Each December Pam and I review our tithes for the calendar year. It's very easy to miss some giving throughout the year, so we want to make sure we've given at least our full tithe and honor any other commitments we’ve made. As we were doing this again this year, I felt prompted to share our perspective with you. I also recently shared this with our staff and elders as well, as it is important that we lead by putting our faith into action. This is a personal note to share with you something extremely important to me, but it is also foundational to Wellspring.

Giving, and specifically tithing (giving to the Lord a tenth of our income), is much more than a percentage. It is a posture of humility and gratitude. For me, I know God provides all I need. More significantly, this means I truly have no fear or doubt about provision. I am always confident in the Lord and at genuine peace. There is nowhere else I want to be. There's nowhere else I'll choose to live.

I also know without a doubt that tithing (and giving in general) keeps my heart and mind in the proper relationship with God. It keeps an open channel to the flow of God's provision and his love. It allows me to be a steward of God's resources here on earth. There is no end to his resources and there is no better place than in the middle of his care. This is not a matter of how much we have, but how much we trust the Lord to be our provider.

As your pastor, I want the best for you. I want you to enjoy that same confidence of provision and the peace it brings. Pam and I have truly learned to rely on it. The challenge is to hold to this perspective on tithing and not let it slip from consciousness. The principle of tithing is not about being comfortable. It's about honoring God and recognizing he is our ultimate provision and peace. That is why, in a very practical step, Pam and I always use December to check our records for the year. We want to make sure we're staying true to our belief and make sure our giving honors God. Sometimes it stretched our faith, but whenever we stretch our faith, we always find God faithful.

I love the family of Wellspring, and I take seriously the responsibility to shepherd this ministry. We all know there have been financial challenges this past year. We are grateful that with committed giving, necessary adjustments, and most of all God’s faithfulness, we are ending the year covering all our expenses and maintaining all our ministries. For this we praise God and we thank you. We will continue to put our confidence in the Lord and his purposes for Wellspring. May your personal faith and trust in God continue to grow deep roots, so that your life in him will be full and complete.