Are you looking for a way to teach stewardship in your congregation from a spiritual perspective? If so, New Consecration Sunday by Herb Miller is a stewardship program that has several basic premises: (1) It teaches that faithful stewardship issues forth from my need to give NOT from the need of the church to receive. (2) The question the program asks is “What is God calling me to do with the financial resources I have?” NOT “How much does the church need from me to help pay its bills?” (3) The program focuses on percentage giving as a way God, through his grace, enables me to grow faithfully toward tithing and beyond NOT as another rung in the ladder I must take to better earn God’s approval. Key ingredients are: An outside guest leader, a leadership dinner at a local restaurant, a catered congregational luncheon and spiritual input through lay persons, the Guest Leader and the congregation’s pastor.
The South Carolina Synod is offering three grants in an amount of $1,000 to congregations to help with the expenses for the program such as honorarium for the guest leader and the celebration meal. All other expense above $1,000 are the responsibility of the congregation. Congregations covenant with the synod to conduct the program in accord with the written instructions. The synod will also provide materials needed to conduct the appeal which covers a six-week period. Consecration Sunday Team Member Manuals, a Stewardship Program Guide with download library and 100 estimate of giving cards will be provided by the synod. It’s a $125.00 dollar value. The synod also provides assistance in training to use the program and will assist in identifying a guest leader. Grants will be awarded to the first three congregation who apply and covenant to use the program in full compliance with the written instructions. Contact Rev. Ozzie Herlong ovherlong@aol.com or telephone (803) 360-1877.
