Blessed to be a Blessing
Dear Mountainview Friends,
February 4 was my spiritual birthday. Fifty-one years ago I gave my life to Christ, trusted Him for salvation, and later that day was baptized into Christ by my dad. It matters more to me than my physical birthday.
I know you join me in wanting to see hundreds, and even thousands, of people in Highlands Ranch and around the globe gain their spiritual birthdays. One way to ensure that the ministry of spreading the amazing love of God through the various ministries of MCCC continues is through our gifts and offerings to the King of the Kingdom.
Martin Luther said, “There are three conversions: the heart, the mind, and the purse.”
This open letter is to remind you of our special “Generosity Demonstration Weekend.” It takes place on February 16-17. On this weekend we are challenging all of our Mountainview folk to give to the Lord’s work generously as the Lord has prospered you. Perhaps that means maintaining your tithe (10% of your earnings), perhaps it means doubling your tithe, or perhaps it means moving in the direction of regular and sustained giving.
We are challenging every family to respond as God leads them to see what could be done by just regular sustained giving—without big pushes or special capital campaigns. Some might want to continue this practice indefinitely—or at least up to Easter (March 31st).
Sir John Templeton was a world-renowned investor and investment counselor. He was asked what the best investment was. He answered, “Tithing.”
Henry Crowell, founder of Quaker Oats, more than tithed for over 40 years after hearing a message from D.L. Moody. He promised God that if God allowed him to earn money he would trust it to God for His service.
William Colgate ran away from home at age 17, but he tithed the first dollar he ever made. Ultimately he owned the Colgate Company and gave 20-40% of his income to the Lord.
J.L. Kraft (Kraft Cheese Company), Wallace Johnson (founder of Holiday Inn), John D. Rockefeller, and J.C. Penney were all tithers (Barry Cameron, The ABC’s of Financial Success, 116).
Bill Hybels and many other Christian leaders have for years urged Jesus followers to follow the 10/10/80 plan (10% to the Lord; 10% to the savings account; and 80% for livelihood).
The leaders of the church and our very capable finance team members stand ready to answer any questions you might have about how we handle the money our church family invests in kingdom enterprises. You’ll be glad to know that our leaders are looking diligently into refinancing our building mortgage to achieve a much better rate saving the church $20,000 per year. Won’t it be great to get it paid off some day!
Join us in this time of faith stretching. Let’s excel in this grace of giving (2 Corinthians 8:7). We’ll be able to see what God can do.
Learning to die,
Mark Scott
