stories of generosity -...

Stories

of

Generosity

Enclosed are just a few stories of generosity from members of Kinsmen. These include the giving of time, talents and

treasures. Generosity is often inspired by hearing stories from others or experiencing generosity oneself. My own

most recent stories include experiencing generosity in so many ways after our home flooded during Hurricane Harvey.

The phrase “my cup runneth over” from Psalm 23 was then (and now) constantly on my lips. It was an affirmation

that “surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life” with God and our community of faith

walking together.

The hope is that this booklet will prompt you to reflect on the generosity you have experienced in your life. What are

the ways and the times in your life when “the cup runneth over” for you? As you read through the enclosed stories,

I encourage you to pray about all the different ways you might have the ability to support God’s mission here at

Kinsmen. How is God enabling your cup to run over so that you might participate in His holy work within our community?

Over the years, this congregation has demonstrated its generosity again and again—both within its walls and beyond

its walls. Your commitment today to the annual needs of our congregation and through the “In the Community…for

Good” campaign are both significant ways to support God’s holy work to which we have collectively committed.

Kinsmen depends on annual giving, capital campaign giving and legacy giving, plus the power of prayer and the

generosity of inspired individuals to fulfill its mission and vision.

I pray that you will continue to support the ministry and mission of Kinsmen by your overflowing generosity. Because

as we share the grace and the blessings God has given to us, we are doubly blessed: It is a privilege and joy to

participate “In the Community…for Good” AND “In the Community…for God.”

As we reflect on and respond to God’s generosity, it is important that we listen to God’s word for strength and

encouragement.

“God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may

share abundantly in every good work.”—2 Corinthians 9:8

“You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity.” —2 Corinthians 9:11

As we consider sharing our blessings and sharing grace, we can trust in the promises of God. The Lord truly does

provide us with every blessing and “our cups runneth over.” Thanks be to God!

Grace and Peace,

Beth Warpmaeker

Senior Pastor

What’s coming next?

The best opportunity to learn about this campaign and have a chance to ask your questions is to attend one of the

Special Events. Please mark your calendar for either breakfast on Wednesday, May 9 at 8:30 AM, or dinner on

Saturday, May 12 at 6:30 PM. RSVP for one of the special events at kinsmenluthern.org. A formal presentation,

including time for your questions and answers are planned. It is the goal of congregational leadership for everyone

to attend one of these events. Next week, our devotional will discuss the practice of giving your first fruits to God.

2018 Stories of Generosity 4

LIVING GENEROUSLY

When I think of what it means to “live generously,” I am reminded of a prayer I was asked to read at the induction

ceremony to the National Honor Society when I was a Senior in High School. I don’t remember the whole text, but the

end of it has stuck in my mind and it says: “...others, Lord, yes, others, let this our motto be, that we might live for

others, that we might live for Thee.”

During my career, I worked for companies who made pipe. Pipe is not the most exciting or interesting product in our

high technology world today; but it is very necessary in our everyday lives at work, home, and everywhere we go. It

serves a narrow, but very specific purpose—getting some sort of fluid from where it is, to where it is needed.

Generosity is displayed in much the same way; although, up until this moment, I hadn’t really thought of it as such.

Getting what we have—whether it is time, talent, or treasure—to where it needs to be is living generously. Many

institutions are established for this purpose, including Kinsmen Lutheran Church. The spiritual, emotional, educational,

and financial resources; with which we are entrusted, need to be made available for conveyance to people who need

them.

Pipe is used in a singularly defined path for a pre-determined purpose. There is typically no doubt as to what it is for

and what it is doing. Living generously, however, has no bounds. We have no idea how broadly our generosity will

spread, how long it will be in effect or how many and in what ways it will affect the lives of others, and always for the

better. I can’t think of any way generosity can cause something to be worse.

When I was 12 years old, our church in Gillespie, Illinois decided to build an educational building. My Dad would take

me there while he helped with the construction. I was given the tedious tasks of picking up the garbage, sweeping the

floor and rubbing a smoothing stone across the cinder blocks so they could be painted, but creating a lot of dust in the

meantime. I wasn’t real generous in my attitude, but today, when I go past that very attractive, one-story building,

I feel blessed to have contributed to its physical appearance and the service it provides for the congregation and

community. There is no plaque, no signature, nothing that shows the hours of work that I contributed, nor should

there be. Generosity needs no notice.

A few years ago, the “Water 2 Thrive” campaign we had here struck a chord with me, being in the water industry.

Our financial contributions were transformed into a well of fresh water to serve a thirsty village. Generosity results

in assurance of doing God’s will.

Abundant blessings flow from living generously, as sure as water flows from our pipe when we turn on the spigot.

Joie Folkers


SERVANT OF ALL

So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an

example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master,

nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.

John 13:14-17

I chose this particular passage because it keeps me grounded in the principles of servant leadership. Working as an

executive it is easy to become full of oneself. Jesus reminds us to wash the feet of others. In this passage I am

reminded that while I might be chosen to lead, this does not elevate me above either those I lead or those who have

selected me to lead. In life I am meant to serve my family, shareholders, peers, teammates and all those around me.

Serving others in a humble way is the key. In order to do so, a servant leader must be generous with their time and

their possessions.

In writing this I was asked to consider a time when I was most generous. I find it hard to choose an individual instance

as I never really think about generosity in that way. I consider my time spent with youth either as a Sunday School

teacher or as a Scout Master to be a strong example of generosity of my time and a direct link to the blessings Jesus

tells us we receive when we act in a servant manner. At the time I assumed these roles I also served as a senior leader

in the business world. As a business executive required to travel extensively, work could have been a frequent handy

excuse for poor performance in such a leadership position, the story of washing feet always reminded me to create the

time to prepare. This preparation demonstrated to the people around me that they were important to me easing the

process of guiding them on their path. As is often found, this servant work turned out to be my blessing. Having a place

to contribute and serve benefited me in many ways.

Being generous with one’s possessions is never easy. However, washing the feet of others includes insuring there is

enough for all. Liz and I practice sharing in a manner which helps fund places where “washing the feet” of others is

possible. Enabling an environment for reaching and serving others is only possible when each of us shares our

possessions to the extent we are able. The servant mindset we both practice in life drives the approach we have to

generosity. We see needs we find or that are presented to us at face value and share to the extent we are able.

In challenging times we forgo the nice to haves in order that we might share what we have with others.

In the washing of feet, Jesus reminds us that not only are our beliefs important but living them and practicing them in

our lives is key. Taking the approach of a servant and carrying it through with our actions leads to an abundance of

blessings.

Eric Fidler


FLOODED TWICE

I grew up with parents that were always willing to help and were committed to tithing. We weren’t “wealthy.” Dad was

a postman and Mom a part-time teacher and full-time mom but they always had time to help whether it was property

maintenance at church, scouting programs, square dancing, singing at church—or as we got older—helping with moves

and new babies.

Tim and I have tried to make community and church involvement a regular part of our giving through our 35 years of

marriage. Our goal is to give at least ten percent of our income to charity each year. That is shared between the

churches we attend and other charities that assist the poor like the Food Bank. As our income has become greater we

give more.

We don’t keep track of the extras we spend for local charities in Egypt like a refugee school that we help provide with

school supplies.

I have decided giving generously of time and finances is easy. We were on the receiving end of generosity this past year

and I found asking for assistance a new and humbling experience.

As all Houstonians know Harvey caused substantial damage to many homes. We live in Cairo, Egypt and were kept

updated on the condition of our home by our neighbors. It became clear that I would need to return to Houston to

clean out our house. I posted a note to friends who had offered help that we would need their assistance. For three

days before I could arrive, friends were in our home tearing out carpets, drywall and damaged furnishings. I arrived

Saturday morning to continue the work. A dozen friends showed up to help with the cleanup. On Sunday, more friends

and family arrived plus a crew of helpers from Kinsmen and a church in Dallas. Daily people showed up to help. Once

friends started returning to work Kinsmen angels asked every day, “What do you need help with tomorrow?” My

brother drove down from Minnesota to help and was impressed with the Kinsmen angels who arrived daily until the

job was finished. We are part time attenders at Kinsmen and yet the help came. I never had to think about lunch, food

always arrived. We had helpers that did everything from tearing out cabinets and drywall, to packing up cupboards,

cleaning water damaged tools, moving downstairs items upstairs, and finally sweeping up when the last of the drywall

that was removed. Some of the Kinsmen angels’ own homes were also flooded and yet they came and helped at my

house since their cleanup was finished. After all was done I counted at least 75 angels who helped at our house. As my

husband put it, “We were flooded twice, once with the waters from Harvey, and a second time by love.” We were loved

by of our friends, family and church community as they helped clean out our house.

Ann Brady


ABUNDANT BLESSINGS

I grew up in a small town in Ohio, in a modest middle class neighborhood. Our family attended church nearly every

Sunday morning, and it was very much a part of our lives. I even had an uncle that was a Lutheran pastor. I remember

my dad regularly putting checks in the Sunday morning offering plate, but we didn’t talk at home about giving. I

assume my parents were tithers, but I don’t know that for a fact. Even though my parents’ beliefs about giving and

generosity weren’t verbalized, the image of my father regularly placing that check in the offering plate was more

powerful than I realized.

Fast forward 20 years later, and I had a family of my own. My wife Nadine and I had transferred to Houston where

I was working for Marathon Oil Company. We became members of Kinsmen, and having grown up in the Lutheran

church felt very comfortable here. I was earning a good living, and all of the needs that Nadine and our three children

had were being met. There was even money left over for many of the things we wanted! We really didn’t have a plan

for giving at Kinsmen, and basically gave to various charities when we were asked.

Several years passed, and after several job changes and promotions we were blessed with more abundance. One day

in particular I remember asking myself; why was I being blessed with such good fortune? There has to be more to life

than simply accumulating things. I did some searching and managed to find a book by Larry Burkett titled How to

Manage your Money. This book is a great guide on how to get out of debt and manage your finances using Biblical

principles.

More importantly for me the book addressed God’s plan for sharing abundance, and made several important points:

• “But seek ye first His kingdom, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33

• “Honor the Lord from your wealth, and from the first of all your produce; so your barns will be filled with plenty,

and your vats will overflow with new wine.” Proverbs 3:9-10

• Finally Larry says “God will not allow His work to tarry for lack of funds. He will simply redistribute the necessary

funds to Christians who are sincerely seeking His will and who will sacrifice personal luxuries for the needs of

others.

Nadine and I agreed to tithe from that day on, and to give to other needs that God called us to. We felt very fortunate

that we were so blessed before we stepped out in faith and made that commitment (I don’t believe it usually works

that way). We have never looked back, and God has been true to his promises from Proverbs 3.

We have witnessed amazing generosity from members here at Kinsmen. For many years now Nadine and I have gone

grocery shopping to provide food to the homeless at the Life Center shelter in North Houston. So many Kinsmen

members have signed up to sponsor this ministry through their donations of funds and also their time to purchase

and deliver the food. We are so proud to be a part of what Kinsmen is doing in our community today, and look forward

to doing God’s work and making a difference in the future.

Doug Wittenberg


A GENEROUS SPIRIT

One of the first things I learned about Kinsmen Lutheran Church was how accepting and generous the people were.

From volunteers working in the kitchen preparing a meal for a bereaved family, to the outpouring of helpers involved

with the aid after Hurricane Harvey. The people of this church come together as every need arises and before.

I have been introduced to the tradition of “Noisy Offerings” each month, a concept of reaching out to various

organizations on a regular basis.

One area that I have been personally involved with has been an outreach known as “God’s Work, Our Hands.” I became

involved in “God’s Work. Our Hands.” with my wife, Ms. Patti Suler, shortly after we met (fall of 2015), and have

worked with her on projects for the last three years. I have watched her work tirelessly for several months before the

actual “God’s Work. Our Hands.” Sunday to ensure that all goes well. Her generous attitude of putting others first has

been an inspiration to me as well as others. She coordinates her projects and the financial resources available, and

then organizes everyone involved to wisely and efficiently use their time and talents to complete the project.

Another area where she uses her talents is by photographing various church events throughout the year —Blessings of

the Pets, the Fall Festival, the Thanksgiving Feast and others. She does this with a joyful heart. After the event, she

provides the church with an edited pictorial remembrance of the occasion. All of this is done as part of her offering to

our Lord.

I learned many years ago that everything we have belongs to the Lord. God’s gracious love knows no bounds. Thanks

be to God for the gifts I have been given. The least I can do is to give to others—give myself, give my possessions, or

give my time—with joy and thanksgiving.

All in all, these are some of the reasons I am proud to call Kinsmen Lutheran Church my home.

Billy Pickett


LIVING GENEROUSLY

I learned how to live generously at an early age from my parents. My parents grew up in faith filled families and met

while working as missionaries in Ethiopia. Many of my childhood memories are infused with involvement in our local

church. Growing up we were on a relatively tight budget but tithing and supporting other faith-based organizations

was a priority for my parents. In addition to giving financially, my parents gave of their time by serving as an elder and

on the church council, teaching Sunday school and VBS, singing the in choir, creating banners, and serving on various

committees.

Giving back through volunteering my time and skills along with financial resources has been a core value throughout

my life. I recognize I have access to more resources and assets than many living in the Houston area. The verse [Luke

12:48] “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted

with much, much more will be asked” resonates with me as a call to action. God has not given us gifts to hoard and

hide away, but to further the kingdom in the here and now.

Just as my parents instilled the value of generosity in me and my sisters, my husband and I plan to do the same with

our boys. It starts with conversations on recognizing disparities and identifying ways we can help our neighbors. It is

shown in actions by mucking out our Cubmaster’s house after Hurricane Harvey, volunteering with non-profits and

dropping off donations at Kinsmen for our ministry partners. I hope we model through words and actions how helping

our community is how Christ wants us to live.

When our family joined Kinsmen, we were looking for a congregation whose generosity extended beyond the church

walls. It was soon evident this church valued partnering with many community organizations and reaching out to the

vulnerable populations in our area. Activities within Kinsmen foster the spirit of sharing the love of Jesus Christ to all

with whom we meet. By investing our time and money, we have the opportunity to deepen our faith and act justly,

love mercy and walk humbly with our God.

Ellen Wangsmo


REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE

My parents taught me how to be generous as a child through their actions, words and humble ways of giving and

serving of their time and talents at church, while raising five kids. As a young child, I was so proud to watch my Mom

direct Vacation Bible School at our church in Nebraska. I can still remember the wonderful songs we sang, but mostly

I recall the smile and joy on her face! I can also recall the countless meals, desserts and side dishes she prepared for

potlucks, receptions and funerals. She still does! At Kinsmen, my mother served on Church Council, Altar Guild, and

also taught Sunday School. She continues to enjoy Circle and quilting.

Growing up, I was very proud to see my Dad teach Sunday School, chair the Stewardship Committee and serve as

Church Council President in Nebraska and at Kinsmen. Dad served on many committees over the years, but

stewardship was one of his favorites. He encouraged many others to get involved in stewardship, including both my

brother, Andrew, and my husband, Bruce. Andrew and Bruce have honorably served for several years and both enjoy

it very much. Dad loves stewardship and I learned a lot about being a good steward from my dad. At Kinsmen, Dad

continues to serve on the Endowment Committee and enjoys Men’s Bible Study.

I had the opportunity to serve with my father on the Capital Campaign, “Building to Serve,” when the Community Life

Center and additional enhancements to our church were built. It was a wonderful opportunity to work with my dad

and serve the Lord together, while learning even more about just what it means to give generously. As a young adult,

I watched Dad in action again, learned from his wisdom and my faith in giving grew deeper.

Growing up, my parents always stressed how important church was to us by taking us to church. There was no choice

– we went to church. I loved church because my parents love the Lord. They taught by example. Mom and Dad taught

my brothers and I that it was important to give, no matter how small… that God loves a cheerful giver. So, we gave

money in Sunday School or we gave money in church. It wasn’t a lot, but it was the act of giving that was important

and that’s what stuck with me. Mom and Dad talked about tithing as we grew older. We learned about thinking of

others first and treating others as you would want to be treated. Generosity. Integrity. Kindness. Simple things. I think

it was a simpler life back then—before iPads, iPhones and the whole “I” mentality.

As I embarked on a career in public relations and later served as a senior human resources manager for an oil company,

I remember Dad and Mom reminding me to thank God by giving him the first fruits of my labor. Every time I received

a raise or a bonus, I paused to thank God for my achievements and how good it felt to give more to the Lord! I

remember how excited I was when I was first able to tithe as a single working woman. I had been given so much and

I had so much to give back to God. I have my parents to thank for teaching me this valuable lesson about generosity.

They live it and share it graciously, and my family and I have grown up as witnesses to and recipients of their humble

generosity.


As my brothers and I grew older, my parents encouraged us to serve in whatever way we could by offering our time

and talents serving as acolytes, lay readers, communion assistants, Luther League sponsors, stewardship committee

member, Stephen Ministry, Sunday school teacher, Kinsmen Academy pre-school teacher, capital campaign

committee member, playing the flute, singing and serving to call new Pastors. But we also learned to give financially

and give joyfully – from the heart. Dad and Mom taught us the meaning of giving as very young children.

My mother had a saying for my brothers and I (just as we walked out the door for a fun night), “Remember who you

are and whose you are.” It wasn’t necessarily what we wanted to hear right then, but today I appreciate the wisdom

and tenderness of those words even more. I now tell Joshua and Molly Mabel the same thing, “Remember who you

are and whose you are. A child of God. “

A child of God! God has richly blessed us. Why wouldn’t we want to give back to Him? I am so very thankful for the

generosity of God for having blessed me with my Dad and Mom. So, give generously... you won’t miss it….and you will

be richer for it. For God loves a cheerful giver!

“Every man according as he purposes in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loves a

cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7

Becky Reder Best


GENEROSITY

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have

eternal life.” John 3:16

The one statement that has always meant the most to me when it comes to generosity is: “Giving is what happens

after we believe”. Giving is basic to our faith. It is one of the ways that we respond to the love and grace that God has

given us through His Son Jesus Christ, our Lord. It is natural and joyful; it should never be out of fear or guilt.

As our faith grows so does our understanding and need to grow in our giving to others and to the ongoing ministry of

our Lord. This giving comes in many forms such as our time, our treasures, our talents, and our ability to reach out to

others to share the love and grace that we experience in our lives.

As true believers, it becomes so much easier to understand that all we have been given is on loan from God and that

we are charged with using it wisely to further His kingdom.

At Kinsmen Lutheran we have decided that we will stay where we have been planted and that we will be: “In the

Community…..for Good”. Here, in this community, is where we will share our generosity and answer God’s call to

further His kingdom.

“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap

generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for

God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all

that you need, you will abound in every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:6-8

Gary Simpson


GREAT NEWS

One of my favorite Bible passages is Psalm 139:1-18 often subtitled ‘The Inescapable God”. ‘God knew me before I was

born…made me wonderfully and fearfully… His book holds all the days that were formed for me... I come to the end

– I am still with you.’ These verses have spoken to me for so many years and have brought me so much comfort when

I struggle, when life blows up in front of me and certainly now as this insidious disease takes the days from me. In these

words, I feel safe, joined as one with God, secure in the knowledge that he KNOWS me and will never leave me – even

at the end.

I was sharing this with a friend a while back and she said, “Oh, that’s one of my favorite passages as well!”

!BOOM!

A few little words and my cocoon was shattered – and my eyes were opened.

I always felt so snug in knowing that those words of the psalm were just between God and me. Not so, apparently!

So what does this have to do with generosity and the importance of being “In the Community for Good...”? Well, it

really is pretty simple. When the verses say to us, ‘how vast is the sum’ of God’s grace, we might ask how limited is our

willingness to share these words with others so that they too, might emerge from their cocoon of unknowing into the

glory of living with God.

Kinsmen has been my home since the early ‘80s. It has nurtured and fed me, trained me and pushed me. It is a church

that has long had a history of mission and outreach. Kinsmen has always had an eye for vision and a heart that cares.

And while the church itself is a beautiful and functional building with doors always open, it is the person in the pew who

God knows by name that brings me and so many others the hope and good news. It is you. And it is even me.

God knows what we are capable of – how much money we have to share; the gifts we have to offer. God knows

because God gave it all to us. Money, without question, makes many things happen in this church, but as I understand

it, if you truly want to define generosity, it is first going “inside our personal cocoon” to recognize what God has given

to us and then letting our gifts flow outward and upward.

I’ve found true sanctuary within Kinsmen community as I know you have as well. It’s awesome to share with each other

our favorite Bible passages and what they mean to us. But, it’s important now that we reach out to those who quite

likely have never even held a Bible and wouldn’t know one passage from the other. It’s important that we use our

monies and our gifts to let our “new community” know that they, too, are beautifully and wonderfully made and God

will be with them – always – even to the end.

This is such great news! We simply cannot escape it! Thanks be to God.

!BOOM!

Judy Biffle


SHINING LIGHTS

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not

worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known

to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:4-7

I have been a member of Kinsmen almost my entire life. My family moved to the Klein area when I was nine years old

and became members because a member came and visited our home after we had visited the church. Much of what I

learned about giving to the church, I learned through the example my parents modeled for me. I watched them week

after week put their offering in the offering plate during worship. And then in Sunday School, we were given our own

set of offering envelopes so we could give what we had —no matter how small the gift. I learned at a young age that

Jesus loved me no matter what and giving to the church was an act of worship. As I grew older, I recognized that living

generously is not just giving of our treasure, but it is also giving our time and talent. God called me to be a teacher and

when I first started in this profession, it seemed like I had very little left over to give financially so I became very

involved in various ministries. I discovered the gifts God had given me, and gave of my time and talent freely.

However, although I was giving of my time and talent; I was not very faithful in giving of my treasure. A few years ago,

we read the book “Enough” during the “Stewardship” month. After reading this book, my thinking about living

generously began to shift. Adam Hamilton, the author of the book, reminded me that “life is a gift, and everything

belongs to God.” With that perspective, I realized that my time, talent, and treasures are all gifts from God and I

needed to put God first —whether it was in how I spend my time—or in how I spend my money. I learned something

else. When I trust God to oversee my finances, my time, and my talents; God provides and I can bless others, which in

turn, blesses me.

I never thought I would have to rely on the generosity of others. Fast forward to August 2017…

Hurricane Harvey dumped an unprecedented amount of rain in the Houston and surrounding areas. My home was one

of many homes that took in water. I experienced the generosity of others through their time and talents when they

came to help me tear out drywall. I experienced the generosity of others through their prayers, concern, and advice.

Through my family and this congregation, God provided help so that I could rebuild. My favorite verse is

Romans 8:28— “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to

his purpose.” It is hard to think that good could come out of such a terrible natural disaster. However, I saw Christ in

the people that came to help me. I am so blessed to be a member of this congregation. Let your light continue to

shine.

Dear God, help us to be a light in the darkness for those that need to see your goodness. Help us to live generous lives

caring for those You bring into our path. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Kristen Schulze


GIVING GENEROUSLY

In our family, we discovered how to live generously in the following ways:

• Providing emotional support to a close friend coping with the death a spouse

• Helping families recover from the devastating flooding that occurred during Hurricane Harvey

• Providing financial support to a ministry that we are spiritually connected

I grew up in a middle-class family in San Antonio, Texas. I was not connected to a church family for many of my years

as a child. Subsequently I did not have a strong sense of faithful giving until I met my wife Diana. When we were first

married, she strongly emphasized that to experience God’s love, joy and peace in your life, you need to give to God

first faithfully.

I struggled early in those years with my own selfish feelings trying to understand how much giving would be enough.

Diana taught me to always push to give an amount that would be consistent and that we could manage. I trusted her

judgment and never questioned it. Diana and I have been employed most of our married life. She was a teacher and

myself a mechanical engineer. We earned an average middle-class household income. But even as we strived to give

generously, we did not have to give up all the material creature comforts we enjoyed.

After our first seven years of marriage, we were faced with one of our hardest challenges, overcoming the difficulty

of conceiving children. There were many times we cried bitterly and even considered adoption. After several bouts of

fertility treatments, God blessed us with our twin daughters, Lauren and Elizabeth. After the twin’s birth, the

outpouring of generosity from our Kinsmen family, whether it was providing cooked meals or offering to babysit the

twins, was “God’s love covering us in a warm blanket.”

Judy Hinkhouse, the wife of former Kinsmen pastor Jim Hinkhouse, was one of the most generous people we have ever

met. She spent countless Wednesday afternoons donating her time to babysit the twins, so Diana could have some

time away from the demanding schedule. Her generosity and that of the Kinsmen family was overwhelming and we

will never forget the gifts we received. This experience was just one example in the 27 years at Kinsmen that, “It is in

giving that you will truly receive.”

From what Diana taught me, I would recommend to any new member, the same approach. Give what you can manage

but it is so important to give consistently.

I like the scripture verses, 2 Corinthians 9:6-19: “Give what you can manage, but give cheerfully, and you will plant

many seeds. From that harvest, God will generously provide all that you need in this life.”

For Diana and myself, one of the most significant investments of Kinsmen has been the building of the Community Life

Center. That building changed the lives of every Kinsmen family member providing so many opportunities to provide a

sanctuary for Sunday School, Camp Hope, Kinsmen Children’s Academy, meal gatherings and special events.

You will be amazed at how much impact your contribution can have.

Randy and Diana Grobe


EXTRAORDINARY GENEROSITY

Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples

rebuked them. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven

belongs to such as these.” When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there. Matthew 19:13-15

One of my favorite stories of generosity has to do with a 4th grader from a couple years ago. During Sunday School a

weekly offering is taken and at the end of the year the offering is given to a mission partner that was chosen by the

Sunday School kids. This 4th grader earned an allowance by doing chores around the house. Toward the end of the

Sunday school year, he started saving his allowance. He chose not to go to the comic book store or the toy store. He

refrained from purchasing any Legos to save his money for the Sunday school offering. Can you imagine how much

willpower it takes for a ten-year-old boy to NOT buy Legos?!

The Sunday school kids were promised a pizza party for the class that was the most generous. The end of the Sunday

school year was coming and the 4th grade class was in 2nd place. On the last day of Sunday School, when the offering

was collected the 4th grader donated over $20 of his own money which helped his class earn the title of “Most Generous

Class.” All the 4th graders got to enjoy a pizza party to celebrate their extraordinary generosity.

Yes, there was much rejoicing over the pizza, but I’m awed at this young person’s ability to refrain from the things he

desired. He sacrificed in order to help, not only his fellow classmates earn a pizza party, but also help the Sunday School

mission partner. That is generosity to me – sacrificing something for myself so others may benefit.

We can learn a lot from the youngest among us.

Thanks be to God for this generous child. Thanks be to God for his parents who taught him to care for others. And,

thanks be to God for a God that gives us generous hearts. Amen.

Sara Ray


ONCE UPON A TIME…. AMEN!

Once upon a time... well, it seems that this is how I should start a generosity story. But I got stuck. “Once upon a time”

kind of implies long, long ago, but the story of giving should be one going forward. It is a story that starts today, and

the beauty of it is, we don’t know when it will end.

Today we can look around to see God’s world and the blessings that we have. Today we can look at the fresh green

leaves on the trees waiting to shade us from summer sun. We see curious children gathered around a bug. We watch

generations congregating at the altar to share a blessed meal at Christ’s table. I take this all in, sigh, and smile. Let the

story start.

I am proud to be part of an organization with priorities to support the longevity of such broad ideas as green leaves,

nurturing the young, and sharing our blessings. Here’s the start of a new story: Right now, at Kinsmen, we are working

to help keep the leaves greener than ever. We’re planning on little changes with a big impact. For example, once the

dishwasher is up and running (on the list with the capital campaign), the children in KCA will be able to use real plates

at lunch, rather than more wasteful Styrofoam. We all can make other changes too, like being conscientious of paper

towel use, saving both resources and money.

While dishes and paper towels are nice, they certainly are not a story. The stories come when the children from KCA

and the children not from KCA, but from around the corner. The stories come when the children from Kinsmen, the

youth of Kinsmen, the young adults at Kinsmen, and the older adults at Kinsmen come to share time and experiences

together. Hosting an Easter Eggstravaganza or a Fall Festival or a crawfish boil naturally leads to stories. I bet someone

reading this now is nodding along with some interesting memories from one of these events.

Camp Hope planning and preparations are in full swing. What an amazing way to connect us all again! Let the Camp

Hope 2018 story begin. Will there be shenanigans as the support staff hide Miss Sara’s clipboard? Will the young crafts

director need to consult their mentor to learn tricks to handling groups of rowdy children? When we gather in early

August, these stories will bring us together and spark the excitement for the next year. Kinsmen doesn’t stop. I’m not

here to make a list so I’ll just add one more story maker. This year there’s the ELCA Youth Gathering. This time, the

teens and adult volunteers, generously donating time and energy, will be impacting our own city. They will proudly

wear Kinsmen shirts, proclaiming how God has left the building. There will be stories.

I like the stories that I know, but I love the stories I don’t even know. I don’t know who will drink water from a well that

was partly built with the coins that I tossed in a coffee can. I tossed with faith. Faith that God will provide. I tossed with

appreciation. Appreciation for the organizations and workers who are building wells on the other side of the world.

I tossed with hope. Hope that the Holy Spirt will join us all: the woman drinking at the well, the tired man pouring

concrete, and me, making the world one step better. THAT’S a story. That is THE story, one with no end.

We appreciate the true generosity story of our Lord all the time. We gather each weekend to be together and share

that story, the one of God’s love for us. We are charged to be that story. We are charged to live and to give as Jesus

did. With that, let’s write the next chapter. Amen!

Michelle Ivey


EMPTY

Philippians 2:1-11, John 12:1-8

Most of the time I do not feel like being that generous. I give financially through the church and other organizations.

I volunteer in the community. I leave a decent tip. But most of the time, I don't feel like being that generous. With

generosity, most of the time, I play it safe.

In the second chapter of Philippians, the Apostle Paul quotes what we believe is part of a very old Christian hymn or

confession of faith. The Apostle Paul writes,

“Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,

who, though he was in the form of God,

did not regard equality with God

as something to be exploited,

but emptied himself,

taking the form of a slave,

being born in human likeness.

And being found in human form,

he humbled himself

and became obedient to the point of death—

even death on a cross.”

The scriptures say that Jesus "emptied himself" for us. The word empty is used to describe the totality of his action.

He gave himself completely for us, even his very life.

When I think of the word "empty" I think of running out of gas or out of coffee or out of funds. The tank is empty. The

pot is empty. The account is empty. When I think of the word "empty" I think of what I do not have anymore. When I

have that mindset, I find myself playing it safe and holding back. I am careful so as I do not find myself without.

Yet Jesus held back nothing and emptied himself completely for my sake, for our sake, the sake of this world. And the

Apostle Paul urges us to be of this same mind.

In the twelfth chapter of John, as the time for Jesus' death drew near, Mary of Bethany took about a pint of an

expensive perfume and poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. She emptied her gift completely and

emptied herself completely at the feet of Jesus. She did not hold back. At least one onlooker scolded Mary for this

extravagant gift and gesture. But not Jesus. Jesus recognized his same mindset in Mary.

Most of the time when I think of the word "empty", I hold on tightly, so I do not lose what I have. But Mary's mind was

not on of what she was running out but for whom she poured herself out. And the scripture says that as she emptied

herself, the fragrance of her generosity filled the house. Her emptiness fills the room and God is glorified.

It's not about me learning to be more reckless with my time and my possessions. It's not about throwing caution to

the wind with my financial giving. But it is about holding lightly the things I have been given and ready myself for the

opportunity to give extravagantly for the sake of others and God's glory.

"Even God cannot fill what is full already. We must empty ourselves so that God can fill us." Mother Teresa of Calcutta

Pastor Mark England

“Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.” 1 Timothy 6:18-19

generosity the quality or fact of being generous

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/generous

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