Year of Jubilee: one blessing among challenges
Filed Under: Christian Giving, donation, Finance, gift, jubilee, Year of Jubilee
Even as the synod wrestles with financial challenges brought on by the downturn in the global economy, the Ministry of Christian Giving is highlighting reasons for thanksgiving.
Among them is that gifts toward the Year of Jubilee offering have now surpassed the $3 million mark. In all, about $3.1 million has been given by individuals and congregations toward the offering, authorized by the 2007 convention to reduce or eliminate the synod's $22.4 million debt. Combined with regularly scheduled debt payments, the offering will help reduce principal by at least $8.5 million by the end of the current fiscal year.
Offerings are being collected through the 2009 convention in July. Worship resources are still available online for congregations wishing to participate; individuals can also give gifts online.
WELS has also received the first quarterly check for 2009 of an estimated $1.1 million annual donation from an anonymous WELS family—income generated by their gift of non-voting private stock to the WELS Foundation, Inc. The foundation is a separate incorporated entity that manages funds for donors who wish to support some portion of the work of synod, its congregations, or affiliates listed in the WELS Yearbook.
The family expanded their original donation made in early 2008 through WELS Foundation by nearly 60 percent at the end of 2008—the annual income generated by the gift increased proportionately.
"The words of the apostle Paul express very clearly who is to get all the glory for the gifts of Jubilee and this very special gift, that will keep on working, from an anonymous donor," says Rev. Dave Liggett, administrator of Christian Giving. He cites Philippians 2:13: "It is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose."
