I've spent some time this week getting ready for the annual meeting this weekend. In doing so, there are some interesting statistics that lead me to want to say thank you to almost two hundred homes.

There are a little over 1500 households in our church. And 10% of them (about 170) gave 70% of last year's general fund budget. My stats don't tell me who you are, but I am thankful to God for your partnership in our vision to see people in this community and around the world celebrating the supremacy of Jesus Christ and doing your part to financially support the ministries that lead people into a growing relationship with our awesome Savior.

From the curriculum that over 750 people use in transformational Life Groups; to the fuel that the youth use to take kids on outings where they hear about Christ; to the salaries for the pastors and staff that lead and minister and administer ministry; to the power to keep heat and lights on in buildings that are home to Life Groups, MOPS, Praise and Promise Preschool, worship services, bible studies, women's groups, children's classes, Celebrate Freedom, youth gatherings, Young Adult ministries, Discovery Club, parenting classes, and several community groups who use our facilities and are introduced to our church that way--because of God's faithfulness to you and your faithfulness to him in giving, these kinds of things are possible.

Obviously, we have room to grow in this grace of giving. And transitioning to more maturity in this area from where we are will take time, intentional reprioritization of our lifestyles, and discipleship.

It will take time because the patterns paths and pits that we've carved over the years are difficult to recut. But we must resist what Martin Luther King Jr. called the "tranquilizing drug of gradualism"--simply acknowledging that it will take time but not taking the necessary steps to foster change.

It will take intentionality because our culture is inundated with messages highlighting our discontent and messages pointing to material remedies for this discontent. Taking these messages captive and squashing their power over our lives means we must be alert, on guard and diligent.

It will take discipleship because as I've taught several classes on finances now, I've come to realize that people simply haven't been taught some fundamental financial principles--principles that are absolutely indispensable to gaining ground and charting a course for eternal and temporal goals. We'll be offering a class again this summer, and my hope is that more people like the one I talked to on the phone this week, will be able to say that they've broken free from huge and heavy chunks of debt that anchor them to old priorities and limited potential for kingdom building.

We have an amazing King through whom all this is possible. To him be glory for providence, generosity, and the fruit of the ministry of SPCC!