This week a letter will going out to several churches throughout the United States who know about QuietWaters Ministries. The letter asks the church leaders to consider an offering or designated gift to QuietWaters Ministries. I’m not certain how these letters will be received. Hopefully many will respond generously, others may struggle with how to respond, and still others may even be offended that we asked.
Robert Schuller tells the story of the first million-dollar contributor when they were building the Crystal Cathedral.
Crystal Cathedral
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It was a Lutheran businessman who didn’t even attend Schuller’s church. The millionaire’s pastor asked the man, “Why didn’t you give the million dollars to us?”
The man said, “Because you didn’t ask.”
In Exodus 25 the Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring Me an offering (NKJV). In the NIV it is “Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering.” Those are stronger words than “ask.” In light of these scriptures, we feel that our directive from God is to ask. The verses go on to say, “From everyone who gives it willingly with his heart . . . ,” or “. . . from each man whose heart prompts him to give.”
Moses was only to ask, God moved the hearts.
When you follow that story to Exodus 36 you read, “Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp: ‘No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.’ And so the people were restrained from bringing more,” (NIV). That means that they had more than enough to finish the project. I’m sure that you and I are looking forward to the day that we can say, “Please don’t send any more money – we have enough.”
Keith Meyer, executive pastor of Church of the Open Door in Maple Grove, Minnesota says, “One of the greatest gifts we can give people is the opportunity to become more fully what God has created them to be. And giving is a natural extension of being a person who seeks to live the life of faith.”
This is the first time that I’ve mentioned our requests for money for QuietWaters Ministries. It is not meant to be a request for your church to give.
My request to you is when you are asking for a gift for your church or from your church for a ministry such as QuietWaters that you will do it in a way that is honoring to God and then let Him work in people’s hearts what He wishes churches and ministries to receive.
P.S. We wouldn’t mind if God prompted your church leaders to select QuietWaters Ministries to be included in your church giving.
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