Posts by theim
God Has a Plan by Rich Stearns
God has a plan for every leader. By Rich Stearns ~ God has gifted us as well as the people around us. Eric Liddell was an Olympic gold medalist portrayed in the Academy Award-winning movie Chariots of Fire. Before he entered into full-time missionary work, he participated in the Olympics. Some criticized him for this…
Read MoreTrust is Essential By Howard Rich
Trust is Essential to the Steward By Howard Rich – Trust is a scary thing, requiring me to become vulnerable and open to criticism, which may result in hurt feelings, pain, and frustration. However, I know my life is probably less vibrant and fulfilling because I failed to trust people God put in my path…
Read MoreHearing God By Peggy Reynoso
A “rule of life” that facilitates hearing God is learning to live in constant awareness of God’s presence. By Peggy Reynoso ~ Jesus, Emmanuel — “God with us” — did not leave us to live our lives alone. He sent us his Spirit so that we might live our lives with him. Brother Lawrence called…
Read MoreBlessed Are the Peacemakers By David Cook
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” ~ Matthew 5:9 By David Cook ~ Jesus highlights this righteous call in his Sermon on the Mount in this scripture. The implication of this verse is powerful; by living in peace when the world around us is full of discord, we have…
Read MoreThe Chief Steward by Kent R. Wilson
Who is the chief steward of your organization? Your Board! By Kent R. Wilson, PhD ~ Any stewardship relationship is basically a triangle of three interdependent entities: an owner, the owner’s resources, and a steward. Stewardship occurs when the owner entrusts his resources into the leadership and oversight of the steward. When the nonprofit organization…
Read MoreFinancial Stewardship Tips by Gary G. Hoag
Ten Global Financial Stewardship Tips By Dr. Gary G. Hoag – The Bible contains counsel for all cultures related to handling God’s money. During my recent trip to Hong Kong I learned that the biggest sin for Chinese people related to money for individuals as well as churches is hoarding resources on earth for personal…
Read MoreSupernatural Trust by Sara Nagelvoort Marlin
Supernatural Trust that Comes from Prayer is the Foundation for Steward Leadership By Sara Nagelvoort Marlin ~ My favorite Bible verse for as long as I can remember has been these very familiar words from the psalmist: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your…
Read MoreThe Annual Report By Randon Samelson
The Annual Report may be your ministry’s best communication tool. By Randon Samelson ~ The single most important communication tool that a ministry has is an annual report. Why? Benefits If you invest the time and prepare your annual report with excellence, your ministry will reap many of these benefits: Builds community with donors and…
Read MoreWhat is Christian Philanthropy? By Aimee Minnich
What is Christian Philanthropy and what makes it different? By Aimee Minnich ~ I’ve been having an ongoing dialogue with a friend of mine – we’ll call him Jon – about whether the world needs a christian impact investing movement. Is it just marketing gloss that we use to attract donors? This is an especially important…
Read MoreMinistry and Metrics by Gary G. Hoag
By Gary G. Hoag, Ph.D. Governing boards often require ministry leaders to use a variety of “metrics” to report results. These “metrics” often reflect the desired outcomes of ministry activity. Consider some examples of this practice: a Christian school might report enrollment figures, a medical ministry might tabulate the number of patients served, and a…
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