Archive for September, 2021

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Acts 2:42

“The Seven-Day Generosity Challenge is an unusual book. It’s not the type of book that you read and quickly forget. This book inspires, challenges and changes you. God’s Word accompanied by the writers’ life stories is not dry theory. Because of the challenges at the end of each chapter, the biblical principles of generosity get implemented in our everyday lives. I am grateful to God and everyone who participated in making this valuable book possible. I am planning to use it in our ladies’ groups.”

Mariana Vakula serves in Kharkiv, Ukraine.

This testimony was collected by Mission Eurasia after Mariana went through the Seven-Day Generosity Challenge by Jon Wiebe, my friend and fellow stewardship author and administrator at MB Foundation.

I’ve been moved by the impact of this short devotional translated for Russian readers. It is inspiring, challenging, and bringing about change. Translation is what brought me together with Dr. Mykhailo (Michael) Cherenkov less than one year ago.

At that time, at GTP Yuri Boldirev, GTP Regional Facilitator for Eurasia, and I were praying for God to open doors in Eurasia. Then Mission Eurasia requested the rights translate The Sower, The Choice, and The Council in Russian. GTP freely provided these rights for publication in both Ukraine and Russia.

The translation should be completed by the end of 2021. Please pray for health and strength for the translators as they devote themselves to creating resources for people to study, much like the early church discussed and shared the teaching of the first apostles.

At GTP, we have resources, which we share freely, that aim to inspire, challenge, and bring about change. Mission Eurasia has a network to get them to people who will use them and share them with others. GTP may also provide training when the translations are done.

Today I meet with the Mission Eurasia staff in the morning. Then Dr. Mykhailo (Michael) Cherenkov, Mr. Don Parsons, Mr. Denys Gorenkov and I drive to the Black Sea and Odessa Theological Seminary. Graciously, they will lodge us for one night.

If the schedule seems full, know this: on my first visit to a country I let my host plan the days. I ask only that we gather to pray Psalm 2:8 on the first day we enter the country, and that we fast and pray about next steps on the last day. They plan the schedule. Tomorrow we enter Moldova.

During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. Acts 16:9-10

“The initiative to talk about generosity, sacrifice, and a biblical view on stewardship is very timely and is now discussed at seminars, presentations, and printed resources. We are grateful to our partners for making this resource available for our evangelical churches, pastors, and leaders. We hope that as we promote this course and its ideas it will help Christians to look at generosity in a new way and help for spreading the gospel and for the churches to grow different ministries. Our hope is that as we distribute these books it will be helpful to many churches in taking care of financial needs of the church and missions and grow in other ways of giving. Some leaders use this material in their small groups, in seminars at Christian conferences and meetings with Christian businessmen.”

Pavel Tokarchuk is a pastor in Moscow, Russia, who also serves with Mission Eurasia.

This testimony was collected by Mission Eurasia after Pavel went through the Seven-Day Generosity Challenge by Jon Wiebe, my friend and fellow stewardship author and administrator at MB Foundation.

In today’s Scripture, Paul and Silas had just enlisted Timothy to partner with them. They followed the Spirit’s leading to a new region, Macedonia. Lydia received them with generous hospitality, and they ministered to her and built her up in the Christian faith.

The Macedonians wanted help. The three served them fearlessly. When we partner and share resources, we must avoid giving handouts that create dependencies, but rather give a hand up to build disciples. That’s the fearless aim of GTP and our partner, Mission Eurasia!

So far, I have experienced receptive hearts and rich Ukrainian hospitality from saints like Lydia. If I were likened to the Apostle Paul, Dr. Mykhailo (Michael) Cherenkov would be Silas, and his colleague, Mr. Denys Gorenkov, serving with us like Timothy (and helping drive us around, too).

But this morning we changed our schedule. It reminds me of the pivot Paul, Silas, and Timothy had to make from Asia to Macedonia. Based on talks that started at the National Day of Prayer breakfast yesterday and continued last night, I have been invited to speak to a Baptist Union group.

Baptist Union serves 800 churches across Ukraine. I pray for ears to hear and wisdom to discern the needs of this context. Then later tonight, I will speak on “Nurturing Generosity and Sustainability” again (same topic as yesterday) but at another school, Kyiv Theological Seminary.

Sometimes pivots happen due to schedule changes. Other times it is linked to opposition, which is real in Eurasia. Pray for neighboring country, Belarus, and read this article in which Dr. Cherenkov was quoted only 2 days ago. Our brothers and sisters in Belarus are suffering and waiting on God for help. Lord have mercy.

As I said yesterday, reply if you want to receive a copy of my teaching handout in Russian and English. And as others have asked how they can help, click here to make a charitable gift to GTP to assist with this effort to train and resource national workers in Ukraine and Moldova or become a monthly giver. I am praying for people to stand with us at GTP as monthly givers.

And he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. Acts 3:5

“I found Seven-Day Generosity Challenge very compelling and encouraging. I loved the biblical view on finances and generosity in general. I feel like I was already living that life of generosity, but when you serve people all the time and give, you need to receive as well. And I received an encouraging message from the book. God spoke to me and helped me understand the depth of why I serve others. Ultimately, it’s all from Him and for Him.”

Aleksei Yuditsenko is the pastor of Heart for Christ MB Church in Berdyansk, Ukraine.

This testimony was collected by Mission Eurasia after Aleksei went through the Seven-Day Generosity Challenge by Jon Wiebe, my friend and fellow stewardship author and administrator at MB Foundation.

In today’s Scripture, the beggar was “expecting to receive” something from Peter and John. Do we have that posture? Without receiving we cannot live a lifestyle of generosity, for we will have nothing to give.

Along these lines, Yuditsenko makes a powerful point. Likely, he is a mature believer who shares and serves generously. But in doing further study, he learned they “why” behind all that he has received. Everything is from God and for God.

Because this is true, this entire trip is also from God and for God. So, as is my custom when entering a country for the first time, we got up early, went to the heart of Kyiv (pictured above at sunrise) and prayed Psalm 2:8 in English, Ukrainian, and Russian, and asked God for Ukraine, not for us, but for Him.

Then, this morning Dr. Mykhailo (Michael) Cherenkov, Mr. Denys Gorenkov, and I attended the National Day of Prayer Breakfast in Kyiv. Church, government, and community servants came together to pray and God united and empowered us for collaborative ministry.

It was an awesome event. It gave me a glimpse into the joys and sorrow in the history of Ukraine. They celebrated 30 years of independence and the 9th national prayer breakfast. I met many people and, remarkably, even met the President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, and snapped a selfie with him. I will post that on Facebook.

I am 9 hours ahead of Denver so I updated this post at lunch. This afternoon we will go to Ukrainian Evangelical Theological Seminary where I will speak (with Russian translation) at on “Nurturing Generosity and Sustainability: Four New Testament Insights for Global Application.” This topic ranks among the top needs.

Tonight, we will meet with key church workers in Irpin. Pray for a heart to receive and understand their challenges and insight to know what to share in response. Pray also for stamina as it will be a very long first full day in Ukraine and good sleep.

Reply if you want to receive a copy of my teaching handout in Russian and English. And click here to make a charitable gift to GTP to assist with trip expenses for bringing generosity and sustainability teaching to enthusiastic Eurasian fellow servants.

But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you —see that you also excel in this grace of giving. 2 Corinthians 8:7

“As a family we also started to set aside a certain fixed amount of money for people in need. Recently, I started to think about how I can financially support a project, especially now, in time of crisis and pandemic. Our journey of cultivating the culture of generosity continues, and I see how God blesses us and invites us to grow in this discipline.”

Igor Syrbu is a church pastor in Chișinău, Moldova.

This testimony was collected by Mission Eurasia after Igor went through the Seven-Day Generosity Challenge by Jon Wiebe, my friend and fellow stewardship author and administrator at MB Foundation.

I hope to meet Igor when I am in Chișinău this weekend. I love how he describes growth in generosity. It’s a journey that he is taking with his family. Along the way, they are learning that they are blessed to participate in caring for the poor, funding a project, and other things.

How might you serve the poor and give to projects?

I encourage people to add things to their giving portfolio to grow in this grace. For example, add a missionary or ministry to your monthly giving. Add a project or set aside money to give to families in need. And, by all means, talk about it as family so you grow and watch God supply together.

When this posts I am in flight to Kyiv, Ukraine.

If you want a copy of my trip itinerary to pray for safe travel and fruitful ministry, reply to this email. In the coming days, I’ll share more about the focus of this journey.

By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-25

“Generosity is an outcome of a deep relationship with God; when we don’t walk closely with the Lord, we lose the ability to be sensitive and live a generous life; generosity is a reflection of God’s nature in us; every person is not an owner of all they possess, rather, a steward.”

Sergei Semenov is a youth leader at a church in Zaporozhye, Ukraine.

This testimony was collected by Mission Eurasia after Sergei went through the Seven-Day Generosity Challenge by Jon Wiebe, my friend and fellow stewardship author and administrator at MB Foundation.

The Apostle Paul teaches us that generosity is a fruit of the Spirit. It comes from walking closely with God.

Semenov uses a great word that equates with fruit. It’s an outcome. It only comes from having a deep relationship with God who is generous. It’s a reflection of God’s nature and His work in us.

And Semenov on to say that we can lose the ability to be sensitive or guided by this Spirit. So, what’s the first lesson for us from Eurasian voices on generosity? 

Stay close to God and remain sensitive to be guided by the Spirit so God produces the outcome of generosity in and through us!

Today I fly from Denver to Chicago. There I meet up with Dr. Mikhail (Michael) Cherenkov of Mission Eurasia. We fly to Munich, Germany, later today, and then tomorrow on to Kyiv, Ukraine.

Appreciate your prayers for safe travel. Dosvedanya.

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans 12:12-13

“How are we to give? Toward our financial poverty that many might have spiritual wealth. Leaders cannot shy away from talking about money simply from fears about the abuses of prosperity theology. We need to urge biblical, generous giving — sacrificial giving — or we too will be in error.”

Michael Oh, Executive Director / CEO of The Lausanne Movement in his final address from Romans 12 at the Lausanne Global Consultation on Prosperity Theology, Poverty and the Gospel, on 30 March – 2 April 2014.

This is a fitting ending to our recent PG [prosperity gospel] analysis as it relates to generosity.

To avoid error we should give to our “financial poverty that many might have spiritual wealth.” And we should not avoid hard conversations about money. But the sobering reality is that each of us, at any time, can be in error.

How can we avoid this? We need to make sure our giving reflects the biblical and generous model of sacrifice. Any margin we have belongs to God for others.

For further reading on this from the Lausanne Library, here’s a great book for stewards, The Grace of Giving: Money and The Gospel and The Gift of Accountability by John Stott and Chris Wright.

This resource connects two components, generosity and accountability, to help God’s workers avoid error. And peer accountability groups like AfCAA for Africa exist to aid ministries in avoiding error.

If you have not taken the opportunity to give to help AfCAA meet the AfCAA@5 match, give today. It’s at $2,089 USD toward the goal of $5,000 USD with 25 days to go. Give as you are able.

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9

“In the teaching of TP [theology of prosperity]; God appears as an extremely rich landowner, owner of all the gold of the universe. From this, they derive that Christians must be extremely rich and that they should wear gold. Also, teach that Jesus was a wealthy man, living in prosperity since his birth until his death. The cross is interpreted as the way by which Christ makes Christians prosperous, that is to say Jesus died so that the Christians may live in prosperity and not under the curse of the law (the poverty). The Church becomes a transnational corporation in which it is necessary to invest money to obtain many economic gains. Heaven is transformed into a place of unparalleled luxury, which implies that on earth Christians must live in a sumptuous manner “to be get accustomed” to their future eternal residence. Finally, Christians are financiers, people who know how to invest in the “Bank of God”. They are the “bankers of God”.”

Martin Ocaña in “The New Apostolic Reformation and the Theology of Prosperity: The “Kingdom of God” as a Hermeneutical Key” in Lausanne Movement post dated 2 October 2015.

Thanks to the many people who have sent me messages about how “helpful” and “close to home” these posts have been to you on the theology of prosperity as it relates to generosity. One brother stated, “I hope it makes many of us look in the mirror. What’s happening in our Christian community looks more and more like PG [prosperity gospel] all the time.” Amen! Remember, inspect the fruit!

How we live shows what we believe. So, how many so-called Christians live like they believe that God wants us to pursue all the good things in life (a sumptuous lifestyle)? After all, Jesus came to enrich our lives, right?

Nothing could be further from the truth.

In this piece, Ocaña helps us see the theological flaws of TP and how those who embrace them weave them together to rationalize giving as investing to obtain economic gain and the pathway to sumptuous living. Sadly, many will likely give an offering to God in church tomorrow coupled with a string attached, a prayer that in return God will do something for them or provide something to them.

That’s not generosity, as God does not need money. We need to give it.

Generosity starts with the realization that all we are and all we have is from God and entrusted to us for our enjoyment and sharing. He wants that truth to sink into our heads and permeate our hearts. This leads faithful stewards to use what belongs to God in keeping with His purposes. Rather than hold on to it, they put it in play. That’s generosity.

It appears not as sumptuous living for ourselves but rather simple living for the good of others.

Tomorrow I will wrap up this study of prosperity theology and return to Colorado from Florida (pictured above on a peace boat ride I took with my parents yesterday). I will do that as I fly to the Ukraine on Monday, and I want to research Eurasian thoughts on generosity.

As God’s steward, an overseer must be above reproach—not self-absorbed, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not greedy for money. Titus 1:7

“The lifestyle of those who teach this [prosperity] gospel does not transparently reflect biblical standards. One of the requirements for leaders and ministers is that they be “not greedy for money” See Titus 1:7 and 1 Peter 5:2. Although Jesus told his disciples that “the worker deserves his wages” (Luke 10:7) he did not encourage covetousness or exploitation of people.

The lifestyle of prosperity teachers is in sharp contrast with the life of early disciples like the Apostle Paul who said, “I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me. I have shown you in every way, by labouring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said ‘it is more blessed to give than to receive” (Act 20:33-35)

Even from the Old Testament, which is often used by prosperity teachers, we have much to learn from the testimonies of Godly leaders as regards material possessions and integrity. Abraham was careful not to covet other people’s riches for his own prosperity.

At the end of his service, Samuel gave an account of his stewardship by declaring before all Israel “Behold here I am: witness against me before the Lord, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? Or whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? Or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? And I will restore it to you”. (1 Samuel 12:3) The response of the people was “You have not cheated or oppressed us”… “You have not taken anything from anyone’s hand” (vs. 4).”

Femi Adeleye in “The Prosperity Gospel: A Critique of the Way the Bible is Used” in Lausanne Movement post dated 2 October 2015.

I’ve received lots of emails from people in response to my recent exploration of prosperity gospel as a competing theology to Christian generosity. Many have asked me about specific teachers? Some are familiar to me, and some are not. In reply I say to look at their teaching and consider their lifestyle. Jesus said we would know people by their fruits. Don’t point fingers. Inspect fruits! Tune out voices that build earthly kingdoms.

On a personal note, I made it safely to Florida and had a nice dinner with my parents and my brother and his wife in Winter Haven. After dinner we returned to my brother’s home. Mom made strawberry rhubarb pie. It was so good, the perfect ending to a peaceful evening. Simple and special. Today I hope to snap a new header photo when I spend the day with them as a couple. I am thankful for their humble and generous lifestyle.

Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf. Proverbs 11:28

“For nearly 8 years I taught at a seminary here in Brazil. Once, when we were looking at some of the characteristics of the early church in the book of Acts, and in particular the economic implications of those biblical texts, student raised his arm and said, “Professora, we can’t preach these things in our churches. There is too much poverty and the churches around us all preach prosperity, wealth and blessing – that is what the people want to hear. If we don’t preach wealth, they will go elsewhere because they hear hope in other churches, prosperity teaching gives them hope. No on who is poor wants to hear about self-sacrifice, self-giving and simple living”

Prosperity theology gives them hope. Well, to paraphrase John Stott and his legacy in both the Lausanne Movement and the World Evangelical Alliance, we must find ways to offer a better hope, a better theology.If fail in this, it won’t really matter how well we criticize the teachings of prosperity theology, how good our analyses are. The call on us is great – to offer a truly biblical, truly evangelical theology of the hope that takes seriously what the Bible has to say both about God’s justice and God’s blessing.

To offer a better theology means reading the Scriptures in such a way that we are forced to think and rethink our practices, our lifestyles, our ways of being church, and in particular how these are shaped by misconception of wealth and the blessings of God.

In a nutshell, if we are to be a prophetic voice and a voice of hope an justice, we must recognize that God judges certain forms of life. There are many things that God judges and condemns, practices and doctrines throughout Christian history that the church has deemed unworthy of the gospel. But there is one thing throughout history, since the stories of ancient Israel to the present day that is judged most harshly: idolatry – you shall have no other gods before me. Idolatry is the sin of misplaced trust and the desire for something other than God. I ask you who do you trust? what do you trust?”

C. Rosalee Velloso Ewell in “Can We Offer a Better Theology? Banking on the Kingdom” a Lausanne Movement post dated 3 October 2015.

The angle of the start of this article may be the best advice for me (and for anyone) who needs to address prosperity theology.

Offer a better alternative that avoids idolatry and gives hope.

I could stop there, but Ewell presses me and everyone reading to consider where our hope is placed (or perhaps misplaced)?

This is where the prosperity message moves from the majority world to the developed world. A better theology is needed here too.

Are you banking on the kingdom?

Ewell points the way to developing a better theology in the conclusion of the post.

“Banking on the kingdom is seeing the ways we can do things we could not do before. It’s recognizing the power that wealth has over us, and repenting. The alternative to prosperity theology isn’t an alternative wealth, another idol or independence, but is in the interdependence made possible by sharing life. It is living in such a way that the world will see that another world is possible.”

This interdependence is the goal of GTP efforts globally. We are making progress in Africa with AfCAA. As God provided a matching grant which is up to $997 from 12 givers toward the goal of $5,000 USD, please consider making a gift today.

Join the movement writing a new future and offering a better theology for Africa.

And I am flying to Florida today to see my folks, Jack and Patsy Hoag. It is my parent’s 60th wedding anniversary.

We will have dinner and then spend a couple days together celebrating God’s faithfulness and giving thanks for the hope we have in Jesus.

Let me put this question to you: How did your new life begin? Was it by working your heads off to please God? Or was it by responding to God’s Message to you? Are you going to continue this craziness? For only crazy people would think they could complete by their own efforts what was begun by God. If you weren’t smart enough or strong enough to begin it, how do you suppose you could perfect it? Did you go through this whole painful learning process for nothing? It is not yet a total loss, but it certainly will be if you keep this up! Galatians 3:2-4 (The Message)

“PT [Prosperity Theology] has another gospel of salvation. The sin is to be poor, the sinner’s predicament separates them from God’s blessings, the way to God is by positive thinking and positive declarations of change, the only way to be saved is by “sowing” money at the church, salvation bears fruit when you receive manifold times in material tangible ways what you sowed, and Christian life is equated to being wealthy.

If you do not received such salvation, the problem could be you lack faith or you are not sowing enough. Together with wealth, salvation means to be healthy, happy, and in full enjoyment of this world’s amenities. Anything short of that needs to be spoken against by declaring victory loudly and in faith. Otherwise your salvation is not complete.

We could say as Paul: “You crazy Galatians! Did someone put a hex on you? Have you taken leave of your senses? Something crazy has happened, for it’s obvious that you no longer have the crucified Jesus in clear focus in your lives. His sacrifice on the cross was certainly set before you clearly enough.” (The Message).

The idea that we are sinners, separated from God, guilty and condemned to eternal damnation, that only through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and his resurrection we are rescued from sin and its consequences, and that we are called to live in complete submission to God’s will following Jesus’ example, is totally foreign to PT.

Church matters. PT not only has given us a different Christ, but it has also redefined what church means. PT’s ecclesiastical model in Latin America is “church as a private company”. The successful and charismatic CEO’s (pastor’s) main goal is to increase profits and assets (tithes, offerings, radio and television stations, buildings, etc.) by enticing more costumers (members) to buy its product (message).

In this model the strategy to market religious services becomes superlative and people are secondary. We see the return of a highly clerical model with a few “anointed” who claim to have exclusive access to an endless source of power. They dispense some favors to the lay people who have fulfilled some religious rite (monetary in this case). All kinds of techniques are used to ensure compliance.”

José Daniel Salinas in “How is Prosperity Theology Penetrating the Theology and Practice of Mainline Churches?” in Lausanne Movement post dated 30 September 2015.

Eugene Peterson’s rendering of Galatians 3:2-4 in the Message reveals that the PT phenomenon is not a new problem. Since the days of the early church, people have pursued a gospel that links to good works. Sadly, this gospel forgets about Christ as the source of our salvation.

From there, Salinas rightly explains what happens to the church in his Latin American context. It becomes a private company with the goal of amassing assets, dispensing favors, and controlling people. At this point I challenge readers to look at their own church. See any PT there?

The assets of the early church were the people. The favors went to those society said were undeserving. People were not controlled but empowered to become part of the gospel story. It’s what happens when the gospel of Jesus Christ is proclaimed.