|
Generous Thinking
|
For me the radical demand of Christian faith lies in summoning the courage to say yes to the present risenness of Jesus Christ.
~Brennan Manning
|
| Join Our List | 
This e-resource
is a ministry of
American Baptist Churches USA
|
|
|
Greetings!
Happy Eastertide! Christ is risen!
Macrina Wiederkehr wrote: "We are called to help others experience Resurrection, to help them break out of their tombs. Of course, that means we'll have to break forth from our own tombs first. We'd look kind of silly preaching from the inside of our tombs, wouldn't we?"
Easter is an uncompromising hope, isn't it? Do we understand the power of that or are we trying to share the good news still stuck in our tombs of not enough, of lacking, cowering in fear? When really, Easter is an uncompromising hope--against every odd, against every perceived failure, against earth's deepest despair. When our imaginations can begin to sense the edges of that uncompromising hope not just on Easter but every day, then, then, we can begin to comprehend Easter's Good News.
In this Eastertide, may you and your congregations sense something of an uncompromising hope--despite the challenges you sense and the realities you face. Our Easter God is seeking to make things possible in seemingly impossible circumstances. The greatest act of courage for Peter and the women that first Easter day was to look into the empty tomb. So give it a try. Stare headlong into Easter's empty tomb and what do you see? What does the resurrection look like to you today? May God bless you not only with the courage to look but the blessing to go and be a blessing because of it.
Peace to you this Eastertide, ~Rev. Stacy Emerson Stewardship Facilitator, Mission Resource Development American Baptist Churches USA |
| New Book: Propel: Good Stewardship, Greater Generosity by Clayton L. Smith |
|
Clayton L. Smith serves as the executive pastor of generosity at Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas. In this book, Smith offers clear guidance for clergy and laypeople for your stewardship and generosity ministry including implementation of annual campaigns, planned giving, memorial gifts, and more. He offers practical help and wisdom for the 21st century church.
|
| Christian Philanthropy Conference: The Pursuit '16 |
| |
There is still time to register!
The North American Conference on Christian Philanthropy is being held this April 27-29 in London, Ontario Canada. This annual event includes inspiring worship, engaging keynote speakers--Pernell Goodyear, John Stackhouse, Jr., Greg Thompson, and Anthony Bradley, and more than 90 different learning opportunities.
|
| Live Free |
|
"Live Free" is a four-week stewardship emphasis resource that invites your congregation to consider what it means to "take hold of the life that is really life" (1 Tim. 6:18-19). Topics include "Free from the Money Trap," "Free to be Rich," "Free from the Uncertainty of Riches," and "Free to Take Hold of Life."
The "Live Free" digital Companion Resource provides additional worship and study materials for the "Live Free" stewardship emphasis theme, based on Galatians 5:1 and 1 Timothy 6:18-19. The Companion Resource contains a wide variety of worship resources, including invocations, responsive prayers, sermon starters, Bible Studies for Adults and Youth, and much more.
We are free in Christ!
|
|
|
|
Peace,
Rev. Stacy Emerson, Stewardship Facilitator
Mission Resource Development
American Baptist Churches USA
American Baptists serving as the hands and feet of Christ
© 2014 Mission Resource Development, American Baptist Churches USA
This resource is provided to you as a ministry of American Baptist Churches USA
because American Baptists are united in mission through United Mission.
Thank you for your gifts to United Mission! |
|
|
|
|
|
