When I was a child, every Sabbath my parents would stuff bills in my hand and often remind me, “We need to be good examples of giving.” Every Sabbath without fail, I’d see $10s, $20s or $50s come out of my parents’ pockets and go into the offering plate. My folks were very poor, but oddly our family always seemed to have an abundance of material possessions. Now that my folks have a bit more in life, I see hundreds coming out of their pockets for offering. My parents have always been a shining beacon of giving, and the Lord has blessed them for their persistent generosity.
Today we hope to find equally generous folks to support our website.
ADvindicate started as a means of encouragement to those who desire biblical perspectives on current issues facing our church, and we have been blessed with a growing readership and financial support for our small needs.
However, as we expand, our financial needs are growing. We are currently raising funds for booths at ASI and GYC, which includes travel and lodging expenses for volunteers, as well as registration and booth fees. In the longterm, we’d like consistent sponsorship in order to pay writers and attend annual conventions.
Calls for freewill giving can seem endless, but every time I think of giving, chapter 50 in Patriarchs and Prophets gives me a radical perspective. Ellen White describes the Hebrews giving one fourth of their income for religious and charitable purposes. Yes, one fourth, not the traditional tenth and some occasional pocket change for offering. And what’s really interesting is they did not have to be urged. They gave cheerfully out of a full heart of love for God’s work.
I use that example as inspiration and motivation to get us on a solid track of good stewardship in general. We should give with joy, because we have already received.
Mrs. White said in the same chapter, “So heavy a tax upon the resources of the people might be expected to reduce them to poverty; but, on the contrary, the faithful observance of these regulations was one of the conditions of their prosperity .... Should the people of God give less in this age? .... The work of the gospel, as it widens, requires greater provision to sustain it than was called for anciently; and this makes the law of tithes and offerings of even more urgent necessity now than under the Hebrew economy.”
ADvindicate is growing, and desires to impress people of the power of God’s Word, which shows His love, plan and expectations, while shining light on unsound doctrine. We desire to share God’s love and the truth of His last day church.
We invite you to share the means God has provided you for spreading the gospel. In response to the blessings you have received from God through ADvindicate, we invite you to bring your gifts. As my parents would say, be good examples of giving.
To contribute online, click here, or to mail a donation, P.O. Box BH, Beaumont, CA 92223. Checks should be made out to ADvindicate.
--Mary Hilde is ADvindicate's treasurer.