Share Magazine - issue 15

share

the stewardship magazine 15

when generosity breaks through Haiti: the response Money: defying the stereotype Your Best Life Later: Francis Chan on giving transforming generosity

about us

We are Stewardship, a charity that does not need your money. Rather, our mission is to enable you to live and give generously, and advance God’s Kingdom.

We believe that generosity is transformational, for the giver and for the receiver. Our work inspires and supports a generous resourcing community, with transformational results.

We are delighted to partner with you in your journey of generosity.

contact us PO Box 99, Loughton, Essex, IG10 3QJ tel: 020 8502 5600 email: enquiries@stewardship.org.uk web: www.stewardship.org.uk You can contact the editor by emailing editor@stewardship.org.uk Editor: Craig Borlase Design: www.adeptdesign.co.uk

Stewardship is the operating name of Stewardship Services (UKET) Limited, a registered charity in England and Wales no.

234714 and a company limited by guarantee no. 90305

2

At a recent staff fellowship meeting I heard something that made me stop. And it made me think.

Barrie – one of our team – was talking about the source of all this transformational generosity we are so fond of discussing at Stewardship. He opened up the Bible at 2 Corinthians 5 and read: “For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.” (verses 14 and 15) When we talk about transforming generosity we’re well aware of its dual meaning – how we want to help release Christians to live and give generously, as well as to see the transformational impact of that giving on the life of the giver. But it’s this third aspect that’s in my head right now – the fact that all of this giving and changing that we get so excited about is only made possible by the grace and sacrifice of our Heavenly Father. We can talk about transformation because He has made the biggest change of them all. We look out because He chose to come to us. We give because He gave first.

With Easter just behind us it is right and it is good to be reminded of this. Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection are the lifeblood that powers all that we do. Take a close look at the articles in your hands and you will see the evidence for yourself. There are stories of individuals who give and organisations that transform, tales of hope in the midst of horror and change delivered where it is desperately needed.

And behind every one of these stories is the truth that all of this was set in motion when Jesus took to the cross and exited the tomb.

So, I hope you enjoy these stories that we at Stewardship have been privileged to gather. I hope you feel inspired to live out your own with even greater volume. There are 34,000 of you in our community of givers – what is your story?

And if you would like to see the whole of Barrie’s message about transforming generosity, go to our blog on the home page of www.stewardship.org.uk.

Yours, David Jones Chief Executive, Stewardship

the third way “For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again”.

(2 Corinthians 5:14-15)

Features...

6-10 Talking money with Clergy

12-13 Bowling Balls and Bibles: how one church is looking ahead

14-17 Haiti: how generosity brought hope

26-27 Modern day Philanthropists

The magazine is printed on paper from farmed forests: for each tree felled, another is planted.

The paper is ­­­­chlorine-free and environmentally friendly.

3

what’s your story?

In the last edition of Share magazine we asked you to tell us what inspired you to consider planned giving. The response was overwhelming. Here’s a selection:

To understand how I started to plan my giving I need to give a little history. There were two of us, both friends, both teachers, similar ages, same length of service, same school.

Janice had a deep faith in Jesus; I was taking some time out. We stopped working at the same time, giving up decent salaries. I depended on my husband to provide; she looked to the Lord. I stayed at home awaiting motherhood; she went overseas to live by faith.

soup from seasonal produce at the market. It was then that planned giving crossed my mind. I realised that by planning my giving, I’d help her plan her living! Once the penny dropped I put the money aside each month. I then discovered Stewardship; who support Christian workers, including Janice; I partner with Stewardship to support Janice now. I have been delighted by the service. It is quick, easy and efficient.

I admired what my friend was doing, but did not offer regular financial support.

She never complained about her tougher circumstances; I mostly thought about my own.

If I earned a little extra money from supply work, I’d send her a cheque.

Hazel Lee, Worcestershire

Years later when she returned we met up. She told me how she’d used my occasional gifts to make and freeze

Hazel (right) and Janice

10

These and 17 other readers were winners of a Stewardship Bible. For your chance to win a copy of Francis Chan’s book ‘Crazy Love’, turn to page 18

I realised that by planning my giving, I’d help her plan her living!

I learned the discipline of tithing after becoming a Christian 30 years ago. With a young family to take care of and a husband on a fairly low wage, it wasn’t always easy, but putting God first was important and he always provided for all our needs.

Over the years, I developed interests in various Missionary Societies and wanted to give towards their work as well as my local church, so money was put aside and given when prompted.

Recently, both my parents died, leaving us a reasonable inheritance. I then discovered

I was inspired by the wonderful example of my parents-in-law.

They were poor by today’s standards, yet every week they would set aside their tithe for the Lord’s work, whatever their needs for everyday living. This regular giving of their tithe was their top priority, and they would sometimes give offerings over and above that. They taught me by their practice the Biblical principle of tithes and sacrificial giving beyond tithing.

Stewardship and found this to be a wonderful organisation. I opened an account with a tithe from my inheritance, and now top it up from our income. My donation requests to mission work are sent regularly by Stewardship, and there is always enough money for extra gifts or emergencies such as the recent Haiti earthquake.

Some people give all their tithe to the local church, but I see Stewardship as my ‘storehouse’, as it says in Malachi 3:10. God has proved this to me time and time again. Praise His Name!

I see Stewardship as my ‘storehouse’

Margaret Vaughan, Wales

of tithes and offerings on a planned basis. Monthly direct debit for the bulk of our giving is a real help in this. We also have some available for emergency relief and other needs which present themselves, and we keep our giving under regular review.

The Lord is always faithful, and He meets our needs. In our turn we have opportunities for teaching and encouraging others in planned giving, and my beloved and departed parents-in-law are still an inspiration to me.

They have both passed into the Lord’s presence, and my wife and I throughout our The Reverend Peter Levell, 46 years of marriage have practised those same principles Surrey

The Lord is always faithful, and He meets our needs

You too can have a giving fund. It’s simple, easy and all you have to do to get started is contact us at enquiries@stewardship.org.uk 11

striking out for the kingdom

We didn’t have a penny in our bank account, but we had a heart for connecting with our community

The Council bought the 2.7 acre site and in a remarkable act of generosity transferred it to the church free of charge 12

Massive press coverage of a church and its activities isn’t always a particularly good thing. Too often the headlines seem to do more harm than good. However, Carmarthenbased Towy Community Church’s (TCC) plan to build and run a bowling alley in a disused cheese factory has caught the imagination of the press and resulted in very positive media coverage. Ruth Leigh found out more.

was the obvious place to go.

“We have received fantastic pearls of wisdom from Stewardship,” recalls Mark.

“They have been a key part of our endeavours over the years, always generous with their time and advice.”

They believe in us, and really think we can do a good job

County Council. “This is a hugely encouraging and bold venture by the church to help the economic and social development of the community,” enthuses Councillor Clive Scourfield.

Mark has been encouraged by the Council’s enthusiastic support of TCC’s work.

“They believe in us, and really think we can do a good job.”

Working in partnership with the Council, the church Rewinding nine years, Senior TCC was aware that Johnstown is planning a £2 million first phase of the bowling Leader Mark Bennett recalls had a long-held desire for alley development which planting the church in a bowling alley, so after is innovative, exciting and Johnstown. “We stepped out prayerful consideration, they crucially, sustainable. A in faith,” he explains. “We took the bold step of applying projected annual income of didn’t have a penny in our for funding to build an alley £200,000 will help to support bank account, but we had a for the use of the entire community projects on site heart for connecting with our community. Mark had already and pay salaries for the 20 community.” The town was spotted an old factory site affluent but had pockets of which he thought would make jobs being created. The site will house a conference poverty. TCC began to the ideal base for community venue, a café, a lunch club for engage with the community’s projects. The church had an senior citizens, a Foodbank, practical needs by running excellent relationship with performing arts centre and a debt centre, a Christmas Carmarthenshire County furniture recycling facility. The hamper scheme and a centre Council, so Mark approached doors will open towards the for performing arts for them to discuss his idea. The end of this year. young people.

Council bought the 2.7 acre site and in a remarkable act of Towy Community Church’s All this needed sound generosity transferred it to the vision has always been to support. Mark already had a church free of charge. serve others in a relevant and longstanding relationship with practical way. In modelling Stewardship. “They’d helped “We’re in the spotlight,” generous and transformational us with insurance and building says Mark. “People are service to their community, projects at our previous church. intrigued about the concept they will no doubt continue to I would often ring for advice.” of a church operating as we make the papers for all the When the church decided to do.” This attitude extends to right reasons. set up a Trust, Stewardship members of Carmarthenshire

Find out more at www.towychurch.co.uk For charity formation service and to take advantage of our consultancy helpline, contact Stewardship by emailing enquiries@stewardship.org.uk 13

Haiti: the story beyond the story January 12th 2010. 4.53pm. Sixteen miles west of Port au Prince. Three million affected. One million left homeless. Over 200,000 dead. These are the facts of the tragedy that struck Haiti at the start of the year. Yet these familiar figures only tell one side of the story of the earthquake that brought even greater suffering on a country scarred by poverty.

The other side of the story is one that we have witnessed at first hand. We have seen your generosity drive you to remarkable responses, your giving accounts glowing with activity within hours of news of the earthquake breaking. And we have heard reports back from those at work in Port au Prince and around Haiti of how your giving has allowed them to deliver vital aid and support where it is needed most.

‘All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.’ While nobody really knows who first wrote this, the truth that these fifteen words reveal is undisputed. When we disengage from the world, life gets worse for others.

14

But if this is true, then the reverse is equally valid: when we choose to face the problems that surround us, when we engage our compassion, when we show love for our neighbour, then justice triumphs and hope ascends.

The Response Taking a look at the figures easily tells the story, especially when you compare giving from Stewardship accounts in the earthquake’s aftermath with the same time the year before. During the first four weeks of 2009 you asked us to give £64,284.94 to Tearfund, World Vision and Christian Aid – three of the best known >

When we engage our compassion, when we show love for our neighbour, then justice triumphs and hope ascends

r ice

Photos: Samaritan’s Purse

ur

15

“It was five weeks after the earthquake and it was clear that the response from other countries had already made a significant impact.

A couple of weeks before our trip there were still dead bodies lying around, but by the time we got there the focus had shifted away from the immediate effects of the earthquake. Because of the generosity of the response, the focus now is on building for Haiti’s future.”

Giving increased by more than £250,000 in response to the Haiti earthquake

such as the Haiti earthquake.

I can make a donation just by sending a request by email or phone, no need to write a cheque or credit card.”

> development charities.

During the same four week period in 2010 – with news of the earthquake breaking at end of the second week – those three charities received £219,890.36 from Stewardship – an increase of over £155,000.

Richard Miles – another account holder – uses Stewardship for his giving.

“It is a convenient way of maximising the amount available for charities. I normally allow a small surplus to accumulate so that I am able to respond to such emergencies or other appeals.”

Broaden the search to include the Disasters Emergency Commission and other agencies such as Samaritan’s Purse and CAFOD and the figure gets even higher: giving increased by more than £250,000 in response to the Haiti earthquake.

For account holders like Sonia James, giving with Stewardship made perfect sense: “I save money each month in my account for emergencies 16

The Result In spite of the near-total devastation and early chaos that followed, aid has managed to get through, saving lives and building hope.

Returning from a recent trip to deliver medical supplies to hospitals and clinics around the country, Ian Cattle (a production and logistics consultant) was moved by what he saw:

The Challenge There is no doubt that the earthquake struck a chord with people, and the Church has responded with compassion and commitment. But as the news cycle shifts to cover other events, have we done our bit?

Is it time to move on?

Speaking at the recording of a recent charity single with other Gospel artists, Graham Kendrick thinks not.

He described the challenge – as he sees it – that Haiti represents: “We see the news, we feel it and are aware of the suffering, but then we forget. This is one of those situations that is going to test us in the long term: is Haiti going to become another forgotten place?”

There are millions of those ‘good men and women’ in action today – and we are privileged to offer a giving service to over 34,000 of them.

10m UN

Central emergency response fund

570m

636m

Top 32 countries

Other countries

363m

26m 45m

100m

European Commission

Worldbank

Haiti Earthquake: Who’s given what?

Most cash?

$ million dollars

Most giving per person?

(By total population)

Most generous? % country earnings (GDP)

Private individuals & organisations

(24th Jan 2010)

US 168m

Canada 131m

Spain 45m

UK 32m

France 31m

Canada $3.89

Sweden $2.51

Norway $2.16

Denmark $2.05

Finland $1.48

Guyana 0.088%

Ghana 0.018%

Canada 0.0087%

Sweden 0.0048%

Estonia 0.0043%

Is Haiti going to become another forgotten place?

Measuring Generosity Interestingly, a recent study of the responses from individual countries showed that while individuals in the USA gave the most amount of money during the first two weeks after the disaster (a colossal $168million – with the UK fourth at $32million), the most generous people were among those with the very least to give: Guyana and Ghana both gave the most when measured as a percentage of country earnings. The UK came thirteenth in the world.

(Source: Guardian Datablog)

Source: www.informationisbeautiful.net

International contributions

Essential Access Allan Guinan, Managing Director of philanthropy consultancy firm Guinan Associates, has recently returned from an assessment visit to Haiti and has seen some remarkable work on the ground: “I’m currently placing a number of grants, one in particular for $22,500 with a national microfinance group to launch a mobile banking service. Given that the banking infrastructure has been largely decimated in the areas around the quake epicentre, what banks that remained were soon completely overrun.

Many people were unable to access either their savings or money being sent by friends and family overseas.

Launching this mobile bank branch will overcome these problems and allow people to purchase food and much needed materials for rebuilding. It will also provide financial literacy training as people are waiting in the queue. The mobile bank will allow between 250 and 350 people each day to make withdrawals, so the $22,500 over the first three months will help an estimated 19,000 direct beneficiaries.” www.guinan.org.uk

To establish your fund to respond to future needs like this, talk to us now on 020 8502 8560 17

legal & financial roundup What’s new, what’s changed and what’s vital in the world of church and charity finance

£

££

New PAYE Penalty regime from April 2010 From 6 April 2010, a new penalty regime will apply to the late payment of tax and National Insurance collected via the PAYE system, for payments due to be made from May 2010 onwards. The current system will continue to penalise late payments due at the end of the tax year, but the new rules will be extended to payments of tax due to be made during the course of the tax year.

The level of the new penalties will depend on the number of times payments are made late in the tax year. And ‘late’ means as little as one day late. The first late payment in the year will not attract a penalty. But penalties that are chargeable will be charged on the total amount that is paid late in the tax year (ignoring the first late payment). The more offences that there are, the higher the percentage penalty. Very late payments will attract additional charges.

20

HMRC will not be sending out penalty notices for tax year 2010–11 until April 2011 and so it will be possible to go through a whole year and be unaware that a penalty or penalties will be charged.

Clients of Stewardship’s payroll service can rest easy: all payments will be made on time. If your charity is not yet a payroll client and you would like further details, please go to www.stewardship.org.uk/ smartweb/support-services/ payroll-bureau or give Steven Rumens a call on 020 8502 8574.

50% income tax rate Individuals with over £150,000 taxable income will, from 6 April 2010, be liable to the ‘additional rate’ of tax of 50%. For these taxpayers, gift aid donations are now even more cost effective with their personal tax relief now being worth £37.50 for every £100 donated. And this is in addition to the £25 that the charity can reclaim. Transitional relief adds another £3.21 until 5 April 2011. So for £62.50, you can give £128.21 to charity.

Further details are in a Briefing Paper on the Resources Section of our website.

Higher rate tax payers find Stewardship’s giving account particularly helpful in making the most of tax reliefs.

Find out more by calling 020 8502 8560

£

Personal allowances for those earning over £100,000

£

Individuals with adjusted net income of over £100,000 will see some or all of their personal allowances withdrawn from 6 April 2010. For every £2 earned in excess of £100,000, £1 of personal allowance will be withdrawn.

Assuming a personal allowance for 2010/11 of £6,475, those earning more than £112,950 will have a nil allowance.

The good news is that gift aid can come to the rescue!

Gross gift aid payment can reduce adjusted net income.

So taxpayers who can make gift aid payments to reduce income below £112,950 will be able to ‘reclaim’ some or all of their personal allowance. The effective tax relief from doing this is 60%: A taxpayer with an income of £112,950 can give £12,950 to charity at a cost of only £5,180. The charity will also receive transitional relief on top of this. For further details see the Briefing Paper on the Resources Section of our website.

Energy Performance Certificates Landlords of commercial buildings are required to provide EPCs for any new letting. There is an exception for buildings being used as places of worship. If however you are letting part of the building for non-church use you should arrange for an EPC, as well as considering planning permission, business rates and building regulations. If in doubt, Giles Arnold, our Property Service Manager will be pleased to assist.

Gift Aid tax claims – new time limit A reminder that from 1 April 2010, the time limit for Gift Aid tax reclaims by charities was reduced from 6 years to 4 years.

Further detail is given in our Briefing Paper ‘Gift Aid Claims – Reduced time limits from 1 April 2010’ available from the resources section of our website.

The CIO’s slow birth continues Despite previously announced timetables, the CIOs for both England & Wales, and Scotland will not now be with us until the end of 2010, possibly into 2011.

Kevin Russell, Stewardship’s Technical Director

For the very latest news, subscibe to our Legal Eagle bulletin from our website. www.stewardship.org.uk 21

giving lessons Stewardship’s new teaching material – ‘Seasons of Giving’ – helps get to grips with one of the subjects we often struggle to talk about. Steve Pierce, Stewardship Head of Content, reports.

The problem with biblical teaching on money is that there is so much biblical teaching on money! Are we to bring our first fruits and rejoice in all the good things (Deuteronomy 26:11) or should we sell our possessions and give to the poor (Luke 12:33)?

The shared insight of these verses is generosity: giving that honours the Giver and serves the poor. The foolishness of the rich farmer in Jesus’ well known parable (Luke 12:13-21) is that both the vertical and the horizontal obligations of wealth are absent.

True giving is an act of self-liberation. It becomes one of the major achievements of our life.

seasons of giving week 2: Study questions on the rich fool

1 What prompted Jesus to tell the parable of the rich fool? Can you think of ways in which money can get in the way of relationships and why this might happen?

24

2 The wealthy man tears down perfectly good barns in order to build bigger ones.

How and why do we do this with our possessions?

3 Count up how many times the farmer uses the words ‘I’ and ‘my’.

What does it suggest about his attitude to his wealth and possessions and his relationship with God?

seasons of giving

to test our love

The new Stewardship Bible study resource, Seasons Of Giving, is written in the belief that generous giving is the key that unlocks so much of our relationship with money.

‘True giving is an act of self-liberation. It becomes one of the major achievements of our life.’ So says Henry Drucker and he is right.

Giving is a key part of our celebration of all God has entrusted to us, building resistance to selfish materialism. Giving gently tests the authenticity of our love (2 Corinthians 8:8). It shapes our character before God and the world.

Blending Bible study with illustrations of a remarkable modern parable of generosity ‘Seasons’ helps us explore how giving can transform our actions and attitudes around money: •G iving helps set us free from the love of money •G iving recognises God’s ownership of all we have •G iving is the hallmark of authentic discipleship •G iving is part of our stewardship responsibility before God.

Generous giving is the key that unlocks so much of our relationship with money

4 We can’t divorce our thinking about giving from the rest of our money.

What do you think the parable of the rich fool teaches us about: i) planning for the future? ii) enjoying good things in life? iii) Th e rights and wrongs of making money?

Seasons Of Giving is a fresh and creative fourweek bible study which will get small groups in the church talking and thinking about their giving and their discipleship around money.

The resource is available as a free download at www.stewardship.org.uk/money. Why not use it as a study session in your church before the summer break?

Download Seasons Of Giving, free from www.stewardship.org.uk/money

5 How might the local community suffer from the actions of the rich fool?

(Proverbs 11:26 might suggest a clue.) In what ways can wealth either blind us or open our eyes to our obligations to people living in poverty?

Subscribe to Money Talks, our bi-monthly ebulletin on money education for the Church.

25

not your average city traders Many would argue that 1970’s London was a city in trouble. For Dr John and Dorothy Davies – after 10 years service in Nepal and North India – it was the perfect urban mission opportunity. If only they could afford to live there.

Words by Daniel Jones, Photography by Dave Russell.

When they returned from Nepal in 1970 they had no capital, no proof of income and absolutely no way to get started in London as they hoped.

Fast forward 40 years and John and Dorothy Davies are now, as retired Senior Citizens, finally living out this long held vision with

transformational results. We catch a few minutes on the phone to talk about their story, but time is scarce as Dorothy is busy preparing a curry lunch to bid farewell to some friends about to return for their annual stint in Nepal.

The energy, passion and drive of this couple is quite

The irony of retiring from Frinton on Sea to London is not lost on the couple, but as Dorothy shares, this is where their giving gets integrated with living.

26

remarkable and there is not much sign of slowing down. For proof just look at how and to whom they give: “Our priorities at present,” says Dorothy “are overseas mission, urban mission, resourcing the church,

resourcing those working for the church, resourcing London churches by helping to house their key workers, and personal support for individual Christians dependent on regular donations.”

Where possible they make full use of their Stewardship account to manage this giving, “At our stage in life it relieves us of the hassle and burden of making gifts, so we can be free to use our time in other ways.”

Back in 1970, and settling at the seaside (Clactonon-Sea, followed by Frinton-on-Sea, to be precise) seems like an unusual move for aspiring urban missionaries. But for the Davies it was a crucial stepping stone

e

Green. The irony of retiring from Frinton on Sea to London is not lost on the couple, but as Dorothy shares, this is where their “We moved to Frintongiving gets integrated On-Sea where I was with living. As blessed to be able to Dorothy shares, “if you establish a Christian want to do more than medical practice.” just give, if you want John continues: “This to be envisioned then provided us with a it is good to be – if at serious income to all possible – among direct to focused the people you have giving – much of it a heart to support”. related to London That’s exactly where our hearts were where God led them. still set.”

And that is exactly On John’s final what the Davies retirement from are now doing. medicine in 2002 they Remembering their sold their home and heartache of not headed to Bethnal having the resources to minister to the city of London in 1970, and, in hindsight, the laying of foundations for something much bigger than they could have imagined.

the couple with five others of like mind set up ACHAL, the Affordable Christian Housing Association Limited. That was in 1988 so their legacy over the years would be the provision of affordable accommodation for Christian workers in London who would otherwise “be squeezed out of London because prices were beyond them.” Over 22 years others have come on board with finance and management and God has enabled many to stay on to serve in London by having accommodation

At our stage in life (our Stewardship giving account) relieves us of the hassle and burden of making gifts, so we can be free to use our time in other ways.

provided. 2010 has become another significant milestone as a Chief Executive Officer has just been appointed for ACHAL. With our time nearly through, it is John who has the last word: “Our account with Stewardship has meant we can be focused to give where it counts. Living in London helps us pray and support those committed to serve God here. Our latest thrill is the football club for young homeless men; some with addictions helped practically, others have come to faith. And seeing five young couples being married and committed to stay in London; our heart is with the next generation! It is a wonderful, vibrant life for which we praise God!” For more information on ACHAL visit www.achal.org.uk

If you, like the Davies, want to make your giving simpler, better organised and more fun – our giving accounts are just the job.

Visit www.stewardship.org.uk/give 27

Road tax?

Nope! So efficient we actually reclaim the tax!

Get a grip on what moves you – let us check the pressure

Enough room for your church, favourite Christian and secular charities – with room left over for friends in the field

Powers your generosity efficiently

Keep it topped up for emergencies and one-off giving needs

at

you’v

e read?

w: www.stewardship.org.uk t: 020 8502 8560 e: giving@stewardship.org.uk

L ik e w h

grab yourself a great vehicle for generous giving: the stewardship giving account

Pa ! ss it on