Stewardship Field TrainingTrans-European Division

Stewardship, Planned Giving & Trust Services AdvisoriesIceland, June 18-20, 2012

Erika F Puni, PhDStewardship Ministries DirectorGeneral Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

To broaden church leaders and members understanding of Christian stewardship

To bring about a positive change in mind-set and behavior of leaders and members through intentional stewardship education

To empower and equip stewardship trainers and educators with Bible based material and relevant stewardship resources

Purpose and Objectives

Stewardship Advisory Target Audience

Stewardship specialists (Division, Union and Conference Directors)

Purpose of Advisory To provide opportunity for training,

resourcing, net-working, team building, reporting and consultation with field educators

To develop and adopt long-term plans for the Church as deemed necessary

Kinds of Training Programs

Stewardship Summit Target Audience

Church administrators and decision-makers (division, union and conference leaders; heads of institutions; selected pastors and lay leaders)

Purpose of Summit To provide ministry orientation, philosophy,

programs and resources for the purpose of making strategic plans for the appropriate organizational units and affiliated entities

To develop and adopt specific recommendations and plans for the Church in a given field/territory

Kinds of Training Programs

Stewardship Congress or Convention Target Audience

Open invitation to Church leaders, pastors and members (division, union and possibly conference)

Purpose of Congress or Convention To provide opportunity for training, resourcing, net-

working, worship and celebration of Christian stewardship through personal testimonies and stories of what God is doing in the lives of His people

To provide inspiration, encouragement and personal support with a focus on nurturing and witnessing

Kinds of Training Programs

Stewardship Seminars (full or half day)

Target Audience Conference sponsored training (open) for pastors

and local church leaders Purpose of Seminars

To provide short intense stewardship training for the benefit of the local church.

To create listening opportunities for local Conference leadership while sharing reports of progress and future plans of the Church

Kinds of Training Programs

Local Church

Pastor

Offering Plans

Information &Communication

Strategy

StewardshipEducation

Stewardship Strategy

Stewardship ProcessThe Biblical Foundation1. The Creatorship and Ownership of God2. The Redemptive Ministry of Christ3. The Lordship of Jesus4. The Call to Service and Discipleship

The Specifics of Financial Stewardship 5. The Returning of the Lord’s Tithe6. The Giving of Freewill Offerings

Stewardship Messenger(s)

“For the lips of a priest ought to preserve

knowledge, and from his mouth men should seek instruction-because he is

the MESSENGER of the Lord Almighty.” Malachi 2:7 (NIV)

Stewardship EducationThe Message of Malachi: God was calling Israel (both its leaders and people) to return to Him; to be faithful in their worship and covenant relationship with Him (Malachi 1:1-8; 2:11).

The Leadership Challenge: God admonishes priests to honor Him by being faithful to their sacred calling as “messengers” of His word to the people (Malachi 2:1-9).

Stewardship EducationTextual Observation: The role of the priest was to communicate clearly to the people the instructions and will of God - to love Him fully - and return to Him (Malachi 2:6).

Ministry Application: Our work as stewardship educators (pastors) is to challenge God’s people into a personal relationship with Jesus, and to remind them of their God-given responsibility as Christian stewards in the matter financial stewardship (returning of tithe and the giving of offerings).

Pastoral Leadership 1.Preaches on biblical stewardship2.Teaches financial stewardship3.Promotes tithe and offerings as

lifestyle4.Reports and affirm church

faithfulness5.Models leadership integrity by

example6.Lifts up Jesus and focus on the

heart7.Connects members to God’s

mission

Stewardship MessageGod made all things and He has sustained them by His power. As Creator God He owns everything including us – the totality of our human life and experience. This God – Jesus Christ - is Savior and King of the universe. As His subjects, we live for Him; and our purpose in life is to honor Him by surrendering our hearts and everything that we are and have to His control. As stewards of His kingdom, we’re also partners with Him in His mission in the world to make disciples of all peoples.