“The Genesis of A New Stewardship Era
The complex changes facing 21st century American churches demand newer, more innovative ministries and methods to build up the Body of Christ. There is an increasing need for families to have closer ties to the church. Larger church staffs and facilities are necessary to meet the need for stewardship training.
The increasing and diverse population, greater access to the world’s countries and our commitment to plant the gospel banner on every continent summons us to full stewardship responsibility.
The Premise
The Together Way Plan is based on the biblical premise that:
Stewardship responsibility embraces possessions, time, talent, body, mind, ministries, spiritual gifts and any other resource or facet of life given by God for the benefit of the individual, the family, the church and all extended ministries of the Body.
The ultimate purpose of all giving is to build up the Body of Christ and to preach and teach the gospel to all people.
Giving as God has prospered is the privilege and duty of every believer as well as the local church.
Each believer and local congregation should have the freedom to carry out stewardship responsibility as God leads them.
Free Will Baptists united in The Together Way Plan can do what no individual, no one local church or any one extended ministry can do alone to carry out our worldwide stewardship responsibility.
Starts With The Family
The foundation of stewardship education and practice begins with the family unit. Parents teach children the basics of stewardship: sharing, giving, caring for their bodies and minds, recognizing and developing talents.
The home introduces God’s love to children and leads them to respond to that love.
Through new education initiatives, The Together Way Plan will help equip parents to teach stewardship principles.
Continues With The Church
The church as a body builds upon the foundation laid by the family unit. Pastors, teachers, ministers and members reinforce basic stewardship principles. Families give through the church; the church through the budget process oversees the stewardship of corporate giving. Each church gives to extended ministries through the state and national cooperative percentage method and/or through the designated giving method.
The Together Way Plan will introduce new materials to assist the church in stewardship training. Ministry seminars and presentations will better acquaint members with their extended ministries.
Moves Forward
The Together Way Plan recognizes that the district and state ministries are worthy of support. The plan will encourage families and churches to under gird their local association outreaches with regular gifts.
One future goal is that state associations will forward at least fifty percent of Together Way funds toward funding national ministries.
The plan will offer initiatives for working with district and state leaders to expand stewardship training programs and emphasis from the district and state levels.
Culminates With Ministries
The Together Way Stewardship Plan starts with the family continues with the church; the district and state ministries move it forward, and the national ministries complete The Together Way circle that reaches around the world.
The Together Way Plan calls for our churches to underwrite the budgets of our national ministries through five special offerings each year:
IM, Inc. — World Missions Offering in April
Master’s Men — Father’s Day Offering in June
Rest of the Family Offering — September offering for Executive Office, WNAC, Commissions, National Youth Conference, Board of Retirement and the Free Will Baptist Foundation.
Noert American Ministries — Mission: North America Offering in November
Welch College — Ketteman Student Scholarship Drive in February”
This Information and much more from https://nafwb.org/togetherway/
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