Plan and implement a BALANCED GIVING PORTFOLIOWhen you give even a dollar to Reaching People far from God you are giving to support training programs for women and children, fresh water wells and water systems, evangelism, recording of the Bible for illiterate listeners, Christian radio station design, development along with program production and broadcasting. Our global partners do these things all with a church planting DNA. Our partners represent a balanced portfolio of how we provide the gifts you provide. Planning is not difficult. You do it every day. Some early thoughts of mine include riding in the front seat of a small electric boat with my Uncle Ray on a little lake in Riverside, California. He new I wanted to steer the boat like he was. So he told me to take over. I was thrilled and after a few minutes he asked me a question and offered a suggestion; actually a requirement. He observed me turning the wheel back and forth too much, like all kids tend to do. The question was, “where do you want to go?” I pointed to the opposite shore. He said good! Pick a point over there and just steer to that point. He helped me create a down course vision. That is planning. Things smoothed out for all of the family in the boat. Another memory some years later was the year before my older brother Paul was going to be old enough to get his drivers license. As we sat in the back seat of the family car while going places in the city he called out the name of the streets we were passing and the streets that would come up next. He was memorizing the city street locations. I was amazed he knew so much. He told me he was going to need to know this when he started to drive. That is thinking ahead, planning for the future. Think of things like this that you see or do every day.Everyone earns, everyone spends, everyone should provide for themselves and family, everyone should save, everyone should spend less than they make and invest for financial stability. RULE ONE: spend less than you make. RULE TWO: you should give to help those in need. “In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of Jesus, that he Himself said, ‘it is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Acts 20:35 It must have been just as hard for people to give in that day, thousands of years ago like it is today. Perhaps it is even harder today because we live in a very consumptive society in America. As Phil Wiegand in his book KINGDOMNOMICS reminds us we need to live sensibly: “Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and do dishonor the name of my God.” Proverbs 30:8-9. To really do a good job at balancing all of life’s demands takes planning. As we assail through the seasons we need to keep in mind the importance of our focus on the eternal. Centuries ago the Apostle Paul penned; “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.” 2 Corinthians 5:20 I think he is saying we are not alone. He even shared his personal financial situation; “. . . I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Phillippians 4:11-13 Let’s consider evaluating just one of life’s financial considerations or demands or opportunities; GIVING. When we spend less than we earn we can save. In this financial condition we are free to allow God through the power and direction of the Holy Spirit to guide our GIVING. When we save and invest it is important to understand the importance of having a balanced investment portfolio. A portfolio that includes a strategy of combining investments in a portfolio that aims to balance risk and return. Typically, balanced financial portfolios are divided equally between stocks and bonds and larger estates include real estate and artwork. How about considering a planned GIVING portfolio? Years in the planning my wife and I created this ministry to support the variety of partner ministries we had worked with for over 25 years internationally. We operate with minimal administrative costs because we volunteer and do not have any paid staff. When you GIVE you are supporting a variety of ministries using culturally relevant methods to reach and teach their countrymen, women and children the good news of God’s love. As a career missionary with extensive experience in helping establish and monitor and consult with numerous indigenous ministries in a number of countries, we see opportunity to help them financially. As people GIVE we distribute it in a balanced portfolio of ways. Here are some highlights: Nepal Partner YWAM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoZeyTJScUM Morning Star Development - Operating medical clinics, training programs for women and leadership training schools, agriculture training programs and media outlets in a restricted third world country. Utah - Camp Utibaca - A year round camp focused on sharing the impact the life of Jesus can have on campers gathered to have an exciting and fun time away from the stressful routine of their daily lives. Prayerfully consider making a GIFT that will help you support a portfolio of valid internationally run ministries doing all they can to help build and strengthen the Kingdom of God each and every day in their countries.
Consider your RMD and give some awayPerhaps you might pray about the giving you plan to do this year. If you are over 70 1/2 years old, you can roll over your required distribution (RMD) from your IRA before the end of the year to help reduce your tax bill while advancing the Kingdom of God in places like the POGUWATU Village, Sumba, Indonesia. You can’t give to much the need is great.
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