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Category: General

Not your average city traders

Many would argue that 1970’s London was a city in trouble. For Dr John and Dorothy Davies – after 10 years service in Nepal and North India – it was the perfect urban mission opportunity. If only they could afford to live there.

When they returned from Nepal in 1970 they had no capital, no proof of income and absolutely no way to get started in London as they hoped. Fast forward 40 years and John and Dorothy Davies are now, as retired Senior Citizens, finally living out this long held vision with transformational results. We catch a few minutes on the phone to talk about their story, but time is scarce as Dorothy is busy preparing a curry lunch to bid farewell to some friends about to return for their annual stint in Nepal.

The energy, passion and drive of this couple is quite remarkable and there is not much sign of slowing down. For proof just look at how and to whom they give: “Our priorities at present,” says Dorothy “are overseas mission, urban mission, resourcing the church, resourcing those working for the church, resourcing London churches by helping to house their key workers, and personal support for individual Christians dependent on regular donations.”

Where possible they make full use of their Stewardship account to manage this giving, “At our stage in life it relieves us of the hassle and burden of making gifts, so we can be free to use our time in other ways.” Back in 1970, and settling at the seaside (Clacton-on-Sea, followed by Frinton-on-Sea, to be precise) seems like an unusual move for aspiring urban missionaries. But for the Davies it was a crucial stepping stone and, in hindsight, the laying of foundations for something much bigger than they could have imagined.

“We moved to Frinton-On-Sea where I was blessed to be able to establish a Christian medical practice.” John continues: “This provided us with a serious income to direct to focused giving – much of it related to London where our hearts were still set.”

On John’s final retirement from medicine in 2002 they sold their home and headed to Bethnal Green. The irony of retiring from Frinton on Sea to London is not lost on the couple, but as Dorothy shares, this is where their giving gets integrated with living. As Dorothy shares, “if you want to do more than just give, if you want to be envisioned then it is good to be – if at all possible – among the people you have a heart to support”. That’s exactly where God led them.

And that is exactly what the Davies are now doing. Remembering their heartache of not having the resources to minister to the city of London in 1970, the couple with five others of like mind set up ACHAL, the Affordable Christian Housing Association Limited. That was in 1988 so their legacy over the years would be the provision of affordable accommodation for Christian workers in London who would otherwise “be squeezed out of London because prices were beyond them.” Over 22 years others have come on board with finance and management
and God has enabled many to stay on to serve in London by having accommodation provided. 2010 has become another significant milestone as a Chief Executive Officer has just been appointed for ACHAL.

With our time nearly through, it is John who has the last word: “Our account with Stewardship has meant we can be focused to give where it counts. Living in London helps us pray and support those committed to serve God here. Our latest thrill is the football club for young homeless men; some with addictions helped practically, others have come to faith. And seeing five young couples being married and committed to stay in London; our heart is with the next generation! It is a wonderful, vibrant life for which we praise God!”

For more information on ACHAL visit www.achal.org.uk

Giving Lessons

Stewardship’s new teaching material – ‘Seasons of Giving’ – helps get to grips with one of the subjects we often struggle to talk about. Steve Pierce, Stewardship Head of Content, reports.

The problem with biblical teaching on money is that there is so much biblical teaching on money! Are we to bring our first fruits and rejoice in all the good things (Deuteronomy 26:11) or should we sell our possessions and give to the poor (Luke 12:33)?

The shared insight of these verses is generosity: giving that honours the Giver and serves the poor. The foolishness of the rich farmer in Jesus’ well known parable (Luke 12:13-21) is that both the vertical and the horizontal obligations of wealth are absent.

“True giving is an act of self-liberation. It becomes one of the major achievements of our life.”

Seasons of giving week 2:Study questions on the rich fool

1.   What prompted Jesus to tell the parable of the rich fool? Can you think of ways in which money can get in the way of relationships and why this might happen?

2.   The wealthy man tears down perfectly good barns in order to build bigger ones. How and why do we do this with our possessions?

3.   Count up how many times the farmer uses the words ‘I’ and ‘my’. What does it suggest about his attitude to his wealth and possessions and his relationship with God?

4.   We can’t divorce our thinking about giving from the rest of our money. What do you think the parable of the rich fool teaches us about:

i)    Planning for the future?
ii)   Enjoying good things in life?
iii) The rights and wrongs of making money?

5.   How might the local community suffer from the actions of the rich fool? (Proverbs 11:26 might suggest a clue.) In what ways can wealth either blind us or open our eyes to our obligations to people living in poverty?

seasons of giving

The new Stewardship Bible study resource, Seasons Of Giving, is written in the belief that generous giving is the key that unlocks so much of our relationship with money. Blending Bible study with illustrations of a remarkable modern parable of generosity ‘Seasons’ helps us explore how giving can transform our actions and attitudes around money:

• Giving helps set us free from the love of money
• Giving recognises God’s ownership of all we have
• Giving is the hallmark of authentic discipleship
• Giving is part of our stewardship responsibility before God

to test our love

‘True giving is an act of self-liberation. It becomes one of the major achievements of our life.’ So says Henry Drucker and he is right. Giving is a key part of our celebration of all God has entrusted to us, building resistance to selfish materialism. Giving gently tests the authenticity of our love (2 Corinthians 8:8). It shapes our character before God and the world.

Seasons Of Giving is a fresh and creative fourweek bible study which will get small groups in the church talking and thinking about their giving and their discipleship around money. The resource is available as a free download at www.stewardship.org.uk/money. Why not use it as a study session in your church before the summer break?

Download Seasons of Giving free here.

Striking out for the Kingdom

Massive press coverage of a church and its activities isn’t always a particularly good thing. Too often the headlines seem to do more harm than good. However, Carmarthen based Towy Community Church’s (TCC) plan to build and run a bowling alley in a disused cheese factory has caught the imagination of the press and resulted in very positive media coverage. Ruth Leigh found out more.

Rewinding nine years, Senior Leader Mark Bennett recalls planting the church in Johnstown. “We stepped out in faith,” he explains. “We didn’t have a penny in our bank account, but we had a heart for connecting with our community.” The town was affluent but had pockets of poverty. TCC began to engage with the community’s practical needs by running a debt centre, a Christmas hamper scheme and a centre for performing arts for young people.

All this needed sound support. Mark already had a longstanding relationship with Stewardship. “They’d helped us with insurance and building projects at our previous church. I would often ring for advice.” When the church decided to set up a Trust, Stewardship was the obvious place to go. “We have received fantastic pearls of wisdom from Stewardship,” recalls Mark. “They have been a key part of our endeavours over the years, always generous with their time and advice.”

TCC was aware that Johnstown had a long-held desire for a bowling alley, so after prayerful consideration, they took the bold step of applying for funding to build an alley for the use of the entire community. Mark had already spotted an old factory site which he thought would make the ideal base for community projects. The church had an excellent relationship with Carmarthenshire County Council, so Mark approached them to discuss his idea. The Council bought the 2.7 acre site and in a remarkable act of generosity transferred it to the church free of charge.

“We’re in the spotlight,” says Mark. “People are intrigued about the concept of a church operating as we do.” This attitude extends to members of Carmarthenshire County Council. “This is a hugely encouraging and bold venture by the church to help the economic and social development of the community,” enthuses Councillor Clive Scourfield. Mark has been encouraged by the Council’s enthusiastic support of TCC’s work. “They believe in us, and really think we can do a good job.”

Working in partnership with the Council, the church is planning a £2 million first phase of the bowling alley development which is innovative, exciting and crucially, sustainable. A projected annual income of £200,000 will help to support community projects on site and pay salaries for the 20 jobs being created. The site will house a conference venue, a café, a lunch club for senior citizens, a Foodbank, performing arts centre and furniture recycling facility. The doors will open towards the end of this year.

Towy Community Church’s vision has always been to serve others in a relevant and practical way. In modelling generous and transformational service to their community, they will no doubt continue to make the papers for all the right reasons.

BudgetBuilder - try our new tool!

Budgeting seems to be the word on everyone’s lips in the current economic climate, but if you’ve ever tried creating your own budget from scratch, you’ll know that it’s no mean feat. Now there’s a on-line tool to help you build one step-by-step and personalise it to suit your own situation.

We have just launched BudgetBuilder, an on-line budget planner designed to help you create a personal or household budget.

Its easy-to-use format helps you through the process of identifying your income and different areas of expenditure and allows you to annotate the categories for personal reference. There are even information pop-ups and links to other sources if you need some guidance on what to put where or where to go for more information.

For anyone concerned about security, it is password protected so no-one can access it but you. It’s also flexible - you can go back and make amendments or even create more than one budget if you need to. Once you’ve finished you are able to download a summary and print it out for reference. After all, the point of the exercise is to end up with something that works for you.

To find out what BudgetBuilder can do to help you get a handle on your finances, go to www.stewardship.org.uk/budgetbuilder and give it a go!

Haiti, the story beyond the story

January 12th 2010. 4.53pm. Sixteen miles west of Port au Prince. Three million affected. One million left homeless. Over 200,000 dead. These are the facts of the tragedy that struck Haiti at the start of the year. Yet these familiar figures only tell one side of the story of the earthquake that brought even greater suffering on a country scarred by poverty.

The other side of the story is one that we have witnessed at first hand. We have seen your generosity drive you to remarkable responses, your giving accounts glowing with activity within hours of news of the earthquake breaking. And we have heard reports back from those at work in Port au Prince and around Haiti of how your giving has allowed them to deliver vital aid and support where it is needed most. ‘All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.’ While nobody really knows who first wrote this, the truth that these fifteen words reveal is undisputed. When we disengage from the world, life gets worse for others. But if this is true, then the reverse is equally valid: when we choose to face the problems that surround us, when we engage our compassion, when we show love for our neighbour, then justice triumphs and hope ascends.

The Response

Taking a look at the figures easily tells the story, especially when you compare giving from Stewardship accounts in the earthquake’s aftermath with the same time the year before. During the first four weeks of 2009 you asked us to give £64,284.94 to Tearfund, World Vision and Christian Aid – three of the best known development charities. During the same four week period in 2010 – with news of the earthquake breaking at end of the second week – those three charities received £219,890.36 from Stewardship – an increase of over £155,000. Broaden the search to include the Disasters Emergency Commission and other agencies such as Samaritan’s Purse and CAFOD and the figure gets even higher: giving increased by more than £250,000 in response to the Haiti earthquake. For account holders like Sonia James, giving with Stewardship made perfect sense: “I save money each month in my account for emergencies such as the Haiti earthquake. I can make a donation just by sending a request by email or phone, no need to write a cheque or credit card.” Richard Miles – another account holder – uses Stewardship for his giving. “It is a convenient way of maximising the amount available for charities. I normally allow a small surplus to accumulate so that I am able to respond to such emergencies or other appeals.”

The Result

In spite of the near-total devastation and early chaos that followed, aid has managed to get through, saving lives and building hope. Returning from a recent trip to deliver medical supplies to hospitals and clinics around the country, Ian Cattle (a production and logistics consultant) was moved by what he saw: “It was five weeks after the earthquake and it was clear that the response from other countries had already made a significant impact. A couple of weeks before our trip there were still dead bodies lying around, but by the time we got there the focus had shifted away from the immediate effects of the earthquake. Because of the generosity of the response, the focus now is on building for Haiti’s future.”

The Challenge

There is no doubt that the earthquake struck a chord with people, and the Church has responded with ompassion and commitment. But as the news cycle shifts to cover other events, have we done our bit? Is it time to move on? Speaking at the recording of a recent charity single with other Gospel artists, Graham Kendrick thinks not. He described the challenge – as he sees it – that Haiti represents: “We see the news, we feel it and are aware of the suffering, but then we forget. This is one of those situations that is going to test us in the long term: is Haiti going to become another forgotten place?” There are millions of those ‘good men and women’ inaction today – and we are privileged to offer a giving service to over 34,000 of them.

Measuring Generosity

Interestingly, a recent study of the responses from individual countries showed that while individuals in the USA have the most amount of money during the first two weeks after the disaster (a colossal $168million – with the UK fourth at $32million), the most generous people were among those with the very least to give: Guyana and Ghana both gave the most when measured as a percentage of country earnings. The UK came thirteenth in the world. (Source: Guardian Datablog)

Essential Access

Allan Guinan, Managing Director of philanthropy consultancy firm Guinan Associates, has recently returned from an assessment visit to Haiti and has seen some remarkable work on the ground: “I’m currently placing a number of grants, one in particular for $22,500 with a national microfinance group to launch a mobile banking service. Given that the banking infrastructure has been largely decimated in the areas around the quake epicentre, what banks that remained were soon completely overrun. Many people were unable to access either their savings or money being sent by friends and family overseas. Launching this mobile bank branch will overcome these problems and allow people to purchase food and much needed materials for rebuilding. It will also provide financial literacy training as people are waiting in the queue. The mobile bank will allow between 250 and 350 people each day to make withdrawals, so the $22,500 over the first three months will help an estimated 19,000 direct beneficiaries.” www.guinan.org.uk

What's your story?

We recently asked you to tell us what inspired you to consider planned giving. Here’s a selection:

You can add yours using the below form.

To understand how I started to plan my giving I need to give a little history. There were two of us, both friends, both teachers, similar ages, same length of service, same school. Janice had a deep faith in Jesus; I was taking some time out. We stopped working at the same time, giving up decent salaries. I depended on my husband to provide; she looked to the Lord. I stayed at home awaiting motherhood; she went overseas to live by faith.

I admired what my friend was doing, but did not offer regular financial support. She never complained about her tougher circumstances; I mostly thought about my own. If I earned a little extra money from supply work, I’d send her a cheque.

Years later when she returned we met up. She told me how she’d used my occasional gifts to make and freeze soup from seasonal produce at the market. It was then that planned giving crossed my mind. I realised that by planning my giving, I’d help her plan her living! Once the penny dropped I put the money aside each month. I then discovered Stewardship; who support Christian workers, including Janice; I partner with Stewardship to support Janice now. I have been delighted by the service. It is quick, easy and efficient.

Hazel Lee

Worcestershire

I learned the discipline of tithing after becoming a Christian 30 years ago. With a young family to take care
of and a husband on a fairly low wage, it wasn’t always easy, but putting God first was important and he always provided for all our needs. Over the years, I developed interests in various Missionary Societies and wanted to give towards their work as well as my local church, so money was put aside and given when prompted.

Recently, both my parents died, leaving us a reasonable inheritance. I then discovered Stewardship and found this to be a wonderful organisation. I opened an account with a tithe from my inheritance, and now top it up from our income. My donation requests to mission work are sent regularly by Stewardship, and there is always enough money for extra gifts or emergencies such as the recent Haiti earthquake.

Some people give all their tithe to the local church, but I see Stewardship as my ‘storehouse’, as it says in Malachi 3:10. God has proved this to me time and time again. Praise His Name!

Margaret Vaughan

Wales

I was inspired by the wonderful example of my parents-in-law. They were poor by today’s standards, yet every week they would set aside their tithe for the Lord’s work, whatever their needs for everyday living. This regular giving of their tithe was their top priority, and they would sometimes give offerings over and above that. They taught me by their practice the Biblical principle of tithes and sacrificial giving beyond tithing.

They have both passed into the Lord’s presence, and my wife and I throughout our 46 years of marriage have practised those same principles of tithes and offerings on a planned basis. Monthly direct debit for the bulk of our giving is a real help in this. We also have some available for emergency relief and other needs which present themselves, and we keep our giving under regular review.

The Lord is always faithful, and He meets our needs. In our turn we have opportunities for teaching and encouraging others in planned giving, and my beloved and departed parents-in-law are still an inspiration to me.

The Reverend Peter Levell

Surrey

We'd love to hear your story too, you can share it now using the below form.

Bowling alone on Plymouth Hoe!

Early May found me by the statue of Francis Drake on Plymouth Hoe, a lone Anglican facing an armada of 1500 Baptists. I was leading a Stewardship workshop on churches and debt at the Baptist Union Assembly and on Saturday night was privileged to share a remarkable celebration of mission.

Not only can Baptists do liturgy, they do it really well! Retired or returned mission partners were honoured then given candles. Next, those soon to go overseas were introduced and also received candles lit, as I remember, from an Easter candle.

It was a moving and powerful illustration of mission inherited by a new generation of mission partners who received and carried the light of Christ. The reflective music was beautifully led and I have rarely been so moved in worship. ‘One for the Gift Horse’ I thought, ‘a money angle would be great’. Given my situation I toyed with of ‘all denominations welcome’ - £5s, £10s, £20s! – and then they announced the collection.

About 50 people had given by the time the bucket reached me. It was light and silent. Not a single coin, no token gifts, no fumbling for loose change (2 Cor 9:5) , just simple, heartfelt, ungrudging generosity to support Baptist missions and those who serve this calling.

When we talk money to keep the show on the road we constrain generosity, place a glass ceiling on real generosity. When we talk of mission and ministry, of changed lives and new hope we release the joyful, transforming generosity that changes us and glorifies God.

Is it time to audit the money communications in your church? What do they actually say to the congregation?
does our church budget (if there is one) prioritise mission and ministry and reflect agreed aims and objectives for the coming year?
How can we creatively and effectively communicate our aims and purposes, our mission and ministry to the congregation?
How can we communicate ministry and mission outcomes and changed lives as faithful stewards rather than the cost centres of an institution?

Links

Photo montage of the Baptist Assembly

The Spanish Armada (wiki)

Candle in the Dark: the life of William Carey, founder of the Baptist Missionary Society (Film)

A short biography of William Carey

Fascinating facts

In an episode of the Simpsons, Homer accidentally sets fire to an English warship and so disrupts the Spanish Armada.

The English fleet was bigger than the Spanish Armada but Spanish firepower was much greater.

Plymouth Hoe used to have images of the legendary Celtic figures Gog and Magog carved into the turf, probably a reference to the legend that from here they were cast into the sea.

In the 1920s and 1930s American conman Oscar Hertzell swindled many Americans named Drake by telling them that that the estate of Sir Francis Drake was being held by the British government and they should send him money to help them get what they were owed! He died in prison in 1943.

William Carey, the founder of Baptist Missionary Society, is hailed as the Father of the Modern Missions. Other famous Baptists include CH Spurgeon, Martin Luther King, Abraham Lincoln, John D Rockefeller, Bill Clinton, John Bunyan (Pilgrim’s Progress) and..... Jesse James!

Transforming Generosity: The Third Way

“(Christ) died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again ... If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here! ... We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.”
(2 Corinthians 5:11-21)

Working at Stewardship has meant that I’ve been thinking a lot about one particular word: transform.
It comes in many different forms, from the art of transforming to notions of transformative power, from experiences that are truly transformational. Even Hollywood is in on the act with the film about the Transformers.

Stewardship’s strap line is ‘Transforming Generosity’. It’s clever because it can be read two ways – it speaks of how we as an organisation are seeking to transform the generosity in financial giving of a community of believers, and - read from the other way around - it speaks of how that generosity is itself transforming lives across the world for the sake of and to the glory of God’s Kingdom.

I’d like to suggest a third way of reading this phrase. To my mind there is a way of looking at those two words that doesn’t involve simply talking about Stewardship’s objectives, and it doesn’t involve simply talking about what our hopes are for our clients whose generosity and good stewardship are, we pray, transforming people’s lives in Jesus name.

This third way of considering Stewardship’s strap line looks at the very reason I and my colleagues are in work each day doing what we do to serve our clients in the first place. Our inspiration, our motive, our commitment to an organisation whose statement is ‘Transforming Generosity’ comes from only one source: the generous transforming power of God. Remember that scripture at the start of this piece?

“Christ died for all ... and was raised again.”

Familiar words, perhaps, but it strikes me that there’s a miracle here, and that we ought to take a closer look.
Each one of us serves God (at Stewardship, and as Christians in all places) because, I believe, we all want to see people’s lives transformed; we all want to see God’s Kingdom grow and flourish; we all want people to enter into a relationship with Jesus “who died and was raised again” for them. And we all want those things because God has transformed our lives through the life, death and resurrection of Christ – that miracle of new found life and hope in Jesus.

While we’re on the subject of miracles, try this one out:

ISN’T THERE A MIRACLE HERE ... FIND OUT
is actually an anagram of ...
I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE
Not a bad transformation, is it?

Each of us is a transformed person because God is generous. And not just a little bit generous; exuberantly generous in His love, His grace, His mercy, His forgiveness, His kindness (the list is as long as you wish to make it).

So, if that’s true, what is going to drive me on each day? What’s going to strengthen me and encourage me each day? What’s going to make me go all out to be an effective participant in a transforming and a generous organisation? Surely it is this: the knowledge that I have miraculously been changed for eternity by God. He never stops loving me, He never stops serving me, He never stops working for me through the power of His Spirit to help me grow, and He is always so, so generous in all He does.

And if I serve God in that way, with a right heart, I’ll be going some way to fulfilling Paul’s charge in 2 Corinthians 5:20-21:
“(I am) Christ’s ambassador”

We are all ambassadors for Christ, Christ who was generous to the point of laying down his life to effect the most amazing transformation we can know in our own lives. We can know the Father’s transforming power personally, and we believe at Stewardship that we can know and experience that same power at work in our organisation.

So there we are. We are Stewardship – a charity that believes passionately in Transforming Generosity. We exist to serve our clients as God in Christ Jesus first miraculously, powerfully, served us.

Gift Aid tax reclaims - alarm over new restriction

This rather imprecise announcement from HM Revenue and Customs has troubled some of our clients evidenced by the number of enquiries we have received from readers of our popular Budget Bulletin (for more detail, see our Budget 2010 Briefing Paper). In response, I hope that I can remove many of the fears currently being expressed.

HMRC have not settled on the precise parameters of their proposed restrictions and will be informally consulting with Stewardship (and a few other representatives in the charity sector) on what they regard as unacceptable in terms of size and frequency. They have been told that the cash flow of small charities needs to be protected and they are mindful of this. So far as I understand it, their real problem is with trivial claims that are completely uneconomical to process. For example, it seems that some charities submit claims every few days for just a few donations!

So, I am optimistic at this stage that the reforms will be sensible and practical. If your church or charity makes claims for (say) £1,000 at a time, I don’t expect there to be any problem. The worst case scenario that I can foresee is a restriction to quarterly claims. Even then, I doubt that charities claiming large amounts on a regular basis will be restricted in this way.

Happiness is...spending money on other people

In the interview, Norton refers to a study whereby people were asked to spend their money in different ways. This was to test which contexts made them demonstrably happier. Unsurprisingly, spending money on other people was a significant factor.

Later, he says "volunteering is a strong predictor of how happy people are in general with their lives".

We know that giving and laying down our lives for others is sacrificial, but they do us good. Companies like Google are making the connection and using it to increase customer loyalty. Cynics may say that this is just using philanthropy, but would this not depend on the attitude and philosophy of the organisation?

Nonetheless, it is good to see Biblical, kingdom principles of giving and volunteering continue to be discovered and explored way beyond the confines of church structures.

ANNOUNCING LEADERSHIP TRANSITION AT STEWARDSHIP

Stewardship is pleased and proud to announce a transition of senior leadership.

David Jones, who has served the organisation as Chief Executive for the past 10 years through a crucial period of growth and development, will be handing on the leadership baton in July 2010 to Mike O’Neill, the present Director of Philanthropy.

The Board of Stewardship and David have increasingly recognised on him a call and grace to a broader role. This centres on making and maximising relational, strategic connections to advance the resourcing of the Kingdom of God. David is being released to pursue this call with the blessing of Stewardship. The relationship will continue with David taking on an ambassadorial role for Stewardship.

David Jones on this transition:
“It has been a privilege to serve this great organisation, and to invest into our people and our mission. They have been amazing years, and we have seen incredible favour from God on our endeavours. I am excited about what God has in store in this new phase of life and work for me. I know God has graced and equipped me for a wider role in his Kingdom, making what are increasingly global relationships that release and connect people and resources. I am also thrilled about two particular things. First, to be continuing the relationship with Stewardship as an ambassador for its work and mission. And secondly, to be passing over to such a capable, values based leader as Mike. I am proud that Stewardship can and will do an excellent leadership transition.”

Mike O’Neill on succeeding David and his vision for the future:
“David Jones is a man of remarkable vision and leadership. During his tenure, Stewardship may have grown into one of the UK’s largest Christian charities, but his legacy will be measured by the values of generosity, relationship and integrity. David hands over the reins with the organisation in excellent health. We are financially strong with high employee engagement, great levels of client satisfaction and in the early stages of rolling out an important online giving service. Our team believes generosity is transforming – for the giver and recipient. We seek to promote, support and resource a growing community of generous givers.”

David Vardy, Chairman of the Stewardship Board of Trustees, comments:
“David Jones has done a superb job in his 10 years as Chief Executive and his 19 years, in total, at Stewardship. The charity has seen amazing growth and, through David’s vision and enthusiasm, has become one of the largest Christian charities in the UK. Under David’s leadership, generosity and releasing resources for the extension of God’s Kingdom has been greatly enhanced. It is a credit to him that Stewardship is responsible for almost £50m per annum in giving.”

"We wish David well as he follows God’s calling to a new role in a new area of ministry and are delighted his connection with Stewardship will not be lost. It is a great commendation to David that he had already identified a possible successor in Mike O’Neill and brought him into Stewardship 15 months ago. We are delighted Mike is taking over to lead the charity in the next phase of its growth and development.”

David Jones profile
David joined Stewardship in 1991, after working as a lawyer in general practice. In 2000, he became Chief Executive, and has helped to steer it through a series of mergers to become, in income terms, one of the largest Christian charities in the UK. He has played a key role in establishing its mission and vision of building and inspiring a generous resourcing community to effect transformational Kingdom change. David is also closely involved in a dynamic and entrepreneurial church/social enterprise charity operating locally (East London), nationally and internationally.

Mike O’Neill profile
Mike joined Stewardship in January 2009 as the Director of Philanthropy. Prior to joining Stewardship, Mike was on the senior staff of Redeemer Church in New York City and served as the Executive Director of Hope for New York for seven years. Hope for New York provides grants, volunteers and consulting services to support organisations serving NYC’s poor and marginalised communities. Mike, a native of New York City, and his wife, Donna, a native of London, England, have three children, and a passion to see the end of human trafficking.

Stewardship profile

Over 34,000 Christians have giving accounts with Stewardship and 17,000 recipients are registered to receive funds.
In addition to annual giving of almost £50m per annum, we currently manage a further £60m.
Many Christian workers are supported by Stewardship and a community of givers whose gifts to Stewardship, together with the Gift Aid we reclaim, serve to both increase and enhance their ministry.
During the recession in 2009, Stewardship reported that regular giving held steady, with some decline in large one-off gifts, attributed to some givers not receiving city-related bonuses.
Stewardship also provides a range of other services for churches and Christian charities, including Mortgages (£6m loaned), Deposit Accounts, Accounts Examination (300 clients), Payroll Bureau (300 clients), Charity Formation (73 last year), legal and financial consultancy and the training of individuals as Personal Budget Coaches.

What would you do if you found £100?

Research from Santander Current Accounts suggests that half (49 per cent) of us now say that if they found £100 in cash on the street with no-one around, they would keep it for themselves - a rise of 13 per cent from 2008. Almost two thirds (62 per cent) who said this said they would feel no guilt in holding onto the cash

It is not only our sense of civic duty that is being tested! Just one in 20 (6 per cent) would choose to give the money to charity. When asked how they would spend the £100 windfall, 18 per cent of Britons said they would spend it on their family, a further 15 per cent said they would put it towards paying off their debts, and one in ten (11 per cent) said they would spend it on themselves.

So what is going on here? Is this a response to the chill of an economic winter? If we would hand in £100 would it be different if it was a £50 note, a £20, a £10? Do we do things with money that we might not do with other things?

Giving for Life

Approved by General Synod in 2009 Giving for Life is an exciting new report building on earlier giving reports. The headline challenge was for Anglicans to give 5% of income to and through the Church as an initial target, We had been here before.

The mere thought of 5% had shocked some Anglicans whose giving aspirations were rather more modest. Others, inside and outside the C of E had smirked about half measures. But Giving for Life clarified earlier expectations: Anglicans should aspire to another 5% to other agencies that build God’s Kingdom.

In fact tithing is a very Anglican place to stand. Centuries ago Anglican theologian Richard Hooker affirmed tithing as an example of how we honour God with our substance, urging Christians not to ‘clip that coin which hath on it the mark of God’

Every church has financial responsibilities and Anglicans must be willing to pay for the parish ministry we say we want. But Giving for Life treads some new ground in stressing four key words: discipleship, mission, lifestyle and generosity. Way more than keeping the show on the road, this is a roll call of faith in practice.

Generosity must be embedded as a natural part of church teaching and personal discipleship. In presenting four key tasks for church leadership teams Giving for Life helps us do just that:

Teach and preach all aspects of money: we are stewards of all God gives.
Be clear about ministry outcomes: the ministry difference giving makes
An annual review of giving: a matter of discipleship not just balancing the books
Say thank you: appreciation and transparency matter to good stewardship

The challenge is there; the resources are there. Can we do something with it?

Visit www.parishresources.org.uk/givingforlife/ to download the report and resources

By the way: Once every Preston Guild? Every twenty years!

Try this at home

Tom and Kate’s three children wanted a trampoline: after all everyone else had one! Pester power swung into action so mum and dad found a solution. All three agreed to save Christmas and birthday money from their nan. They play on it every day. One day they will grow out of it – but what they learned in a year of waiting and saving will last a lifetime.

Kerry’s dad was a financial adviser. She learned early about money and this Christian family gladly sponsored a child overseas. But Kerry was never asked to contribute from her own money. Thirty years later with children of her own Kerry knows this was a missed opportunity.

Today’s tweens (8-12’s) and teens are growing up in a materialist, consumer society. They have more disposable income, more opportunities to spend and more people telling them how to spend it than their parents ever knew. Much teenage friction turns on money: to express self, to assert independence, to act out unhappiness or lack of certainty and in response to peer pressure.

Children need guidance to learn money values and skills. If we don’t talk money we have little control over what they learn or where they learn it. We would never settle for this around sex, drugs or emotional development! And like so much in life, the money values we learn – or don’t learn – in early years shape our adult lives. There is much parents can do – and the wider family, adult friends and church congregations also play an important part.

reduce exposure and build media awareness

Control screen time (TV, internet,Facebook etc) but also help children read media and advertising messages.

build waiting skills

Help children learn to defer gratification: e.g. a 48 hour waiting rule for their wants; saving a percentage cost of a new purchase - but don’t strip the present of meaning, enjoyment or spontaneity.

model and teach generosity:

57% of children say that they would be happier if they had more money to buy things. Giving money helps build resistance to the affluenza virus.Encourage giving from pocket money; talk about why and where you give. Teach also the value of giving time and skills.

practice gratitude

Thankfulness helps kids savour what they have and releases a generous spirit. Thank you letters after birthday presents are more than courtesy; encourage gifts to others less fortunate at times of celebration.

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