how to foster worship music that reflects local culture and hearts. How to use local art forms to communicate/express our good news: salvation and abundant life through Jesus. Around the world, and since the beginning of the church it is always a struggle for the missionary to put aside their own culture, to help the people they serve and know Jesus. At the River, we're learning about that in our study through Acts. Jewish believers had to embrace new freedom from the law and not expect Gentiles to follow their ways. When it comes to worship style, we've exported our culture in translating and importing our styles  www.worldofworship.org is making a huge difference in changing that.

News from Jim in Vietnam: “What training do you need?” “Everything!”

October was a very fruitful month in Vietnam. The groups I work with are all so appreciative for, and many times moved by, the training and things we learn together. That is what drew me most to Vietnam - the lack of leadership development resources and their eagerness to learn and grow. In 2017 I arranged and took 4 trips of 3-4 weeks each. Every time I come to Vietnam, I lead training for Christian leaders. I give them exercises for personal reflection and for small group discussion. As they grow spiritually, their community of peers grows closer. This teaches them to listen to the Lord and learn from one another, and guards them from depending too much on my input and on their individual experience. When we talk about challenges and solutions for reaching lost people and growing disciples in their faith, invariably the primary answer to every problem is We need training! What training do you need? Everything! What training have you received? Nothing! Training Topics and Training Groups As I delve deeper about specific needs, these are the things that are most frequently mentioned: Leadership Management Discipleship Teamwork Conflict resolution Counseling Organization Communication Christian leaders repeatedly tell me that the Vietnamese Church is strongest in education and evangelism. Most people go to sunday school where they are taught the Bible, and many people are making decisions for Christ. However, many practical skills like counseling, management, and leadership are weakest.  So growth in discipleship and service is lagging. Bible school only teaches bible and history, not skills.  Leaders are asking me for practical help in these areas, starting with the pastors, but also for the volunteer leaders. Here are some of the groups I have visited repeatedly over the years, normally with 2-3 day retreats/seminars during my visits.  I hope to visit with each group twice in the next year, and with leaders of each group individually on each of my planned four trips. Senior pastors House church pastors Marketplace ministry leaders Denominational committee Nationwide youth ministry leaders Provincial church planting leaders Mid-career pastors Deacons of large churches Specialized ministry leaders like media, children, bible school, and community service Looking for partners for 2018 trips It was tremendously helpful having two missionary colleagues with me for part of the time, bringing their expertise in the training and sharing the load for teaching and for interacting with all the Vietnamese leaders. For my trips in 2018, I'm looking forchurch leaders, and ministry leaders to join me. It has been humbling and exciting to have such an influence over these dear Vietnamese leaders. But I need help! Through relationships with key leaders over the past 6 years, we are strengthening the Church in Vietnam. If you have a training area of expertise, or a particular interst in one of the training groups in Vietnam I mentioned, please email me to talk about the possibility of joining me on a future trip. I appreciate your prayers for my trips, for partners to join me, and for the many faithful and earnest Vietnamese Christian leaders who want to see their followers and churches grow in their faith and witness. 2018 trips: January, April, September, November Thank you and may God bless you for investing in the true hope of the world: The Gospel of Jesus Christ! Jim & Kimberly Creasman Click on this link to join us financially in our ministry!  https://staff.crmleaders.org/Creasman All of our salary and benefits (like medical insurance), as well as our ministry expenses (like my plane tickets), comes from donations, and 90% of the donations come from individuals like you. Without your support, we could not be serving to develop churches and leaders in Asia as we have been for these past 20 years.  THANK YOU! Church Resource Ministries: 1240 N Lakeview Ave, Ste. 120, Anaheim, CA 92807. You may sign up for EFT, or designate on a check: "preferenced for Creasman-acct 5651" (800) 777-6658 ext. 122 Reunited after a month apart! Kimberly is blogging at charminfullbloom.  Thanking God for you and wishing you and family a blessed Thanksgiving! Tyler and Cameron come home for the holidays. December 20-26 will be a happy reunion in San Pedro!