At the synod convention this past summer a friend said “Dave, you sure have a big job in front of you as the WELS director of Christian Giving.”

My response was “It is not about me. It is all about we pastors, we called workers, we lay leaders and we members of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. We are the ones the Lord has called to do his work and give to make it possible.”

God called all of us to give on the same day the Lord called us to faith in Jesus as our Savior. Ever since that day the Lord has given us the “grace of giving.” He provided the model for our giving in his own action of giving his one and only Son to be our Savior.

As the WELS director of Christian Giving, I plan to carry out this ministry in the same way I did when I was a parish pastor and then a WELS gift planning counselor specializing in current gifts. I believe that before I can even begin to encourage others to be generous, abundant, and cheerful givers I need to be one myself. My wife and I have found it a joy to be able to be part of the Lord’s action on this earth through our financial offerings to the local congregations I’ve served, the two Lutheran high schools our congregations were affiliated with, and our Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. As we look back over our 34 years of married life, we are amazed at the amount of money the Lord has compelled us to invest in his work. Not a dime of those funds is missed. Instead we are filled with joy that even while serving in the public ministry we can be generous, cheerful givers to the Lord’s work.

During the next three months, Forward in Christ will feature a series of articles by people who are deeply involved in the stewardship of the treasure or money God gives. They are people who have been compelled by a love for their Savior.

Next month a lay couple will share its perspective. The adult lives of this husband and wife have found them actively involved in the grace of giving. They are abundant donors to their local congregation, local Lutheran high school, the synod, and its affiliates. They clearly understand that the Lord has given them everything they possess.

In May a parish pastor will write about his efforts to encourage all those he serves to exercise their “grace of giving.” He will discuss how he is blessed to have congregation members who serve as “living lessons” in Christian giving. These members encourage him and each other to excel in the grace of giving.