Stewardship Programs

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“Christ’s love compels us,” says the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:14. God doesn’t need our possessions. “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it” (Psalm 24:1). God wants our devotion. “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength” (Deuteronomy 6:5). Everything in our lives should reflect our total dedication to God. God has shown us incredible mercy time and again, particularly in sending us Jesus as a Savior. Jesus redeems us from sin and makes us one with God again. We have eternal life through him. It is God’s Holy Spirit that helps us to see and believe in Jesus our Savior and to want to serve God in all we do, including with our possessions.

The following programs and resources were developed to help congregations encourage members toward biblical stewardship.

Christian Giving Now and for the Future

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In his Word, our Lord provides timeless motivation and instruction about giving thanks with our offerings for all that he does for us—particularly for the salvation that Jesus won for us—yet there have been many helpful changes in ways that we can give that are worth discussing. The “offering plate” might look a lot different today for many people who offer gifts of assets or use a variety of electronic options. Congregations are also discovering how teaching members about planned giving now will help them support Christ’s church a generation or two down the road. These options not only allow us to give to the Lord but to save on taxes and support our families. This presentation, originally given at the 2023 WELS National Conference on Lutheran Leadership, reviews today’s giving opportunities and methods in the light of Christ’s unchanging Scriptures.

Online Donation Platforms

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Congregations are increasingly seeking out options for online giving to meet the preferences of members across generations. Here are some helpful resources.

Joyful Generosity

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“From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another” (John 1:16). God abundantly blesses us and wants us to use those blessings to his glory. So how does this look in our daily lives? This program of worship, Bible study, and personal devotion will guide followers of Christ through the Bible’s clear teachings on the management of our possessions.

 

Previous Stewardship Programs

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Stewardship Resources

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Congregational Planned Giving Program

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Our weekly offering at worship is not the only opportunity we have for giving to the Lord. We honor the Lord when planning for the transition of our accumulated wealth (our “estate”) at life’s end. There are also a variety of other opportunities that enable us to support the Lord’s work now (while at the same time receiving tax benefits). The Bible encourages planned giving—intentional, cheerful management of our blessings to care for family and to return a portion of our possessions to our Creator and Savior God.

The purpose of the congregational planned giving program is (Part I) to help your congregation jump-start a program of promoting planned giving opportunities to members. Part II shares an easy way to start a congregational endowment fund through WELS Foundation. Part III tells how to set up a congregational planned giving committee to provide further manpower for carrying out this work. Part IV discusses how to establish and administer an endowment fund. Finally, Part V highlights WELS organizations that can help you with any of these steps.

School of Stewardship

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Help members aim their treasures toward their Christ-centered mission with the Joyful Generosity “School of Stewardship” for congregational leaders.

This workshop, revised by Rev. Charles Degner, helps congregational leaders identify factors that influence God-pleasing stewardship and develop plans for encouraging a year-round stewardship culture within the congregation. Use at one sitting of 2.5 hours or spread out over five roughly half-hour meetings.