Elisabet Kirkland Page 12

06 Dec

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA CONFERENCE ISSUES STATEMENT AFTER BUTTE COUNTY PRESS CONFERENCE ADDRESSING ADVENTIST SCHOOL SHOOTING

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UPDATED December 6, 2024, 2:01 p.m. ET

The facts surrounding the Feather River Seventh-day Adventist School shooting have become more clear after today’s late afternoon press conference with the Butte County Sheriff’s Office and other local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. Key facts learned or confirmed today include:

Both of the kindergarten students who were seriously wounded remain in critical condition but are stable.

The perpetrator was identified as Glenn Litton, a one-time member of the Chico Seventh-day Adventist Church and former student at Paradise Adventist School.* Sheriff Kory Honea reported that Litton suffered from mental illness and had a lengthy criminal background. As a convicted felon, Litton did not legally own the firearm used in the crime.

Law enforcement continues to seek information that will help illuminate Litton’s motive. Still, writings attributed to him suggest that he imagined himself to be a “lieutenant” in what appears to be a fictitious organization called the “International Alliance.”

The attack was an isolated incident. Litton died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. There are indications that Litton had made plans to visit another Adventist school on December 5. According to Sheriff Honea, the gunman acted alone, and there are no lingering threats against any Seventh-day Adventist school, church, or other institution.

Honea paid tribute to the efforts of the Feather River principal and teachers who acted swiftly and decisively to protect students as soon as the threat was detected.

Northern California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists director of communication and development, Laurie Trujillo, also spoke at the press conference and said, “On behalf of the Northern California Conference leadership team, I’d like to share our deep gratitude to Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea and his team, the California Highway Patrol, and all first responders. These consummate professionals quickly rushed in yesterday to protect our students and teachers. We also are thankful for the additional support from the FBI and are working closely with law enforcement as they seek answers through the investigation.”

Trujillo also shared that all Adventist schools in the Northern California Conference will be open on Friday, Dec. 6.

UPDATE: 

Many Adventist schools will resume classes today (Dec. 6), and special efforts are being made to ensure counseling support is available to all families and students. Chico, Yuba City, and Feather River Adventist schools will remain closed as we prioritize care and support for staff, families, and students. Please continue to pray for all our students, especially those hospitalized, and our faculty, staff, and families.

* Information about Litton’s membership was not part of the Dec. 5 press conference. 

* * * 

On behalf of the Feather River community, the Northern California Conference continues to encourage prayers lifting up all who have been affected by this tragedy.

—North American Division (NAD) of Seventh-day Adventists. Republished with permission from NAD.

Laurie Trujillo, Northern California Conference director of communication and development, answers a question during the Butte County Sheriff's Office press conference on December 5.
05 Dec

LA VIDA YOUTH LEAD IN JOINT SERVICE IN RIO RANCHO

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Dorie Panganiban – Farmington, New Mexico …  “Your students did really well. Expect another invitation soon”; “So when are you coming back for the second part of the kids’ sermon? I hope it’s really soon.” These are some of the comments from church members at the Rio Rancho Seventh-day Adventist Church in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, where students and staff from La Vida Mission* (LVM) in Farmington, New Mexico, joined for a special Sabbath service, November 16.

“It was a very beautiful and memorable Sabbath because this was the first time during our church visitation program when our students preached and delivered the sermon during church service,” remarked Dorie Panganiban, La Vida Mission office manager.

La Vida Mission students Drevin Yazzie and D’artagnan Smith, eighth grade, and D’artagnan ‘s younger sister, Jasmine Smith, seventh grade, preached on the “Message of the Sanctuary.”

“A hard subject, I thought, for children to preach so I told our health and outreach director, Mr. VJ Panganiban, [to help prepare] the sermon for them and coach/train them on public speaking,” Dorie recalled. “I even volunteered to write a simpler, lighter subject message for the teen preachers, but VJ assured me that any message can be preached and understood by all age groups … When I read the sermon, I was touched and blessed by its simple and practical presentation.”

Those who heard the sermon commented that they were blessed by the experience, especially with it coming from the kids. They remarked on how well the students were able to deliver it in a way that can be understood by both children and adults.

The La Vida Mission student school choir provided the music for the service. Glet Franche, LVM music teacher and choir director, was devoted to the students’ training, and they sang and played very well. Among some of the instruments used were a recorder and tone chimes that were graciously donated by Pueblo Seventh-day Adventist Church and school, delivered to LMV by Cathy and Mike Kissner, November 6, when they came for their Annual Donation Drive to La Vida Mission.

“What a blessing indeed! We are grateful to Dr. Robert Gardner, our wonderful LVM Board president, and his very supportive wife, Ms. Kimone, who facilitated our visit to Rio Rancho Church.  La Vida students and staff enjoyed the gracious accommodation and hospitality afforded to our group by all the church members and the bountiful lunch they served to all of us,” commented Dorie.

An LVM staff remarked, “I love that Church; they are very warm and truly welcoming,” while another said, “and they don’t mind if the service exceeds the time. They were very attentive and remained very engaged till the end.”

Dori concluded, “We left Rio Rancho truly blessed spiritually, emotionally, and physically.  On our way back to the Mission, we stopped at the house of a lovely couple, Daniel and Sonia Cervantes of Rio Grande Church, to pick up their church’s generous donations of health and hygiene stuff, groceries and assorted goodies for the Mission. God is indeed very good and worthy to be praised.  We can only sing, ‘Praise HIM from whom all blessings flow.’”

* La Vida Mission is a supporting ministry of the Seventh-day Adventist Church but is not affiliated with the Rocky Mountain Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

—Dorie Panganiban is the La Vida Mission office manager. Photos supplied.

05 Dec

MONTROSE CHURCH THANKFUL FOR COMMUNITY GENEROSITY

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Jacqueline Davis – Montrose, Colorado … Members and staff of the Montrose Seventh-day Adventist Church in Montrose, Colorado, expressed overwhelming gratitude for the incredible generosity shown by the local community during this year’s annual Thanksgiving Food Drive. Thanks to the community’s donations, the church provided for 65 families in need.

This year, volunteers from the Montrose Church handed out 2,300 bags and then collected the bags of non-perishable food items left outside homes across the community the following week. The response was overwhelming.

This heartwarming tradition has been an example of the Church’s mission for over 41 years, with church members Judy Kelly and Jerilyn Pester faithfully leading the effort for more than 30 of those years. Their dedication, combined with the kindness of donors, has made a profound impact on countless lives.

“Thank you to the community who gave generously,” shared Pester. “Not only did it make Thanksgiving possible for these families, but it’s about a week’s worth of groceries.”

Each bag was thoughtfully prepared to ensure families had all the essentials needed for a holiday meal—including ingredients for staples like green bean casserole—along with other groceries to sustain them beyond Thanksgiving.

“The Church recognizes this would not have been possible without the support and donations from individuals and families throughout Montrose. Your contributions brought comfort, hope, and nourishment to families during this season,” remarked Jacqueline Davis, communication director for Montrose Church.

She continued, “To all who donated, volunteered, or prayed, the Montrose Seventh-day Adventist Church extends its heartfelt thanks. Your kindness and generosity exemplify the true spirit of Thanksgiving.”

—Jacqueline Davis is communication director for the Montrose Seventh-day Adventist Church. Photo supplied.

04 Dec

STEWARDSHIP: AN ACT OF WORSHIP

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By Doug Inglish

I love how music enhances our worship. All can participate, but, for some, it comes less naturally. Growing up in church, I would holler the words at the top of my lungs, but the only notes I hit were those that coincidentally aligned with my monotone delivery.

It was a beloved uncle who observed in my presence something he probably thought I already knew, namely that I couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket (his words). Even my mother set aside her maternal instincts to agree with him and said that perhaps a better experience could be had by all if I softened my delivery.

Yes, I was that bad. My relatives had to teach me to respect other worshippers by toning it down.

Amazingly, I got better. During my academy years, a summer witnessing group was forming, and I wanted to join. But it was required that we all sing. I went to Mr. Otto, our academy choir director and voice teacher, and confessed that I had no discernable gift for music but really wanted to be in the group. Was there, perhaps, some silent service I could offer?

“Who says you can’t sing?” he asked.

“Everyone.”

“Maybe everyone’s wrong.” Turning to the piano, he flipped through a hymnal, asking me to indicate one I knew. Bewildered and still hopeless, I selected “Sweet Hour of Prayer.”

He played while I delivered my customary dead monotone. He told me to go higher. I did. Then he told me to go lower. I did. With those two directions at appropriate points, I made it to the end, imperfectly but closer than ever before. To my astonishment, I actually heard where I was on tune.

“There, you see? You can sing. I’ll work with you, and you can be in the group.”

I gradually improved over the summer. During the school year I took voice lessons, and after two years I was in the school choir. Even then, as they say in the music business, they carried me.

I’m still no soloist, but I can sing the tune with people around me, or sometimes even a simple bass line if I can hear the piano well enough. It’s not enough to make me sing when I’m alone in worship, but congregational singing has become a part of worship that brings me greater joy. I think God always enjoyed my heartfelt efforts but now I do too, even if other worshippers are slightly disturbed.

I share that story to illustrate how we can all improve our worship even if we think have no discernable gift. It begins with understanding that the very act of giving itself is an indispensable part of worship, more basic even than singing.

You all know that giving supports the work, recognizes the ownership of God, expresses trust, and so much more. Did you ever think of it as worship? It is.

The worst day of Abraham’s life was when God tested him by asking him to sacrifice his son. Abraham says something critical that day about his intentions. He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.” (Genesis 22:5, NIV).

Did you catch it? They were going not merely to sacrifice, but to worship. Sacrifice, or giving to God, has always been equated with worship, even (and perhaps especially) when that giving requires more from us than we thought we had to give. (If you don’t know the happy ending to this story, treat yourself by reading Genesis 22.)

I’m no Abraham. My offerings can’t be compared to his, yet I learned to enhance my worship experience with something I thought I didn’t have to give.

Worship takes many forms. Some are very basic, such as prayer. Some are wonderful but perhaps optional, like the joyful noises we make. Now that you see giving as an act of worship, do you think it is essential or optional? Just as importantly, do you believe you can improve?

I was confident in my assessment of my talent, but Mr. Otto believed in me. God sees good things in you that you don’t know are there. Under His direction, it can be brought out in ways that will bring you a deeper worship experience. It happens when your presence, prayer, singing, and giving all come from your heart, and all improve with your growth in Christ.

—Doug Inglish is RMC Vice president for administration and stewardship director. Photo generated through Adobe Firefly.

04 Dec

FEJA RMC-EL MINISTERIO JUVENIL DE LA OBRA HISPANA CELEBRA EL PRIMER FESTIVAL DE COROS EN LA IGLESIA DE BOULDER

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Grecia Nava – Denver, Colorado … La Federación de Jóvenes Adventistas (FEJA), ligada al Ministerio Hispano de la Rocky Mountain Conference, participó de un fin de semana muy especial, Noviembre 15-17, comenzando por el Viernes con un Culto de Adoración y Recepción de Sábado, un Culto de Adoración el Sábado por la mañana, y culminando por la tarde con un concierto en donde grupos de varias iglesias participaron con dos alabanzas cada quien.

Los miembros de la Directiva se encargaron de organizar este evento principalmente para jóvenes, pero donde toda la iglesia podía participar y estar presente. Entre ellos se encontraban Daniel González (Presidente), Grecia Nava (Directora de Música), Abisaí Escobar (Director de Sonido), el Pastor Hugo Guillén (Pastor Consejero), Cyndi Chávez (Secretaria), Abisay Aguilar y Abany Aguilar (Director y Asistente Actividades Recreativas), entre otros que fueron de gran apoyo para que este evento se llevara a cabo.

Entre los grupos invitados para el concierto se encontraban El Trío Shirá de la IASD Hispana de Colorado Springs, el Coro Infantil de la IASD Denver Sur, Embajadores de Cristo, el Coro de Adultos de la IASD Denver Sur, Redeemed Music Ministry y el grupo invitado Adventus. Todos ellos unidos dieron un canto inicial llamado “Aleluya” de los Arautos Do Rei, y posteriormente cada grupo compartió dos alabanzas respectivamente. Al finalizar el concierto, se vivió un momento especial de reflexión y culminó con el himno “Una esperanza”.

El orador invitado Jairo Rodríguez, quien viajó desde Ensenada, Baja California, México compartió temas alusivos al título del evento “Nuestra Redención Está Cerca”, además de dar un breve seminario de cómo ser un verdadero adorador, como lo menciona Juan 4:23-24 “Mas la hora viene, y ahora es, cuando los verdaderos adoradores adorarán al Padre en espíritu y en verdad; porque también el Padre tales adoradores busca que le adoren. Dios es Espíritu; y los que le adoran, en espíritu y en verdad es necesario que adoren.”

Como parte de un Ministerio Musical llamado Adventus fundado por nuestro invitado orador, le acompañaron Kenia Barocio en el violín y Alan Ramírez en el saxofón, ambos compartiendo música instrumental que nos elevó al trono de la Gracia de Dios.

Realmente fue una fiesta musical que todos pudimos disfrutar en compañía del Espíritu Santo. Deseamos que haya sido de gran bendición para todos los participantes, asistentes y también para los que estuvieron viendo la transmisión. Deseamos que el próximo año también podamos realizar este evento con el fin de que puedan surgir nuevos grupos en nuestra área y las nuevas generaciones tengan una sólida Filosofía de Adoración al único que se lo merece, nuestro Dios.

Sabemos con certeza que Cristo viene pronto, y estos eventos nos preparan para ese gran momento en el que todos juntos alabemos con Nuestro Señor y Redentor.

“Dios ha entretejido la música en la trama misma de su creación. Por ejemplo, cuando hizo todas las cosas, “alababan todas las estrellas del alba, y se regocijaban todos los hijos de Dios”. Job 38:7. El libro del Apocalipsis describe el cielo como un lugar de alabanza incesante, que resuena con cánticos de adoración a Dios y al Cordero por parte de todos.” Una filosofía adventista acerca de la música.

—Grecia Nava es directora de música para La Federación de Jóvenes Adventistas. Fotos proporcionadas.

04 Dec

RMC-YOUTH FEJA MINISTRIES CELEBRATES FIRST MUSIC FESTIVAL IN BOULDER

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Grecia Nava – Denver, Colorado … The Adventist Youth Federation (FEJA), in association with Hispanic Ministries of the Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC), was part of a special weekend held at the Boulder Seventh-day Adventist Church in Boulder, Colorado, November 15-16.

The program included a special worship vespers, a morning worship service on November 16, and a closing concert Saturday evening where various musical groups and choirs from different churches participated with two songs each. The program was mainly directed towards the youth of the church, but all ages were welcome to attend.

Members of the FEJA board organized the whole event. Among the board members were president Daniel González, music director Grecia Nava, sound director Abisaí Escobar, counselor Hugo Guillén, secretary Cyndi Chávez, Abisay Aguilar and Abany Aguilar, Recreational Activities director and assistant, among other people that assisted to make this event possible.

The concert began with all invited groups singing “Aleluya” by Arautos Do Rei. Then individual music groups that presented in the program included the Trio Shirá from the Colorado Springs Hispanic Seventh-day Adventist Church, the Children’s and the Adult Choir from Denver South Seventh-day Adventist Church, the Embajadores de Cristo, the Redeemed Music Ministry, and the Adventus Music Ministry as the invited group.

“Towards the end of the night, we lived a special moment of reflection and ended with the hymn ‘We Have this Hope’,” recounted González.

He continued, “Our invited speaker, Jairo Rodríguez, who traveled from Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico, shared important keynotes, all referencing the title of the event ‘Our Redemption is Near,’ as well as an important presentation on how to be a true worshiper: Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24, NIV).”

Members of the Adventus Music Ministry, which was founded by guest speaker Rodríguez, were accompanied by Kenia Barocio on the violin and Alan Ramírez on the saxophone, who both shared beautiful instrumental pieces to elevate the program.

“It was truly a musical feast that all of us had the privilege to enjoy accompanied by the Holy Spirit. We wish that this event could be a blessing for every participant, every attendee, and for everyone who watched and will watch the program through the live stream as well,” remarked González.

“It is also our desire for next year to continue with this program so that the music in our church may grow and that the coming generations may have a firm philosophy of worship to the only one who deserves it, our God. We surely know that Jesus is coming soon, and we strongly believe that these events have the power to prepare us for that great day in which all of us will be able to sing and worship our Lord and Redeemer,” he concluded.

“God has intertwined music in his creation. For example, when he made all things, ‘…the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy.’ (Job 38:7, NIV). The book of Revelation describes heaven as a place of ceaseless worship, that resounds with songs of worship to God and the Lamb by everyone that is there.” (Una filosofía adventista acerca de la música).

—Grecia Nava is music director for the Adventist Youth Federation (FEJA). Photos supplied.

27 Nov

ARVADA CHURCH SUPPORTING MINISTRY IN AFRICA

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Miloš Tomić – Arvada, Colorado … Visiting Africa is generally a major eye-opening experience for westerners when they realize how little some have and yet live joyfully. This experience puts a whole new perspective on what they have and still, somehow, feel they don’t have enough. The Arvada Seventh-day Adventist Church in Arvada, Colorado, decided to round up all those usable goods from their homes and pass them on to the ones less fortunate.

The Arvada Church acquired a shipping container. Filling the container took time, but it got filled up. “Small things, big things, cool things, fun things poured in to better the lives of some strangers on the other side of the world. Strangers they might be, but they are our brothers and sisters in Christ,” remarked Miloš Tomić, associate pastor at the Arvada Church.

Among the items donated were one hundred quality chairs for the recipients’ worship services courtesy of Wilson Cruz, Arvada Church audio coordinator. Also, five thousand pairs of reading glasses for local clinics and schools were provided courtesy of Branko and Denise Loncar, participants in the outreach.

To help with repairing local church buildings, a cement mixer and several tools were sent courtesy of Al Bargas, Arvada Church member. Furniture items, clothing, shoes, hygiene products, toys, electronics, and monitors and projectors for schools were among the items sent as well.

Tomić added, “The power of things to make this world a better place is at our fingertips. Just look at things around you that you own. If you don’t need them, we’ll pass them on to the ones who will benefit so much from them. We are planning to send another container in March next year. You are most welcome to join the effort.”

For more information on making donations, contact Pastor Tomić at [email protected]

—Miloš Tomić is the Arvada Seventh-day Adventist Church associate pastor. Photo supplied.

26 Nov

CAMPUS WIDE FALL FESTIVAL BRINGS FOOD, FUN, AND FESTIVITIES

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Damaris Lopez-Morquecho – Loveland, Colorado … Members of the local community around Campion Academy (CA) in Loveland, Colorado, filled the school gymnasium to celebrate the annual fall festival hosted by HMS Richard’s Adventist school. Over 300 people came to enjoy the food and activities, supporting the fundraising efforts of each class.

A variety of activity booths entertained the visitors including face painting, rock climbing, nerf gun wars, and more. Each student took a turn to work at their class booth. “My favorite booth was the sophomore booth because all my friends were working there, and a lot of people were there from different cultures. It was interesting to talk to them,” commented Isreal Ortiz, CA sophomore student.

A new addition this year was the “Pie in the Face” activity presented by the junior class. Participants collected tickets in order to have a pie pan full of whipped cream smeared on another person’s face. Rodolfo Segawa, one of the people selected to be pied, reflected, “It was pretty fun and yummy getting pied in the face.”

People filled up on different kinds of food and desserts offered by the classes. The two most popular booths were sophomores serving Mexican food and the seniors serving Indonesian food. Both classes sold out before the evening concluded. “My favorite part of the fall festival was the food, especially the Indonesian food,” reflected by Michael Fresse.

As a fundraiser, the event was a success. Classes and clubs from HMS Richards and Campion Academy raised money from their booth sales, with the senior class earning the most, raising $1,600 for their class trip.

—Damaris Lopez-Morquecho, Campion Academy Student News Team. Photos supplied.

26 Nov

BUILDING BRIDGES IN BRIGHTON WITH CLUB MINISTRIES

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Michelle Morrison – Brighton, Colorado … Ever wondered how to get your non-Christian family members to cross the bridge to faith? Or how about the same in the raising of your children? The Brighton Seventh-day Adventist Church in Brighton, Colorado, has been connected to a church school for over 100 years, the Brighton Adventist Academy (BAA).

Over half of the BAA school roster is comprised of families that are not members of a Seventh-day Adventist church. The relatively new Pathfinder and Adventurer clubs at Brighton Church seem to be that bridge of bringing those children and families into faith.

While the church has had both clubs in the past, participation in them had dwindled to nothing. “In 2022,” recalled Michelle Morrison, communication secretary for the Brighton Church, “two mothers of small children wanted to provide a way, for not just for their own kids, but the others in the church family and school to get together and grow in skills and relationship with each other and God.”

Nayely Terrazas and Lindsey Andrews needed a leader and found the needed help for the club ministries through Sandra Santos, 2022-24, and Evonne and Carl Syvertson, 2024-25. The Brighton Bluejay’s Adventurer and Silverwings Pathfinder Clubs were reestablished.

The first meeting in August 2022 started with 10 Pathfinders and 16 Adventurers. Bimonthly Monday after-school meetings with a monthly Sunday event comprised the rest of the year including such events as Inside the Orchestra, Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum, Bike Day, Butterfly Museum, Karate Club, History Colorado Center, the Denver Zoo, and Christmas Blessing Bag Party.

The most recent bridge events were a Sabbath morning pancake breakfast, November 9, that fed into the following Sabbath’s Induction Ceremony on November 16, during the first half of the church service. Morrison commented, “How often do you get to eat breakfast together with CHURCH family? It was so awesome that no one wanted to go to Sabbath School!”

She continued, “And the Induction? What does that word even mean? Well, it’s when new members are welcomed into these fun and character growing clubs. Approximately 40 orderly, uniformed kids and staff marched in singing their club’s theme song and led in sharing their pledge and law to a full church sanctuary. The recent International Camporee in Gillette, Wyoming, was featured in a short video, highlighting our Pathfinder club’s recent participation. Following the church service, a fellowship meal provided members a way to connect to the many families who stayed, yet another bridge to connect them with Jesus and us.”

Pathfinders and Adventure Clubs have a unique mission of connecting the children into the church’s fellowship who attend public school, home school, and church schools by uniting them in friendship with fun and spiritual character-building activities. These clubs create bridges of opportunities to connect people with Jesus and each other—isn’t that what we are all about?

—Michelle Morrison is the communication secretary for the Brighton Seventh-day Adventist Church. Photos supplied.

26 Nov

STEWARDSHIP: IT’S A MATTER OF TRUST

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By Doug Inglish

Some years ago, I was watching a father teach his daughter to swim. She was holding onto the ladder that descended into the water at the shallow end where she was clearly able to stand with her head above the water. He was in the pool behind her, his hands reassuringly on her shoulders.

“Okay,” he said to her calmly, “let go of the ladder now. You can stand up.”

“No!” she shouted. “I’ll go under the water!”

“No, it’s very shallow, and you can stand. Besides, I am right here, and I have hold of you. Nothing can happen to you.”

She was not convinced. “I won’t let go!”

In his soft, soothing voice, daddy patiently reasoned with her. “Remember when I taught you to ride a bike? I didn’t let you get hurt. Now you love to ride your bike. You will love to swim, too. But you can’t learn until you let go of the ladder.”

She remained resolute, but silent. So, daddy gave it one more try.

“Don’t you trust me?”

“I trust you, but I’m not letting go.”

That ended the lesson. He told her they would try again another time and took her to the wading pool where she was much happier.

Well, that was just a little girl who was scared of the deep water. I suspect her confidence grew as time went by, and by now she may have taught her own children to swim. It’s unlikely that she stayed stuck in her fears about the shallow end of the pool. If she really did trust her father, she learned to let go.

Of course, you are way ahead of me at this point, but I hope you keep reading while I make the obvious point. If we truly do trust our Father, won’t we learn to let go when He says He will hold us up?

Do you trust God enough to let go of tithes and offerings? You knew I was going to get to that, and you knew I was going to use this verse to support it. Malachi 3:10 tells us, “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it” (NIV).

I’m going to say something that might sound really mean right now about that scared little girl holding the ladder in the pool. No matter what she said, she really didn’t trust her daddy. He may have proven himself with bicycles, his firm grip may have been familiar to her from when he ran beside her holding her onto the bike, and he may have told the truth about the depth of the water just like he told the truth about how to ride down the sidewalk, but she would not let go. Her fear was bigger than her trust, no matter what she claimed. I’m not trying to be unkind. In fact, listening to her fear, I could not help but feel a great deal of empathy for her. But there is a logical conclusion based on the evidence. In fact, it is an inevitable conclusion. In this case at least, almost up to her neck in water and her toes not quite touching the bottom of the pool, she did not truly trust her father.

If we say that we trust God, but we don’t let go of what He claims as His, what is the logical conclusion based on this evidence? Has He not proven Himself trustworthy in our previous experiences with Him? Are His reassurances of blessing pouring out on us not believable?

I hope you believe in the mission of your church, but if you do, that’s not the reason to return tithe. I hope you believe that all you own belongs to Him anyway and you are just a steward, but that’s not the reason to tithe. I hope you have peace knowing that God will not accuse you of robbery, but that’s not the reason to tithe.  I hope that you are so grateful for all He has provided that you want to show how you feel through your gifts, but that is not the reason to tithe.

Well, okay, those are some good reasons. Pretty good anyway. But let’s get down to the heart of it: God doesn’t need your money any more than that daddy needed his little girl to let go of the ladder. But he was there beside her, encouraging and reassuring her, because he wanted her life to expand into a whole new experience that would provide her with a lifetime of enjoyment. But that was impossible if she didn’t trust him enough to let go.

The real reason to tithe is a matter of trust. Letting go is not about supporting the work, or understanding ownership, or peace, or even gratitude. Letting go is about trusting.

—Doug Inglish is RMC Vice president for administration and stewardship director. Photo by CJ Graglia of Pexels.

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