Unlocking God’s Resources God’s Way
The year 2024 is a time of celebration for the Seventh-day Adventist Church, marking the 150th anniversary of a long journey of sending missionaries from everywhere to everywhere. We rejoice over this milestone accomplishment and reflect on how to move forward and faster in our mission.
As we approach the culmination of human history, the Stewardship Ministries Department is dedicated to supporting the task to “spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24, NIV). As church leaders and stewardship educators, how can we best fulfill this assignment? We are poles of influence; whatever we do or neglect to do will shape the world around us. However, not all our actions generate the same quality of response, so it is wise to pause and reflect on the most effective ways to sharpen our influence for good.
Inspired by our past, this issue of Dynamic Steward explores how education and the promotion of Systematic Benevolence can decisively influence members’ involvement in supporting the further expansion of mission. Systematic Benevolence stands as the best path toward materializing the slogan borrowed from the Ugandan Union: “I will go as a faithful steward.”
We do not intend to disregard the appropriateness of other factors influencing congregational giving. Many individuals give in response to perceived existing needs, while others are moved by special appeals, as evidenced in Scripture. Nonetheless, our Dynamic Steward contributors, through an exploration of the Bible, the Spirit of Prophecy, and SDA Church history, establish Systematic Benevolence—giving in response and in proportion to what one has earned or received—as a primary method of supporting God’s church in this final generation.
Systematic giving was not always the preferred giving method among Sabbatarian Adventists; they had a more erratic approach to giving. However, over time, guided by God through Bible studies and prophetic revelations, they recognized the importance of embracing Systematic Benevolence to sustain the mission entrusted to them. Ellen G. White commended the brethren for adopting Systematic Benevolence, noting that even in its infancy, “the plan of systematic benevolence is pleasing to God.”[1] Reflecting on the effect of a fully developed systematic giving plan, Johannes Kovar remarked: “It (Systematic Benevolence plan) came at just the right time for the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Foreign missions and the rapid expansion of the church were greatly enhanced by the increased resources that came in through following the Bible tithing plan.”[2]
In addition to its historical and biblical anchorage, research in social science and church leadership has demonstrated the effectiveness of Systematic Benevolence. Several studies highlight the advantages of systematic giving over occasional, impulsive, or project-driven giving (Hoge & Yang, 1994; Hoge et al., 1996; Mundey, King, et al., 2019; Smith et al., 2008). When elements such as planning, pledging, and giving as a percentage are present, members tend to give a higher amount and a higher percentage of their incomes. In a recent study (Barbe, 2024), Adventist Church pastors reported how their practice of promoting and teaching “to continually give to God as He continues to bless us” and to transform religious giving into a “consistent practice” resulted in a situation where members’ giving did not dwindle during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The adoption of Systematic Benevolence demonstrates how God has guided His church to progressively understand the present truth about giving. Through this giving approach, He has provided the necessary resources for mission expansion and more. When members engage in Systematic Benevolence through tithing and offerings, they cultivate a mindset of putting God first and gratefulness.
As we strive to complete what began in 1874, let’s join forces to prioritize and revive systematic giving.
Enjoy, implement, and share. Maranatha!
[1] Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1 (Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1885), 190.
[2] Johannes Kovar, “Systematic Benevolence,” last modified March 17, 2022, https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/article?id=5JHL.
