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Dr. Jo Anne Lyon



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Creative Generosity

In my travels, the subject of the economy tends to dominate conversations. However, among those who have put their trust in God, I have found that such conversations approach a different level than the banter we hear on TV. At the OWU board meeting, one of the board members made the statement, "Well, I have always donated stock to OWU in the past, but now I will just give cash and not change my giving amounts." As I listened to this businessman in his forties, I thought, this is faithful giving and trusting our God!

Last weekend I spoke for the Missions Conference at Eastern Hills Wesleyan in Buffalo, NY. To everyone's surprise and joy, the faith promises exceeded those of last year.

In Tulsa, two weeks ago, I met with the District Superintendents of my administrative area, the West Central area (MI, WI, and everything west of the Mississippi) for a 24-hour retreat. We met at a lodge in a grassy, hilly area outside of Tulsa, a retreat that some friends of mine had built for gatherings such as ours. They generously gave of their time and services for this event. All of us realize that we are leading at a very challenging, yet God-opportune time. The retreat provided us with much-needed "soul care" and enhanced our trusting relationships with each other. Both are needed to be the people that God has in mind for the leading and transforming of culture.

In the last few weeks, I have had conversations with individuals who have said that giving now means not giving out of the overflow but, rather, very intentional giving that requires the restructuring of their lifestyle. This will require thoughtful discipline. Perhaps Richard Foster's book Freedom of Simplicity could be a wonderful guide and form of celebration.

In another conversation, a friend and spiritual leader told of an invitation to meet with a major leader in the financial world. My friend said he assumed he was invited to assist with this leader's network. But, instead, as he entered and sat down in the office, immediately the leader said, "I invited you here to have prayer with me. I need divine wisdom."

These unexpected turns in life tend to bring all of us to another reality—what does God have to say? Another organization that falls under my area assignments is Hephzibah Children's Home (HCH). Having had the privilege to serve on the board of Hephzibah from 1984-1996, I am a bit familiar with the operation. In attending the board meeting last weekend, I found that a turn has come to this ministry in the last year. The state of Georgia changed their guidelines regarding group homes for children under 12. As a result, these children are going directly to foster homes as opposed to group homes.

As I sat at dinner with young girls who had become pregnant while in foster care, had their babies, and have no place to go, I watched these young mothers as they carefully held their babies. I wondered about their lives. The young woman next to me had numbers tattooed on her cheeks, a sign of gang membership. Somehow, as we shared chicken and rice together, I thought: This is Creative Generosity in her life. For now she is safe from the gangs, is learning to take care of her baby, and is working on her GED. With a bit of shyness, coupled with a bursting smile, she told me she was going to lead a praise dance team for the next worship service at HCH.

This is a new, very significant ministry for HCH. The doors are opening for this uncharted ministry and yes—this is something that can be a major culture transformer by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Still reflecting on these rapidly changing times, I was stunned as I read in The Economist (October 4, 2008 issue) the article "Sons of Heaven." Two pages were spent on the Christian Movement in China. The Christians now outnumber the Communists by a significant margin. The writer goes on to state, "In 1949, when the Communists took power, less than 1% of the population had been baptized, most of them Catholics. Now the largest, fastest-growing number of Christians belongs to the Protestant 'house churches.'" He goes on to describe the folks that attend the house churches. To his surprise, he found that it is varied in class and age and includes many of the young, upwardly mobile. The author describes entering a house church. He says, "All heads turned toward the display and sang along: 'Glory, Glory; Holy, Holy, Holy; God is near to each one of us.' It is Sunday morning, and worship is beginning in one of the thousands of house churches across China."

Worship at deeper levels is beginning with us as well—we are all citizens of the kingdom of God! I look forward to how God is going to break through and enable us to become creative generous givers in all ways.

Reflections