Pray for Extravagant Generosity

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

2 Corinthians 9:6-8 NIV

Beyond our local community

As Christians, we are asked to surrender our entire lives to God. This goes so much deeper than just what we give to the local church or ministries. As Christians, all that we have is God’s and—for whatever strange reason—God has entrusted us to be good stewards of these gifts.

As a new church start, we are relying on the generosity of so many people. An already-established church is funded through the generosity of those who are in attendance. These people have grown in their faith while at church, have come to trust the leaders, and have caught a vision for the ministry of the church. They give to support the ministry of which they are already a part.

A new church doesn’t have this luxury. A new church, by definition, doesn’t have a congregation yet. Even after it has a congregation, many of the people are new to the faith. New people often attend a church for a season before they start to give seriously. As such, a new church start has to rely on the gifts of people who might never attend the actual church. We’re hoping friends, family, and alumni of our current church will catch this vision and will give above their regular gifts to support the start of a church that will reach people who don’t yet have a church they would call a home.

We’re trusting that God will move the hearts of people to engage in extravagant generosity, to give to something they might never directly benefit from. In 2 Corinthians, Paul makes a case for exactly this kind of giving—giving that reaches beyond our local community.

Would you pray that God moves the hearts of people to give towards this new church start?

Pray that God helps us to be good stewards of these resources, and that we will not want for anything that we need to realize this vision.