When sharing in my Sabbath School one day about what I do during my devotional time in the mornings, I shared how I have a special chair in my bedroom and while there I read, pray, sing, look out the window, etc. Then I stopped myself and said, “I’m sorry I’m boring you with all these details.” One of the class members, a new Christian, looked at me and said, “No, please, keep going. I have no idea how to ‘have devotional time.’”
We do many things in the Christian life that we take for granted that others know how to do—especially new believers. We “have devotions,” we “keep the Sabbath,” we “give our tithes and offerings.” But more people than we realize have no clue how to do these things.
The Personal Giving Plan is the how of giving in the North American Division. While it’s not a hard-and-fast rule for giving, its purpose is to give members guidelines for giving.
The Personal Giving Plan (PGP) is not new. It’s been around for many years. But what is new is that:
- it is now available in English, Spanish, and French.
- the booklets are now available through AdventSource at a rate a fraction of the previous cost. You now pay approximately $.25 per booklet instead of $1.00 per booklet.
- PowerPoint presentations are now available, and in English, Spanish, and French. These can be used by local church leadership to share with a group how the PGP plan works. To access these presentations, go to https://www.nadstewardship.org/my-personal-giving-plan-booklet/
We plan many things in our lives but, often, we don’t plan our giving. I hope this resource will help your members understand how “planned giving”—not only when we die, but while we’re living!!—is a source of joy as we return and give in gratitude to the Lord, and is an act of compassion as we give regularly to those in need.