by Chris McDaniel | May 27, 2025 | Growth as a Giver
As believers, we’re called not just to live well —but to finish well. The Apostle Paul said, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7). That’s the kind of legacy we want to leave for our spouses, our children, our...
by Chris McDaniel | May 27, 2025 | Uncategorized
7 Habits to Shape the Second Half of Life—and Eternity When we think of legacy, we often picture grand accomplishments etched into history or fortunes passed down through generations. But true legacy—one that touches your spouse’s heart, guides your children’s lives,...
by Chris McDaniel | Apr 14, 2025 | Growth as a Giver
For generations, men have been taught — both subtly and explicitly — that their primary duty in life is to provide for their families. From early biblical times to modern culture, the image of the man as the provider has dominated conversations about masculinity and...
by Chris McDaniel | Apr 7, 2025 | Growth as a Giver
One of the most recognizable home workout systems in recent years is P90X—an intense program designed to take fitness to the next level. If you have a television, you’ve most likely seen an infomercial featuring Tony Horton, creator of the system, with testimonies...
by Chris McDaniel | Apr 7, 2025 | Growth as a Giver
What does true generosity look like? Is it writing a check, donating clothes, or giving your time? The story of Zacchaeus, a wealthy tax collector turned radical giver, flips our idea of generosity on its head. It wasn’t guilt or obligation that prompted his giving—it...
by Chris McDaniel | Apr 7, 2025 | Growth as a Giver
More Than Enough: The Power of Prayerful Generosity “Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp: ‘No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.’ And so the people were restrained from bringing more, because what...
by Chris McDaniel | Mar 14, 2025 | Growth as a Giver
Stop Studying and Start Living: The Bible Calls for Action Many Christians pride themselves on how much time they spend reading the Word. They underline passages, memorize scriptures, and participate in Bible studies. Their shelves are filled with devotionals,...
by Chris McDaniel | Jan 25, 2025 | Growth as a Giver
What is the purpose of money? It’s crucial to ask, given we often struggle with earning, saving, spending, and giving away money. Many subscribe to financial newsletters to improve their finances, but have you considered its true purpose in your life?...
by Chris McDaniel | Jan 25, 2025 | Growth as a Giver
Matthew 6:1-4 – “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and...
by Chris McDaniel | Jan 25, 2025 | Growth as a Giver
“Stewardship is God’s way of raising people, not man’s way of raising money” (Willmer, Smith. 2002.)1 In Romans 12:8 we learn that some excel in the gift of giving. But what about everyone else? We’ve all heard of spiritual disciplines such as prayer, worship, Bible...
by Chris McDaniel | Jan 25, 2025 | Growth as a Giver
What makes one generous? I can reflect on times I’ve tried to live generously with my finances through pure willpower and determination. While I saw the initial fruit, this never produced a lasting change in my soul. Life’s ups and downs slowly...
by Chris McDaniel | Jan 25, 2025 | Growth as a Giver
On Sep 24, 2012, the final play of the Monday Night’s NFL matchup between the Packers and Seahawks, seemed to expose to the nation why the real referees are so important to maintain the integrity of the game from an officiating perspective. Just ask Roger...
by Chris McDaniel | Jan 25, 2025 | Growth as a Giver
This might sound like a strange question at first, but let me explain. Two places in Scripture cause me to ask this question: “And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven?” Luke 16:11 (read full context) “For...
by Chris McDaniel | Jan 25, 2025 | Growth as a Giver
Sarah’s parents were new to town, and she was just getting to know her classmates at church. As a second grader, she was full of energy and beaming with naughtiness. As Sarah’s Sunday school teacher, my wife provided me with a limitless supply of funny...
by Chris McDaniel | Dec 3, 2024 | Growth as a Giver
Please Enjoy this guest article by Jay Link Have you ever heard the term “generous giving” used to describe someone who gives a lot away? The words “generous” and “giving” are both used in Scripture, albeit not in the same place very often. In Psalm 37:21 (NIV) David...
by Chris McDaniel | Nov 23, 2024 | Growth as a Giver
G.K. Chesterton, an English apologetics writer in the early 1900s stated, “Christianity has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found and not tried.” Stew on that quote for a minute. This has quickly become one of my favorite quotes because I...
by Chris McDaniel | Nov 23, 2024 | Growth as a Giver
Let’s face it…we are against some great odds. As a parent, I hear often about the culture my children are right in the middle of and how it affects their view of “stuff”. From iPads to smartphones to brand-name clothes…the battle is on. Maybe you’ve...
by Chris McDaniel | Nov 23, 2024 | Growth as a Giver
Ephesians 2:10- “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we should walk in them.” Leaving a Legacy of Sacrificial Giving I facilitated a funeral and found life when I was expecting death. Funerals are...
by Chris McDaniel | Nov 23, 2024 | Growth as a Giver
Matthew 6:19-21 – “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;...
by Chris McDaniel | Nov 23, 2024 | Growth as a Giver
Romans 10:1-3 – “Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation. For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. For not knowing about God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their...
by Chris McDaniel | Nov 23, 2024 | Growth as a Giver
What the Scriptures Reveal about God and Poverty There are many Scriptures that address God’s heart for and perspective of the poor. I have selected just a few to help us draw a conclusion to the subject question: Giving and helping the poor is core to God’s...
by Chris McDaniel | Nov 23, 2024 | Growth as a Giver
At first blush, this question might seem like a no-brainer to readers. But, who are the poor? What does God’s Word say about the poor? How do we effectively help the poor? Let’s dig in! Who are the poor? Because all of us come from different...
by Chris McDaniel | Nov 18, 2024 | Equipping Development Professionals
A key resource you should consider walking through with individuals is Stuff and Soul by Dr. Wesley Willmer. Here is a highlight of this book, and if you want a free copy, click here and let me know. Top three principles from Stuff and Soul: Mastering the Critical...
by Chris McDaniel | Sep 23, 2024 | Equipping Development Professionals
We surveyed larger capacity donors and asked them a few key questions. Did you know that Westfall Gold did a study that showed 89 percent of those within your EXISTING donor base can give more? Why are they not giving more? Because of a lack of engagement!...
by Chris McDaniel | Aug 24, 2024 | Equipping Development Professionals
Stewardship is the foundation of a healthy church culture. Being a steward is not synonymous with stewardship. Most churches and leaders have stewardship campaigns, but they talk about stewardship as if it were merely an activity or a single topic of study. This...
by Chris McDaniel | Aug 24, 2024 | Equipping Development Professionals
Six Tips for Pastors and Small Group Leaders Consistently Americans spend far more on food, vacations, and retail merchandise in the last three months of the year and followers of Christ are prone to the same stewardship patterns. Everywhere we turn—stores,...
by Chris McDaniel | Aug 24, 2024 | Growth as a Giver
Many readers who plan to get married in the future can think right away of the pastor they would want to do their wedding. Even if you don’t, nearly every state requires a member of the clergy to officiate a legally recognized wedding. Since this is the...
by Chris McDaniel | Aug 24, 2024 | Growth as a Giver
So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel. 1 Corinthians 9:14 There are only a handful of people you connect with in life who have such a profound impact on your family that it’s hard to put into words. I was...
by Chris McDaniel | Aug 23, 2024 | Equipping Development Professionals
Let’s get this out of the way early—organizational leaders don’t always make the right decisions. For over 30 years, I have held leadership roles in non-profit, military, and private businesses. I have daily faced the need to make decisions in areas of vision,...
by Chris McDaniel | Aug 23, 2024 | Equipping Development Professionals
Christian leaders, including development staff, who believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and choose prayerfully to pursue eternal Kingdom values, will seek to identify the sacred Kingdom resources of God’s economy within these parameters:[1] God, the creator and...
by Chris McDaniel | Aug 23, 2024 | Equipping Development Professionals
“The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is...
by Chris McDaniel | Aug 23, 2024 | Growth as a Giver
How do Christians decide what to support when everyone has their hands out? Wesley Willmer shares on page 96 of God and Your Stuff that, “70 percent of giving is impulsive, 20 percent out of habit, 7 percent thoughtful, and just 3 percent careful or intentional.” ...
by Chris McDaniel | Aug 23, 2024 | Equipping Development Professionals
In today’s environment, it is not uncommon to find churches 20%-30% behind budget. While this challenging reality exists, pastors have an opportunity to disciple their congregation to even greater levels of generosity. Most pastors are comfortable challenging their...
by Chris McDaniel | Aug 15, 2024 | Missionary Support Raising
What About Asking? Is asking for financial support biblical? Does Scripture show us some models and examples on whether its OK to ask for financial support as a long-term missionary or short-term worker? Let’s once again look at some models and patterns from...
by Chris McDaniel | Aug 13, 2024 | Missionary Support Raising
There are many Christians who struggle with the concept of raising support. It is not a topic often addressed and taught in the Church and leaves many wondering if it’s biblical. This can hinder potential full-time missionaries or short-term workers from moving...
by Chris McDaniel | Jul 19, 2024 | Growth as a Giver
Have you ever sensed that tithing could become so routine and automatic that it seems to have lost the “why” behind it and “Who” we do it for? I have noticed that in some families, tithing can become so routine that both spouses and children feel distant and lose...
by Chris McDaniel | Jul 19, 2024 | Growth as a Giver
Exploring Transformational vs. Transactional Generosity In the past, I have wondered if my giving really matters. After all, it is so little compared to what some can give. There have also been times when I have struggled financially and decided not to give because...
by Chris McDaniel | Jul 2, 2024 | Missionary Support Raising
A proven and tested approach With so many books, resources, techniques, and ideas out there, it can be hard to know where to begin when raising support to serve on a short-term mission. We can lose balance with information overload and feel completely...
by Chris McDaniel | Jun 24, 2024 | Growth as a Giver
Exploring Transformational vs. Transactional Generosity Read the Bible…check. Pray…check. Go to church…check. Give 10% …check. Many today would consider these spiritual tasks being faithful to God. After all, if you are giving 10%, you...
by Chris McDaniel | Jun 24, 2024 | Growth as a Giver
2 Corinthians 8:11-13 – “But now finish doing it also, so that just as there was the readiness to desire it, so there may be also the completion of it by your ability; For if the readiness is present, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according...
by Chris McDaniel | Jun 24, 2024 | Growth as a Giver
Stagnant Pond or Flowing Stream? What makes a stagnant pond different than a flowing stream? Here are a few of my observations. A stagnant pond is cutoff from any source, and the water is not fresh. In fact, the origin of the word pond comes from a variant of the...
by Chris McDaniel | Jun 24, 2024 | Growth as a Giver
Five Simple Ideas to Give Anonymously Matthew 6:2 (NLT) –”When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do–blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have...
by Chris McDaniel | Jun 24, 2024 | Growth as a Giver
Generational Generosity Inviting the next generation to participate in generosity Generosity is a foundational principle in our family. Growing up, we watched our parents faithfully serve in ministry for many years. They made countless sacrifices and dedicated many...
by Chris McDaniel | Jun 24, 2024 | Equipping Development Professionals
Do you know how to disciple generous givers? Do you know how to disciple generous givers? What do you want for your financial supporters versus from them? These questions have been etched in my heart lately. It’s as if I cannot escape them, as though God keeps putting...
by Chris McDaniel | Jun 24, 2024 | Equipping Development Professionals
Modeling Generosity Unlocks Financial Resources Rethink Your Approach to Financial Resources A common challenge for Christian leaders is to secure financial resources for ministry. I certainly experienced this when I was tasked with raising them. Frequently,...
