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Generous Thinking 
The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral, 
begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy. 
Instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it.
Through violence you may murder the liar, 
but you cannot murder the lie, nor establish the truth. 
Through violence you may murder the hater, 
but you do not murder hate. 
In fact, violence merely increases hate. 
So it goes. 
Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, 
adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. 
Darkness cannot drive out darkness: 
only light can do that. 
Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.


     ~Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
In This Issue
Author Chat
Judson Press DISCOUNT
ESC New Stewardship Resource
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July 2016
 
 
I am sending out this edition of the Generosity newsletter to let you know about some upcoming events through the Ecumenical Stewardship Center, including an author chat with Melvin Amerson, author of Stewardship in African American Churches: A New Paradigm.  Information is below.  You can also view prior author chats, including one with ABCUSA pastor, consultant, and author Margaret Marcuson.  She is the author of many books and resources, including Money and Your Ministry: Balance the Books While Keeping Your Balance and Leaders Who Last: Sustaining Yourself and Your Ministry. Margaret says, "Money does not have to be the hardest thing you do at church." 

May summer's repose offer you its deepest gifts of time spent with family and friends, appreciating God's glory-filled creation, and connecting with God's restorative hand which is the source of our healing, peace, and justice.  

 Peace,
 
~Rev. Stacy Emerson
Stewardship Facilitator, Mission Resource Development
American Baptist Churches USA
 
Author Chat: Melvin Amerson

Join the July Author Chat Featuring Melvin Amerson, Author of Stewardship in African American Churches: A New Paradigm.  Melvin says, "When the church embraces the responsibility of living as faith managers of God's vast resources [as Psalm 24:1 teaches], the community of faith will prosper." The book includes developing a theology of generosity, defining stewardship leadership roles, celebrating the offering each week, and establishing endowment giving. 

ESC Author Chats provide opportunities to interact with thought leaders who have written some of the best books on faithful stewardship and generous giving. The Rev. Melvin Amerson, ordained minister in the United Methodist Church and Stewardship Services Consultant for the Texas Methodist Foundation, will be the guest author for the July Chat on Tuesday, July 26, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern time. There is no charge to participate in the Chats.


Judson Press DISCOUNT
Judson Press is providing stewardship resources at a DISCOUNT while supplies last!  Check out the link below for theme resources: Live Free, Fearless Generosity, Abundant Joy/Overflowing Generosity, New Love/New Mercy, I Have Called You Friends, and Dessert First: Celebrating God's blessings.

Check it out now while supplies last!


Live Simply
Live Simply, based on Philippians 4:11, is the theme for the stewardship resources published by the Ecumenical Stewardship Center. The Ecumenical Stewardship Center offers resources that together provide a creative, comprehensive, and thought-provoking approach to encourage faithful stewardship that leads to generous giving. Live Simply is the second of four planned themes that focus on 1 Timothy 6:18-19 and the phrase "take hold of the life that really is life."  Other themes are Live Free, Live Generously, and Live Courageously. Live Simply includes four sub-themes: Live Simply, Follow Jesus; Live Simply, Face the Truth; Live Simply, Act Together; and Live Simply, Share Enough.


Click here for ESC Live Simply







   
Peace,

Rev. Stacy Emerson, Stewardship Facilitator
Mission Resource Development
American Baptist Churches USA

American Baptists serving as the hands and feet of Christ


© 2014 Mission Resource Development, American Baptist Churches USA 
This resource is provided to you as a ministry of American Baptist Churches USA
 because American Baptists are united in mission through United Mission. 
Thank you for your gifts to United Mission!