"Love Gives" - Stewardship for 2025
During Stewardship each year, ODPC takes time to thank God for all HE has done through us and through the Church over the past 12 months. Out of this thankfulness, we open our hearts to pray and consider how we can continue to trust God and partner with Him through our financial giving in the upcoming year. It is a thoughtful time of introspection and hearing testimonies of God's faithfulness in this area, even as we learn to trust Him for ourselves. Below is a letter from our Senior Pastor on Stewardship...
During Stewardship each year, ODPC takes time to thank God for all HE has done through us and through the Church over the past 12 months. Out of this thankfulness, we open our hearts to pray and consider how we can continue to trust God and partner with Him through our financial giving in the upcoming year. It is a thoughtful time of introspection and hearing testimonies of God's faithfulness in this area, even as we learn to trust Him for ourselves. Below is a letter from our Senior Pastor on Stewardship...
Dear ODPC Family and Friends,
What a faithful, loving God we serve! At Ocean Drive Presbyterian Church, we have witnessed our faithful Father guiding us through the years. Reaffirming our core beliefs, we established a new direction of ministry in 2016 with the Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians (ECO). In the short time with ECO we’ve welcomed 507 new members and baptized 204 individuals with reaffirmation or faith in Jesus Christ. As God prepares us for more opportunities of missions and ministry in 2025, we ask that you partner with us through His church.
Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Matt. 6:21)
What is your greatest treasure – your family, your home, your bank account? Or is it your relationship with God? “This is how God showed His love for us: God sent His only Son into the world so we might live through Him.” (1 John 4:19) Your relationship with Jesus is founded in the Father’s love for you. As the body of Christ, we have the joy of sharing in His Kingdom’s work with our time, our talents, and with the giving of our tithes and offerings.
Mature discipleship involves stewardship. All that we are, and everything that we have, belongs to God. And He has appointed us stewards, or managers, over His blessings. God says, “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.” (Malachi 3:10) The “whole tithe” is 10% of your income. If you have never tithed, this may seem overwhelming. God challenges us to trust Him and to test Him, so that we may enjoy His richest blessings. So, begin today with what you can give in proportional giving, but know this: you can’t out-give God!
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Honor the Lord from your wealth and from the first of all your produce; so your barns will be filled with plenty and your vats will overflow with new wine.” (Proverbs 3:5-6, 9-10) As you trust in the Lord and believe He will supply all of your needs, your heart and your treasure will become aligned, and you will be more like Him.
Over the next two weeks, I ask that you prayerfully consider your 2025 Love Gives commitment. As you make a faith covenant with God in answer to what God calls you to do, please complete the two enclosed cards. Putting your faith covenant in writing will remind you that your giving is a commitment to God, and that it is prioritized and planned. Keep one card for yourself and bring the other to present to the Lord during worship on Stewardship Sunday, November 10th.
If you are unable to attend, please mail your Love Gives commitment card to the church or bring it on the following Sunday. While there are many worthwhile endeavors for us to monetarily support, only one has eternal value: and that is the Church dedicated to fulfilling the Great Commission given by our Lord Jesus. “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matt. 28:19-20) Grace and Peace to you and yours in Jesus Christ,
Warmly,
The Reverend Daryle Bush, Senior Pastor
What a faithful, loving God we serve! At Ocean Drive Presbyterian Church, we have witnessed our faithful Father guiding us through the years. Reaffirming our core beliefs, we established a new direction of ministry in 2016 with the Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians (ECO). In the short time with ECO we’ve welcomed 507 new members and baptized 204 individuals with reaffirmation or faith in Jesus Christ. As God prepares us for more opportunities of missions and ministry in 2025, we ask that you partner with us through His church.
Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Matt. 6:21)
What is your greatest treasure – your family, your home, your bank account? Or is it your relationship with God? “This is how God showed His love for us: God sent His only Son into the world so we might live through Him.” (1 John 4:19) Your relationship with Jesus is founded in the Father’s love for you. As the body of Christ, we have the joy of sharing in His Kingdom’s work with our time, our talents, and with the giving of our tithes and offerings.
Mature discipleship involves stewardship. All that we are, and everything that we have, belongs to God. And He has appointed us stewards, or managers, over His blessings. God says, “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.” (Malachi 3:10) The “whole tithe” is 10% of your income. If you have never tithed, this may seem overwhelming. God challenges us to trust Him and to test Him, so that we may enjoy His richest blessings. So, begin today with what you can give in proportional giving, but know this: you can’t out-give God!
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Honor the Lord from your wealth and from the first of all your produce; so your barns will be filled with plenty and your vats will overflow with new wine.” (Proverbs 3:5-6, 9-10) As you trust in the Lord and believe He will supply all of your needs, your heart and your treasure will become aligned, and you will be more like Him.
Over the next two weeks, I ask that you prayerfully consider your 2025 Love Gives commitment. As you make a faith covenant with God in answer to what God calls you to do, please complete the two enclosed cards. Putting your faith covenant in writing will remind you that your giving is a commitment to God, and that it is prioritized and planned. Keep one card for yourself and bring the other to present to the Lord during worship on Stewardship Sunday, November 10th.
If you are unable to attend, please mail your Love Gives commitment card to the church or bring it on the following Sunday. While there are many worthwhile endeavors for us to monetarily support, only one has eternal value: and that is the Church dedicated to fulfilling the Great Commission given by our Lord Jesus. “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matt. 28:19-20) Grace and Peace to you and yours in Jesus Christ,
Warmly,
The Reverend Daryle Bush, Senior Pastor
If you are a member and did not yet receive your letter in the mail, or have questions about stewardship, please call the Church office during the week at (843) 249-2312
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