'The Sower: Redefining the Ministry of Raising Kingdom Resources' Inaugural Release from National Financial Accountability Organization
Contact: Ty Mays,
770-256-8710,
tmays@inchristcommunications.com
WINCHESTER, Va., June 15 /Christian Newswire/ -- The Bible says God loves cheerful givers. Not because He needs their money, but rather because He knows that cheerful givers value Him above all else. If this is true, why don't most ministry leaders focus on doing "whatever works" to get people to make gifts rather than engage in strategies to help them become joyful, generous givers.
The pressure to provide for the needs of the ministry leads many to settle for secular techniques to get people to give money. Authors Scott Rodin and Gary Hoag demonstrate that ultimately this is an issue of faith. Rather than trust God to provide, we take matters into our own hands. It's no wonder that often askers feel awkward and givers feel abused.
What can a leader do to encourage Christian generosity? "The Sower: Redefining the Ministry of Raising Kingdom Resources" offers an alternative approach based on three biblical assumptions:
- Generous giving is not predicated solely on the work of an individual or an organization's efforts, but rather on God's work in people.
- Generosity flows from transformed hearts as they are conformed to the image of Jesus Christ, who is generous.
- Christian resource raising is not solely about securing transactions or gifts; rather, it is about encouraging spiritual transformation -- helping people become givers who are rich toward God.
"'The Sower' is a go-to book for organizations seeking not only to thrive in uncertain economic times, but also to encourage Christians to be blessed through the act of giving," said ECFA President Dan Busby. "As Jesus talked about money and the Christian's relationship to it more than any other topic, it's only fitting that the first book in the new ECFA publishing line be one that provides practical insights for leaders who want to encourage Christian generosity," added Senior Vice President Wesley Willmer.
"I am encouraged to see this quality publication that defines development work as ministry in the Kingdom of God that replaces manipulative transactional techniques and closing strategies with a dependence on prayer and relationship-building as the essential tools for success," said Howard Dayton, co-founder of Crown Financial Ministries. "The authors call us to our appropriate roles to sow faithfully, and then wait and hope and believe."
Other endorsers include: John Ashmen, Rebekah Burch Basinger, Craig Blomberg, Sung Wook Chung, Melinda Delahoyde, Steve Moore, Todd Harper, Brian Kluth, Patrick Johnson, Elisa Morgan, Adam Morris, Joseph Stowell, G. Craig Williford and David Wills.
"The Sower" is available for purchase at www.ecfa.org. Pre-orders are available for $12.99 for a limited time.
ECFA, founded in 1979, provides accreditation to leading Christian nonprofit organizations that faithfully demonstrate compliance with the ECFA standards pertaining to financial accountability, fund-raising and board governance. For more information about ECFA, including information about accreditation and a listing of ECFA-accredited members, visit www.ecfa.org or call 1-800-323-9473.
To schedule an interview with authors Scott Rodin and Gary Hoag or an executive staff member of ECFA, contact Ty Mays at (770) 256-8710 or tmays@inchristcommunications.com.
