28 March, 2024

Giving Matters

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by | 10 January, 2014 | 0 comments

By Rick Chromey

While in Africa, I was blessed to worship at the influential Himo church, affiliated with the conservative Evangelical Lutheran Church in Africa. I had never experienced an authentic African church service and found the contrast from my American church background and experience significant.

Every African places something in the offering, even fruits and vegetables, which are auctioned off after the service, along with such items as homemade brooms, animals, and anything of value. The proceeds are added to that day

Every African places something in the offering, even fruits and vegetables, which are auctioned off after the service, along with such items as homemade brooms, animals, and anything of value. The proceeds are added to that day”s offering.

The Himo church is a true megachurch, boasting more than 1,000 in weekly attendance (most African churches are under 100). Rogers Mtui, an ordained clergyman in the African Evangelical Lutheran Church, serves as pastor; his congregation is the largest in the Kilimanjaro district. Of all Protestant denominations, the Lutheran church is the biggest and most influential in Tanzania. The village of Himo is only a few thousand strong, so the church draws a large percentage of townsfolk.

I quickly learned the Himo church is a giving church.

In fact, the church makes giving fun. As per their tradition, men and women sit separately during worship, and when it”s time to present their offerings, they form two lines and respectfully walk to the front of the auditorium. Every African gives something. Most give cash in the form of shillings, from 500 (about 45 cents) to tens of thousands. The crumpled colorful bills are laid in large baskets that quickly fill to capacity. Those Tanzanians who have no cash will offer up something else of value: fruits and vegetables, homemade brooms, animals, or any personal item of value.

The worship concludes with a giant dance to the yard outside. As the band plays a lively tune, the worshippers are released row by row (starting at the back), and they dance out of church! It”s a celebration of life. Once everyone is gathered outside, the fun really begins. All the nonmonetary items brought as offerings are auctioned off. The funds raised are added to that day”s offering.

I learned from pastor Mtui the gifts are largely distributed back to help needy parishioners. As the only paid staff member, Mtui receives a part-time paycheck. The lion”s share of the church work is done by volunteers, while Mtui oversees the congregation and leads the leaders. The church itself is fairly quaint but functionable. One educational building was little more than concrete and a dirt floor. Mtui told me the church serves its people before fixing, repairing, or building. “The church is a body,” he said, “not a building.”

Because there are no government safety nets in Tanzania, the old, sick, and disabled depend on the assistance of others. The Himo church cares for every member as a mother cares for her children. If not for the Sunday gifts, many of these souls would face dire circumstance and early death. I may have witnessed the Acts church in action. “No needy persons among them,” Luke wrote in Acts 4:34, 35. Those who had money and possessions shared them.

 

Unnoticed, Unfunded
The American church could learn volumes from this Tanzanian congregation. Too often we pass the plate and the buck. We focus more on being hip than helping someone who needs a hip. We don”t dance with our offerings, and few people give regularly. In most churches the old saying is true: 20 percent give 80 percent of the money. We are addicted to staff and stuff. We”ll pour thousands into a room that”s used once a week or into a building that”s locked more than its unlocked.

Meanwhile, legitimate needs go unnoticed and unfunded.

Missionaries resort to begging. Christian colleges are forced to panhandle. Parachurch organizations struggle to complete their calling. In our communities, the homeless and helpless are overlooked except at Christmas or if there”s a tragedy.

A major attraction point to my Boise, Idaho, church is its outreach to the community. Foothills Christian Church is open every day and most evenings. Our church hosts neighborhood homeowner meetings, Toastmasters clubs, hunter safety classes, foster children events, sports leagues, and countless other community gatherings. Our food bank serves hundreds of hungry people with leftover perishable food distributed to all on Sunday morning. Our coffee bar (“Just Grounds”) funds local justice causes. Every September the church holds a community festival featuring games, live music, food, and fireworks.

Where your treasure lies, Jesus said, there your heart is found. I”m grateful for the generosity of Christians who personally support my work in Africa. American Christians are willing to give, but there”s still a disconnect between legitimate and tangible needs (like sending me to Africa) and dropping what amounts to a “service” tip in the offering plate.

A church that gives is full of givers.

The Africans gave out of gratitude and their poverty. They were thankful for God”s provision and protection. The church operated as a distribution point to those with needs. Wise leaders served to determine who received what and how much. The church gave to people first. With what was left over, church members might paint a wall or fix a leak.

American Christians often give out of guilt or greed and their prosperity. We can”t or won”t go, but we”ll gladly pay for someone else. We want a new worship center or gym so we”ll give to get it. And, yes, many also give with grateful hearts. But what if you knew your gift would help another church family eat this week? Or pay the prescriptions for your church”s elderly saints? Or cover an auto repair for a divorced woman sitting next to you? Would you be more likely to give (or give more)? I know I would.

And I”m guessing you would too.

 

Rick Chromey is a leadership edu-trainer, author, and 30-year veteran in church ministry who empowers leaders to lead, teachers to teach, and parents to parent. His website is www.rickchromey.com.

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