January 21, 2025
Dear Members and Friends,
It is our deepest pleasure to be with you on this journey through the Pathways to Generosity program. The past two Sundays have been filled with inspirational messages and personal giving stories from Brown Hobson and me. If you were not able to attend worship either of these Sundays, you can see them on our church website: www.fpcasheville.org.
This past Sunday we were asked to consider our WHY. So often we focus on the what and the how and even the when, but the WHY is so much more important. WHY refers to our most fundamental belief that inspires us and motivates us to do what we do! Our WHY drives us to give ourselves to our families, our children, and our church. Next Sunday we will share a wonderful representation of our collective WHY — you won’t want to miss it!
Last Sunday we also shared with you the Giving Path. I have included one in this mailing to you, along with a Percentage Giving Chart. It is important to clarify what this chart is and is not. It is not something to pressure you into keeping up with any other giver or dollar amount. The chart is designed to provide information that may help you in determining where God is leading you to give.
One of the most critical steps in growth on The Giving Path is to become a percentage giver. Percentage givers make giving a priority and determine in advance what percent of income they will commit to God’s work through their church. The purpose of the Percentage Giving Chart and the Giving Path is to provide information and insights to help you determine where God may be leading you on your pathway to generosity.
As you can see, each of us is giving in different ways and in different amounts according to our means and God’s leading. The Giving Path and Percentage Giving Chart are intended as tools to help you as you
1) Identify where you are on The Giving Path and what percentage of your income you are currently giving, and 2) Identify where God may be calling you to move along the path in your giving.
Even as we journey together as a community of faith, each of us must determine our own WHY and trust God to lead us. As you consider all the ways God has blessed you and the ways in which First Presbyterian Church Asheville enriches your life and the lives of so many through our ministries, please consider moving further along The Giving Path to a place that challenges you, inspires you, and also brings you joy.
Our offering is our way of surrendering to God’s will and responding to God’s grace without expectation of anything in return. We are overjoyed to be on this incredible journey with you and look forward to seeing what God will do through each one of us.
Yours in Christ,
Donna Ensley
Stewardship Committee Chair