LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1995, Page 95

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CONVENTION ESSAYS 95

the offering for the poor. 2 Corinthians 8 and 9 are almost

direct mail letters. Paul even tells people how to get in-

volved (“on the first day of the week set something aside”).
From that marvelous activity we learned some growth-

in-giving lessons:

e First we give ourselves to the Lord, then to one another.

© We live in the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, who was
rich and for our sakes became poor, so that by His
poverty we might become rich,

© We don’t give by command but out of thankfulness.

¢ The special needs for designated gifts form the occasion

- but not the reason for our giving.

¢ We give according to our means.
e We must not give due to coercion but willingly.
©. God loves a cheerful giver.

¢ Christian givers are “enriched in every way for great
generosity.”

¢ True stewardship “overflows in many thanksgivings to
God.”

e We are only managers of the resources of the Lord: He
scatters abroad; He gives to the poor; His righteousness
endures forever. (Psalm 112)

Today our thankful giving may take forms other than
those known to the apostle Paul and the congregation in
Antioch. Generally speaking, the Christian donor is able to
do most of his or her giving at the time of death. We give
regularly and thankfully all our lives, but at the end of life
many assets the Lord gave us to manage become available
in new and powerful ways.

The home we own, the pension plan we hold, the stocks

and bonds, the IRA’s, the life insurance, the antiques and .

collectibles as well as the ’48 Buick stored in the barn—all
will transfer ownership at the time of our death. As caring
parents and grandparents we'll want to provide for our
family. But, as members of the family of God, recognizing
all this stuff is really the Lord’s, we’ll want to extend the
ministry through our estate plan. That may take the form
of a. major and special gift during our lifetime; a gift annu-
ity which increases our income and goes for ministry at
death; a simple bequest of certain assets or a certain per-
centage of our estate; an irrevocable instrument in the form
of a trust.. There are a variety of ways in which to give! a
variety of people who can assist you to consider what gift-
ing you wish to do. That’s why the LCMS Foundation ex-
ists. Not to store up enormous assets—but to assure that
your gifts will be managed and used as God has prompted.

Have you included the Lord in your final plans? Is He in
your will? Have you considered a gift annuity, pooled fund,

or trust? Is this the manner you will firmly, finally, and

thankfully give a gift of Christian ministry?

' The opportunities abound. Your local congregation
comes first to mind. It’s where you've been fed on the bread
of life, and you want it to remain strong and vibrant. What
about your District? Campus ministry, new mission starts,
evangelism and stewardship education—all are first and
foremost a ministry of Districts. The national Synod with

its global outreach, relief efforts, communications, youth
ministry, Black ministry, evangelism, stewardship, and a
host of other opportunities. There are our two seminaries
preparing men for ministry and ten colleges and universi-
ties in the Concordia University System. The many ele-
mentary and high schools of the church provide other op-
portunities for giving.

Conclusion

The question is not whether or not there are needs. The
question is only this: How will God prompt us to connect to
ministry opportunities?

The opportunities are tremendous—so great that they
will require our committed faith and our generous contri-
butions. For example: the open doors to ministry in the for-
merly closed Soviet Union could take absolutely all we have
to offer. That one field is so great, the opportunities so nu-
merous that we could send every pastor, every teacher,
every DCE, and.all the revenue of the Synod to just that
one mission field—and it would still be a mere drop in the
bucket.

Another example: technology exists which could place
Christian radio, KFUO, in your neighborhood—for a re-
markably reasonable sum. Through low wattage translator
stations, the presence of the Gospel through the LCMS
could be immense, reaching community after community in
the United States! It will take approximately $50,000 per
translator station. Five such translators would cover Metro-
Milwaukee. A lot of money? Not really. When you think of
the power of the Gospel coupled with the power of the air-
waves and supported by the presence of Lutheran congre-
gations and Lutheran Christians—when you think of all
that—it’s a pittance. |

Distance learning presents another wonderful opportu-
nity. We can link our colleges together in powerful ways.
The East Coast professor teaching students in Selma, Al-
abama; Austin, Texas; Portland, Oregon; Seward, Ne-
braska; Mequon, Wisconsin; River Forest, Illinois; Ann
Arbor, Michigan—that’s what Christian reality looks like
when Christian stewards connect with this opportunity.

We share a concern for the high cost of higher and sem-
inary education and want to address that concern. Already
three people have pledged $1 million each to endow a chair
at our seminaries. That’s three of a proposed seventy such
endowments. In my way of thinking the professorships at
all of our colleges and our seminaries should be endowed.

The opportunities go on and on: cross-cultural min-
istries; low-income housing; urban ministry; rural ministry;
worship; early-childhood and elementary education; new
mission starts; ministerial health and healing; family ini-
tiative; and evangelism outreach.

The opportunities are there! The blessings of God are
given. The only question remaining for us who call our-
selves by the name of Christ is, Will we connect God-given
blessings with God-given opportunities? _

Charles O. Smith, Senior Vice-President
LCMS Foundation Gift Planning Services