Thriving

This Sunday starts a very special season in our church; we will be kicking off a Generosity Initiative. If you are wondering what that is, think "capital campaign" to raise money for a building, but more.  Whereas a capital campaign has as its end game a certain amount of money raised, a generosity initiative sees raising money as only the beginning of our understanding of how we become more like our Creator--the first and most generous giver!

The title of this initiative is Thriving. The reason is simple; St. Patrick's vision is that, through the gospel, God will use us to produce people who are flourishing, and helping others to do the same. The story of the Bible is that a generous God sent his son to die in the place of sinners so that, in removing the curse of sin, we would flourish as a people.

So I encourage you to be here Sunday. For the next four weeks, we will be discussing "The God of Generosity." After our morning worship, each family will receive an informational packet containing a short brochure entitled Thriving that lays out our vision, and why we think now is the time for us to invest in a new building on the land we own on Byhalia and White--land strategically located right in the heart of Collierville, where we will be about the business of making disciples who know what it means to flourish and thrive in the gospel as they love God, love people and love life.

Included in your packet will also be a 28-day devotional booklet called Generosity, by Gordon MacDonald. Our prayer is that each family will use this powerful booklet daily, and ask God to give them eyes to see the possibilities of gospel transformation as we ponder the generosity of God.

Sunday, we will start this season of generosity by going back and looking at the heart of God. If you ponder the very nature of God, you have to come away with this: God is the first and most generous giver; it is his very nature to be generous. Just think about it: God made the first move of generosity, and the second, and the third and....well, you get the picture.

I hope to see you this Sunday, but if you are not able to be here, we will mail yourThriving Initiative packet on Monday.

Blessings,

Jim