March 2025
Creating a New Culture of Stewardship
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”
(1 Peter 4:10)
Have you ever found it difficult to embrace something new because of preconceived notions or past misconceptions? If so, one of those notions might be the word stewardship. We often associate stewardship with finances, especially in the church, where it is frequently linked to offerings. Such associations can create hesitation or even reluctance toward the term. I, too, had similar experiences in my early faith journey.
For new believers seeking God or those cautiously renewing their faith after past hurts, offerings can be a beautiful sign of gratitude. However, I have come to realize that they can also become an obstacle if misunderstood. That is why I want to clarify the true meaning of stewardship and help cultivate a renewed culture of stewardship within our church and faith communities.
While praying about this, I received a proposal last year from the Wisconsin Foundation to create a Stewardship Task Force Team. I shared this idea with the church council, along with the Wisconsin Foundation’s recommendation, and as a result, each of our parish’s individual churches formed their own Ministry Task Force Teams, or T.F. Teams.
Some may wonder what these teams are and what their role is. The Wisconsin Conference Foundation recommended their formation, particularly since we received the Equitable Compensation Grant (ECG) for two years—$4,636 in 2023 and $3,200 in 2024. By God’s grace, these grants, along with support from two churches, helped Atlas Church overcome a financial crisis. Given this, our Administrative Council decided to apply for the Stewardship Challenge Grant (SCG) this year, establishing T.F. Teams in individual churches as part of that process.
However, as I shared during our Stewardship Sermon Series in February, stewardship is not just about financial giving. Stewardship is about growing in the core faith that God is the owner of our very lives. Everything we have—our bodies, time, ideas, wisdom, imagination, energy, health, compassion, senses, talents, loved ones, and resources—is a gift from God. Recognizing that these gifts come from Him and using them for His glory is the true essence of stewardship. Stewardship is about care, justice, and love.
1 Peter 4:10 reminds us of this responsibility: “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” This passage teaches that stewardship extends beyond finances. It involves managing all of God’s grace—our talents, time, and resources—in ways that serve others.
Let’s think How We Could Live Out Stewardship. Here are my suggestions:
- Identify Your Gifts – Reflect on what you have received from God. What talents, skills, or abilities do you have? How can you use them to serve the church, your loved ones, and your community?
- Commit to Giving Beyond Finances – Consider tithing not just money, but also your time, energy, talents, and resources to God’s work. This could mean volunteering in your community, reading the Bible, worshiping, praying, shoveling snow for a neighbor, offering a helping hand, or caring for wildlife.
- Embrace Generosity as a Way of Life – True tithing isn’t just about Sunday offerings; it’s about how we live daily. It supports God’s kingdom—feeding the hungry, sustaining ministries, and extending grace to those in need.
Each T.F. Team within our parish has applied for the SCG and been approved. Now, their mission is to create a new culture of stewardship in both the church and the community. However, this cannot happen without your involvement and support.
Let us walk together with the T.F. Teams, remembering that we are all called by God to be faithful stewards of His grace.
Blessings!
Pastor Jenny