Piloting Faith: Are you a philanthropist?

A Word for the Day...

This weekend my wife, two friends and I attended a fundraising event for The Link Counseling Center in Atlanta. They are an extraordinary center providing affordable counseling services to thousands of people in the region since 1971. I have benefited from and been inspired by their work for years.

We participated in their "Miracle Ball" because we are philanthropists. By that, I mean "we seek to promote the welfare of others, especially by the donation of our money to good causes." That is how Webster defines philanthropy. I bet if you considered why you support organizations with your gifts, you would say the same.

We have come to understand philanthropy through a wider lens. Giving even at the smallest levels has brought us such fulfillment. We now look for others to connect to good causes and encourage them to give as well.

We now see it as part of our calling as generous people to invite others in our lives to give generously too. We take them with us to fundraisers. We tell them about organizations we support doing critical work to make the world more just and generous. We celebrate when they offer gifts because we see that as an investment in our common good.

I am finally coming to understand that this is why Jesus talked about money so much - more than any other topic. He knew that being generous was the only way to free ourselves from the desperate grip of fear. When we are generous, we trust that we will have enough. More than that, we finally learn that we are enough...and always have been. That is the most precious gift of all.

- Rev. Cameron Trimble, author of Piloting Church: Helping Your Congregation Take Flight

Prayer for the Week

Meditate on these words of affirmation:

Hear the Good News! God has loved you, loves you now and will always love you. This is the good news which brings us new life. Thanks be to God.