Introduction to Grace of Giving

But just as you excel in everything –

in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us –

see that you also excel in this grace of giving.”

(2 Cor. 8:7)

We believe that God has something truly special in store for Immanuel. The Grace of Giving Campaign has begun, and it promises to give our church family an opportunity to focus both upon our Lord’s extravagant generosity and our response to it. Grace of Giving is so much more than a capital campaign. It is, of course, designed to raise funds for the enhancement of our worship space and provide for other necessary financial and facility needs (see the Case Statement). Its more important purpose, however, is to lead us deeper into His Word that He might strengthen our faith. It is our deep conviction that if we achieve our stated financial target but do not grow in faith, we have failed. The primary purpose of Grace of Giving is not to raise money; it is to raise faith.

Each of us is being asked to reflect upon God’s generosity and prayerfully consider our priorities as they pertain to our managing of God’s resources. None of us are immune to the idolatrous pull of creature comforts. We are being given opportunity to examine the place that money and its purchases have on our heart-strings, and to measure that against the exciting opportunities that this campaign has placed before us.

Sacrificial giving is never easy. It is never comfortable. But we on the Campaign Leadership Team believe that our meager sacrifice will help us to focus more intently these three years upon His far greater sacrifice on the cross. Our fervent prayer is that God will use these next weeks and months to gift us all with His grace – first the grace of His giving and then the grace of ours.