Enough Stewardship Campaign Introduction
Enough: Discovering Joy Through Simplicity and Generosity
Stress. Anxiety. Fear. These words capture well the state of mind of many of us in America today. We have witnessed dramatic market losses, the collapse of the world’s largest insurance company, and many bankruptcies and mergers. Every day seems to bring another piece of economic uncertainty.
A recent survey found that over three in four Americans are stressed about the economy and their personal finances. Half were worried about providing for their family’s basic needs. Over half of respondents reported feeling angry and irritable, and reported laying awake at night worried about this. The report concludes that, “The declining state of the nation’s economy is taking a physical and emotional toll on people nationwide.”1
Do these words sound familiar? They are from the book and study by Adam Hamilton, Enough: Discovering Joy Through Simplicity and Generosity. If you have been a part of one of the 12 home study groups going on over this summer, they would have been very familiar. My prayer has been all summer that you will have grown in your relationship with our Lord and into a healthier relationship with the stuff of your life as you journeyed through the study.
Starting September 26th our Stewardship campaign for 2011 will use the themes and principles from Dr. Hamilton’s study as we prepare our hearts and our church for service in 2011. The series is entitled Enough: Discovering Joy Through Simplicity and Generosity.
Our nation is experiencing what many have described as the “American Nightmare.” Increasing consumer debt, declines in savings, lower income growth, and a volatile stock market are all a part of our economic insecurity. We have lived in a society that tells us “you deserve it now,” whether or not we can afford it or really even need it.
All of us have struggled with these issues at one time or another. They are important issues that we cannot ignore. This is why, over the summer, we had the church-wide study.
At the conclusion of the campaign, we will have the opportunity to make personal commitments of our offerings to God through our church in the coming year. We will consecrate these commitments in the worship service on October 24th.
I hope you will join us in the coming weeks as we look at how we can manage our financial resources and truly experience simplicity, generosity, and joy.
In Service,
Pastor Dave