Reverse Thinking

I read on the UM Reporter blog that a Titusville, Florida did a reverse offering. Each family unit in the church -- 221 of them -- was given a $50 bill and told to: "Use your talents, imaginations and entrepreneurial skills to multiply that investment."

A few months later, the reverse offering amount of $10,600 had become $24,500.

I think this project can teach us a few things.

• It couldn't have been done without the realization that the $50 was a blessing. Any family unit that looked at $50 and thought, "this isn't enough to do anything" would have done just that -- nothing. Scarcity creates defeatism.
• When we realize that what we have is not our own, then we have the potential to become better stewards
• Perhaps as a church, we need to have more faith in the talents of our members

Image: Myrtle Beach at Sunset