Money has a
dangerous power over much of our lives.
You may recall the Myth No. 3 Money matters most.
When we talk about stewardship in the church, the topic of money gets most of our focus. T is tendency makes sense since money helps fund mission, and money has a danger- ous power over much of our lives. While I’m all for holistic stew-
ardship, I admit that at the end of the day money matters. Yet, money may not matter most when address- ing young adults.
Correcting myth No. 3
Focus on generosity and the
variety of ways to give.
Jordan Elton, 22, a Lutheran in Washington, D.C., works for a non- profi t that engages young adults for social action. She cautioned: “Young adults defi nitely need a lot of con- vincing to get invested in a cause.” T at investment may not start
with a fi nancial giſt . Instead, young people may want to volunteer fi rst with an organization before giving. Elton says young people like to
know very clearly how their giſt would be used. “T at’s why I give and volunteer,” she said. “I like to see the progress that’s being made. At the end of the day, it wasn’t all me, but I can see what’s going on in this place.”
classic “three Ts” of stewardship: time, talent and treasure. For some young adults, investing time and talent comes before treasure. T e money may follow, but only aſt er a period of developing diff erent ways of giving. Similarly, many electronic giving
campaigns, including crowdfund- ing websites like Kickstarter or Indiegogo, encourage those asking for money to include videos with
compelling images and storytell- ing. When young adults can clearly envision where, or to whom, their money will go, they are more likely to give.
Free financial coaching and the challenge to tithe
I
n the fi rst six months of founding Jacob’s Well in Minneapolis, Greg Meyer, pastor, launched a sermon series on money. But it’s grown—the community’s focus on faith and fi nances continues with their fi nancial coaching program.
“Our coaches tend not to work as fi nancial advisers in their day jobs,” Meyer said, “but they know how fi nances work. They’re people experts, not fi nancial experts.”
The congregation provides a connection to anyone in the faith community seek- ing a free fi nancial coach. The program features prominently on the congrega- tion’s website where biographies of different coaches are profi led. As opposed to some professional fi nancial advisers, coaches for Jacob’s Well promise not to sell any services.
The coaches do receive training, and as one explains, “The ideas might come from both of us, but the solutions will be yours to own. … I’m here to support and encourage you and act as a sounding board as you pursue your own align- ment goals.”
Meyer said the coaches are meant to be “persistent in a friendly way.”
In one of the sermon series on money, Meyer encouraged everyone in the con- gregation who didn’t tithe (give 10 percent of one’s income to the church) to try it for three months. But there was a catch: “Don’t give your money to us,” Meyer said, “tithe someplace else that matches with your values.”
Meyer wanted to be clear that tithing isn’t about getting the congregation money, but “it’s about you and your relationship with money. So try it and see what you think.”
He believes tithing has a positive effect on people’s lives. “If we help people experience that,” Meyer said, “then the support comes.”
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