Stewardship Testimonies

Spoken by Jon:  My name is Jon Webb and this is my wife Angela.  We have been members at Central for nearly ten years and we have enjoyed many stages while here from graduations to parenthood and Central has been an important source of faithful support.  During this time, we have grown our faith and we are proud to be part of Central because of its dedication to reach out to others.  At different crossroads along our journey, we have seen many anxious moments and we have prayed for the strength and wisdom to let go and let God.  It is no different with giving.  Wondering about having money enough and making ends meet.  Though material goods, money, and success come, it never seems enough.  We turn to God and realize He is enough.  We give and put our trust in Him.  We let go and let God be enough.

Spoken by Angela:  To whom much is given, much is expected.  In the summer of our lives, it's easy to feel as though we have a bumper crop.  Amidst the busyness of small children and family vacations, it's easy to appreciate our blessings.  We give to Central out of our abundance, our abundance of these blessings.  For us, it comes down to a question of scarcity or abundance.  Is our glass half empty or half full?  Or, does our cup runneth over?  We give to Central because it acknowledges that the most important things in our lives are not material.  Despite all this, there is still the worldly thought that we could always have more.  We give to Central as an answer to the question in our own hearts, of do we have enough.  And our answer is yes, our cup runneth over.

Why I Give

A statement about why I give really begins with why I'm here. I'm

here to experience God in this place, to be thankful, to care for

others, to gather around this table with this community, to continue

on my faith journey, and to learn more about what it means to be a

follower of Jesus Christ.

From the pulpit a few years ago, Dr. Mooty said something as part

of a sermon that stuck with me. He said that if being a follower

of Christ doesn't make you uncomfortable, you aren't doing it

right. One of the things I took from this statement is that being

a follower of Christ needs to be high enough on your list of

priorities, that choosing to be a follower over other things makes you

uncomfortable.

I'm a Information System Director, a computer guy. Let's face it,

a nerd. I help in the Children's area every week, I'm an elder, I've

been a deacon, and I've served on various committees. I work

closely with people, children, families, people, you probably get

the picture. Dealing with people is not my greatest gift. But I do it

because I feel a call to help meet important needs for the families

who worship here and for the church. I do it because I believe in the

value and purpose of the work of the church.

I give of my time, effort, and resources because I believe.

I believe in the work of the Church, capital C, and its place in the

world as a witness to God's love, as an agent of change, as a

humanitarian, a place of refuge, and as a peacemaker.

I believe in the work of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

My personal theology and openness to change and acceptance feel

right and good as I serve in a DOC congregation.

I believe in Central Christian Church and how it lives out its faith 

and mission as a people of God. This is my church home. My

spiritual home. My family's church home. Our life here at Central

adds a richness and depth. I hope my work and commitment

here will make a life long impression upon my daughter for her

journey in faith. I enjoy so much experiencing her exploration of

faith with her. I work here and I give here and, in return, I receive

things I cannot buy: grace, compassion, peace, and an unfettered,

unqualified acceptance at this table. What I could buy with my

money seems much less important.

And I believe in you and the many ways you continue to work and

give and share selflessly. You are faithful stewards of what we've

been given by those who have gone before us. I want to continue

to be a part of this faithful stewardship.

I make my life as a follower of Christ a priority, even until it's

uncomfortable, because I believe.

In response to the question of why I give, I give out of gratitude for the abundance that

God has given me. Every Sunday morning, I receive wonderful gifts: stimulating

sermons, beautiful music, thoughtful church school teaching, and inspiring invitations

to communion.

I am grateful for how people in this congregation care for each other and for me; I see

that care expressed through prayers, thoughtful words, sharing of meals, and notes, as

well as acts of kindness that few people know about. I am thankful that people in this

congregation, as represented by the women whom this service celebrates, faithfully

serve each other and those outside the congregation.

I give because I am grateful for what occurs “behind the scenes:” for those who clean

the communion trays, trim the shrubs, and on a hot July day, climb into a 100+ degree

attic over the sanctuary to lower these beautiful light fixtures so that bulbs can be

changed and the fixtures cleaned. I am thankful for those who have created and

stitched banners, planned our new space, and tended to garden areas.

I give because, for me, this church nurtures a faith that sustains me in life’s darker hours

and comforts me when I feel lonely. I am thankful for the peace and strength that come

from knowing that God is with me at all times, and for the joy of being in God’s

presence. Most of all, I am grateful for a loving God who gave us Jesus Christ to bring

us new life and for a gracious God who invites us to this table.

As part of this congregation of caring people, I am thankful that I can begin to address

the needs of those in our larger community, through contributions of time, energy,

prayer, and financial resources. As a group, we can work to solve problems of poor

shelter, hunger and injustices that no one person can do alone. I am thankful for those

who go on mission trips and serve others in Christ’s name, for those who work with

Room in the Inn and God’s Pantry, and for the many gifts and abilities offered by this

congregation.

I am grateful that when I worship and fellowship with you, I see Christ’s light in your

faces and I am reminded of God’s love and grace in who you are and what you do. I

am grateful that together we share the desire to give back out of the abundance that

God has given us.