In This Issue:
Dick's Column | Transforming Truths | News You Can Use | Your Point of View
Spotlight | Market Indicators | Ministry Builders | Resources

Dick's Column

Dear G$ Friends and Colleagues,

It's been an exciting summer for the G$ Movement. For some months Good $ense and the Willow Creek Association have been working out a new relationship that has very exciting potential for the G$ Movement. Suffice to say, we have an ongoing relationship with WCA but also function as a separate LLC. You'll be hearing more in the near future.

Our editor, Matt Bell, has been called to give full time to his ministry, "Money, Purpose, Joy,"¨ so our newsletter is sort of sparse these days. But I trust you'll find lots of interesting and helpful information and opportunities in the following paragraphs.

GOOD SENSE TRAINING

EXCITING NEW G$ RESOURCES FOR YOUR 2009-10 MINISTRY YEAR

As you plan your 2009-10 ministry calendar note that two new, easy to use Good $ense resources will be available on DVD by the end of September. These resources can be used with groups of all sizes and the 2 hour format makes it easy to offer them at various times throughout the year.

FREED-UP IN LATER LIFE - Planning now for beyond 65

This 2 hour DVD based workshop focuses on later life (aka "retirement") planning for people of all ages. Led by Dick Towner and Dan Rotter, CFP, this workshop:

• Provides a biblical and practical planning approach
• Challenges some of the long held beliefs about retirement
• Guides participants through a process of determining their readiness for retirement and how to proceed going forward
• Discusses the basic principles of investing

This is a very timely workshop as boomers move into their 60s and statistics tell us that few younger individuals are adequately preparing financially for their later years.

FREED-UP FROM DEBT - How to Get Out and Stay Out

This 2 hour DVD based workshop features Matt Bell as presenter. Matt¡¦s teaching flows out of his own story of indebtedness and the journey toward financial wholeness which led to his finding Christ. This will be a powerful new resource for those within your congregation who are struggling with consumer debt. Another excellent resource would be Matt's new book, Money Strategies for Tough Times, Nav Press 2009.

RECESSION PROOFING MINISTRIES & CHURCHES WORKSHOP

The Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability is sponsoring a series of workshops around the country for church leaders, board members and church finance personnel that deals with the implications of the current economic crisis on the church. While not specifically stewardship ministry focused, there are implications for us as stewardship leaders and you might score some points with the finance folks in your church by calling the opportunity to their attention. Information can be found here..

A "PROVOCATIVE" RESOURCE - to get you and your team thinking:

THE CRASH COURSE -click here

I won't vouch for everything contained in the video and I'm open to the possibility of there being some solutions out there that will allow us to continue down our current path of consumption for longer than now appears possible. But Chris Martenson makes the point that we are on the steep slope of an exponential curve in a whole lot of areas, a point made years ago by Swenson in his book Margins. And it is an irrefutable fact that exponential growth within a finite system cannot go on forever.

If that's the case, then at some point (the sooner the better!) we're going to have to grapple with the idea of zero growth and maybe some of us who are at the top of the pyramid will even have to think of downsizing so that those at the bottom can move up at least a little. That's going to be a real hard sell!

But maybe, if we could shift our attention from growth in a material sense, we will be able to focus on growth in some other ways - relationships, compassion; dare I even say "love"? Those are the things that really would make for a genuine "increased standard of living" versus the way we have tended to measure it. Swenson put it this way; "If things (standard of living) are getting better and better, how come we're feeling worse and worse?"

IN CLOSING:

I said in my last letter this may be the best of times for stewardship ministry because now that the bubble has burst conditions exist for a massive shift in our financial behavior and our thoughts about where our ultimate security lies. I pray your ministry will play a significant role in helping bring that shift about.

Let me close with a Transforming Truth that appeared in this newsletter last October. It seems more relevant than ever:

Transforming Truths

"Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity." - Colossians 4:5

The wreckage on Wall Street is presenting an unprecedented opportunity to reach more people than ever with the message of biblical money management, and perhaps with the message of the Gospel. Now as never before is the time for stewardship leaders to step up - to work with other ministry leaders in our churches to help present Godly financial counsel to the many people inside and outside our churches who are hurting and fearful.

Whereas stewardship ministries typically promote their workshops within their churches, now is the time to invite those living near our churches, and to encourage members of our church to bring their friends, neighbors, and co-workers. Whereas many churches host workshops in the first quarter, now is the time to do things differently-to host events before Thanksgiving. As Paul exhorted, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up" (Galatians 6:9).

May this be a powerful, spirit-led ministry year for you and your team,

Sincerely in Christ,