The Right Way To Ask


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QuietWaters Compass Online

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COMPASS ONLINE

A Digital Help Toward Renewal from QuietWaters Ministries

Volume 10, Number 9 October 2010
Man praying
Greetings!  

How often do you preach about stewardship?  Is it once a year or quarterly?  Most pastors are hesitant to bring up the subject.  The main reason is that the people in the pews don’t want to hear about giving and money.

I’m told that money is one of the most often written about topics in the Bible.  Evidently, God knew that we would have a problem with money.

I’m also hesitant to talk about stewardship in my writings.  In fact I don’t think I’ve ever spoken about stewardship in this newsletter.

So for maybe the first time I’m asking for help to ask the right way.  I hope it helps you think about the subject in a little different way.

Jim

The Right Way To Ask

by Jim Schlottman 

This week a letter will going out to several churches throughout the United States who know about QuietWaters Ministries.  The letter asks the church leaders to consider an offering or designated gift to QuietWaters Ministries.  I’m not certain how these letters will be received.  Hopefully many will respond generously, others may struggle with how to respond, and still others may even be offended that we asked.

Robert Schuller tells the story of the first million-dollar contributor when they were building the Crystal Cathedral.

Crystal Cathedral
Crystal Cathedral

 It was a Lutheran businessman who didn’t even attend Schuller’s church. The millionaire’s pastor asked the man, “Why didn’t you give the million dollars to us?”

The man said, “Because you didn’t ask.”

In Exodus 25 the Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring Me an offering (NKJV).  In the NIV it is “Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering.”  Those are stronger words than “ask.”  In light of these scriptures, we feel that our directive from God is to ask.  The verses go on to say, “From everyone who gives it willingly with his heart . . . ,” or “. . . from each man whose heart prompts him to give.”

Moses was only to ask, God moved the hearts.

When you follow that story to Exodus 36 you read, “Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp: ‘No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.’ And so the people were restrained from bringing more,” (NIV).  That means that they had more than enough to finish the project.  I’m sure that you and I are looking forward to the day that we can say, “Please don’t send any more money – we have enough.”

Keith Meyer, executive pastor of Church of the Open Door in Maple Grove, Minnesota says, “One of the greatest gifts we can give people is the opportunity to become more fully what God has created them to be. And giving is a natural extension of being a person who seeks to live the life of faith.”

This is the first time that I’ve mentioned our requests for money for QuietWaters Ministries.  It is not meant to be a request for your church to give.

My request to you is when you are asking for a gift for your church or from your church for a ministry such as QuietWaters that you will do it in a way that is honoring to God and then let Him work in people’s hearts what He wishes churches and ministries to receive.

P.S. We wouldn’t mind if God prompted your church leaders to select QuietWaters Ministries to be included in your church giving.
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GENE MEERDINK MEMORIAL

 

Gene Meerdink, former Director of Donor Care for QuietWaters Ministries passed away this April 29, 2010.

 

Gene served with his wife Arlene as missionaries to Mexico and as a supervisor of missionaries in Africa.

 

Many of you may have known Gene for his work with QuietWaters or you may have known him through his work in missions.

 

Therefore we wanted you to know of Gene passing.

 

The family has said that those wishing to honor Gene may contribute in his name to QuietWaters Ministries.  Gene will be recognized with the naming of the prayer chapel at the new Retreat Center.

 

To make an online memorial gift please  CLICK HERE, fill in the Donor Information and in the Gift Designation window select the “Gene Meerdink Memorial Fund.”

 

Or mail your memorial gift to QuietWaters Ministries, 9185 E Kenyon Avenue, Suite 150, Denver, CO 80237.

 

The QuietWaters Compass Online is published monthly as a free service of QuietWaters Ministries, whose mission is to renew, restore, and strengthen Christian leaders and their families. Opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of QuietWaters Ministries, its personnel or trustees. Material contained in this publication is not intended as a substitute for the professional assistance you can receive from a counselor, or health care provider. Requests for permission to reprint articles should be directed to the editor at the address below.
 
James L. Schlottman
QuietWaters Ministries
(303) 639-9066
 
© Copyright 2010 by
QuietWaters Ministries
Bethesda Foundation, Inc.
All rights reserved.

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In This Issue
The Right Way To Ask
GENE MEERDINK MEMORIAL
QUICK LINKS

 

LOGO EFFECT

 
10th
ANNIVERSARY
YEAR
 
 
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RETREAT CENTER
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 

He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul.

He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.

 

Psalm 23:1-3





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