^“If any of you need wisdom, you should ask God, and it will be given to you. God is generous and won’t correct you for asking.  But when you ask for something, you must have faith and not doubt.”                                           James 1:5-6 (CEV)

Download your Practical Guide to Living Generously after this two minute read:

Did you teach your children (or were you taught as a child) the 3-Envelope method of money management?  Remember — one envelope marked “spend,” one “save,” and one “give”?

Does the concept still work now that we are adults?  After all, there really are just three things we can do with the money God entrusts to us.  We can:

• Spend it on our lifestyle,
• Save it for a near or long-term future, or
• Give it away to others or to Kingdom enterprise.

Beginning with the basic principles of tithing, a common split in the envelope system is 80/10/10.  80% for lifestyle, 10% for savings, and 10% for giving to the Lord’s work.  Some families adjust the percentages – but rarely would the “save” or “give” percentage be the largest of the three.

As we mature and grow in living the giving life, a fair question to ponder is: What percentage should I place in each envelope?  Should I save more for a down payment on a house, a special trip for the BIG anniversary, or retirement?  Perhaps.

Should I give more to my local church, to help the poor and needy in Jesus’ name, or to world evangelism?  All good causes make a real and eternal difference.

As managers, trustees, stewards, we make decisions about how to use the Master’s resources.  God has entrusted you with some of His resources – both financial assets and your ability to earn —  and the income they produce.

James 1:5 tells us that God will help you decide what will honor Him and will be a wise use of His resources.  “If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father.  He loves to help.  You’ll get his help, and won’t be condescended to when you ask for it.”  (The Message)

May We Help?

We also have resources that you might find useful.  For a free eBook on financial giving and stewardship, CLICK HERE.  If you have questions, we are always available and will do our best to help you discover the answers. contact Jeff coon at jcoon@fameworld.org.

©2021 CDF Capital Foundation

 

Thank you! Because of the generosity of so many of you, FAME has been able to send help and hope to partners in India AND begin to replenish our Emergency Relief Fund.

One partner gift came with the following note. “It’s been 15 months since we sent a gift to FAME to help replenish your Emergency Fund to help with the first COVID-19 outbreak. Now you’re helping with an even deadlier outbreak in India. We’ve been praying earnestly for healing for India and the Gospel to spread faster than the virus.”

What a GREAT comment and prayer – that is exactly the need to which we have responded together with you!

There are 11 current FAME partners working in India who are bringing hope to a place where there was NO HOPE even BEFORE THE COVID outbreak!

Earlier this year, millions of Hindus took the once every 12-year pilgrimage to Haridwar to dip in the Ganges river. They believe that if they dip into the Ganges at the prayer ghats (steps into the river) that it will set them free from the cycle of birth and death. One BBC news reporter interviewed a man who said, “I am not afraid. The virus will be killed- such is the purity of the water of the Ganges river.” Their hope is in a set of steps they believe are the “footprint of Vishnu” and the water of the Ganges river.

They believe this “holy dip” in the Ganges river will cleanse their sins. Your FAME Partners in India are teaching and teaching and teaching thousands about the One True God, and His Son Jesus Christ who is the ONLY way to have sins forgiven. “For there is no other name by which we can be saved.” Acts 4:12

Thank you if you have been able to send help to India through FAME or another partner! The gospel is needed in this second most populated country in the world! Of course, right now, saving a life physically will extend it and allow them to hear and/or respond to the good news!

One partner wrote, “We had a good friend, a healthy girl from Punjab, highly dedicated Christian, well educated, talented. She ignored mild symptoms for 10 days, and then died after 2 days in a coma.” This is a terrible situation- BUT she knew the Lord and had the hope that comes in Jesus Christ. Millions do not have that hope – they put their hope in Vishnu, the principal deity of Hinduism – or thousands of other gods.

Your partnership is saving lives! Aside from the Pandemic impact on India – There are 5 Sustainable projects ready and/or on hold for completion in India. Thank you for joining us in helping to spread the gospel faster than the virus!

We have received urgent cries for help from multiple FAME partners in India and so as of today, we have depleted our Emergency Fund and sent help to acquire the necessary medical equipment and supplies to treat thousands.  The equipment is available for global medical partners to purchase- you and FAME can make it accessible to more people!

My next-door neighbor is Sikh.  When we first met, he was very surprised to learn that even though he had never been to the Sikh Golden Temple in Northwest India – I have seen it!

Why?  Because one of FAME’s partners serves in that region, in which fifty percent of India’s population resides!  Today thousands of these peaceful Sikh people, and many other religions are dying rapidly without knowing Jesus!  Without hope!

All of India is in crisis because of what news media has called a Tsunami of COVID outbreak!  Here is what two partners in North India reported last week about this ‘second wave.’

• Currently, the reported amount of COVID cases is above 350,000 every day.  These are just the reported numbers, we know that the real situation is much worse.  On top of this, there is a national shortage of medication, oxygen, medical equipment, and hospital beds. (CICM)
•   …. our biggest concern is for oxygen supplies for patients in critical care units. Of the 200,000 deaths so far in India up till now, most people are simply unable to make it due to lack of proper care. Even more saddening is the fact the death count in India does not even include people dying in their huts, homes, and villages who are unable to be admitted to hospitals. Hospitals are out of beds. Families desperately vie for oxygen supplies, as people attempt to care for their sick while Hospitals are unable to admit patients anymore. (NICM)

You can intervene!  Can you help us replenish our Emergency Fund?  The day after hearing about these needs, I authorized the funding to be sent- that is because of the generosity of people like you who keep us in a position to respond to Emergency and Crisis needs like this.  We usually don’t empty the account- but this need is so dire, and God’s people are so faithful we stepped out and sent all we had.  To be clear, the funding we sent is directly being used to purchase oxygen supplies and other essential COVID response medical equipment!!!

What’s next?  I don’t know what to expect with this virus; we thought things were winding down and that the global community was going to be seeing less infections.  But that is not the case, and we don’t know what additional global partners are going to need our help.  We never know what the next crisis will be!  We may need to respond this week, it may be in the future- but know this- it will be used to give access to healthcare that will give access to the gospel.

Can you put FAME back into a position of strength in our Emergency Fund with a gift of any amount?  You can follow the link below which will take you to www.fameworld.org/give and choose EMERGENCY RELIEF with your gift of any amount and you will literally save lives!   Lives of people who have and have not heard the gospel.  Lives of people who need another day to decide to respond to Jesus.

Bill Warren
FAME Executive Director