Faith Stories: Elizabeth and Brian Shoup’s Ministry Moment
Faith Stories: Stewardship Ministry Moment Oct. 12, 2014 from St. John’s UMC Baton Rouge on Vimeo.
On Sunday Brian Shoup spoke with his daughter Elizabeth about “Putting God First in Giving & Living.” Elizabeth is a 2nd grader at Wildwood Elementary, and the Shoup family has been worshipping at St. John’s for 3 years now!
Brian – Elizabeth, when did you start giving at church?
Elizabeth – Kindergarten
Brian – So more than two years huh. If you don’t mind me asking, how much do you give?
Elizabeth – Twenty-five cents per week.
Brian – So if your allowance is one dollar, what percentage of giving is that?
Elizabeth – Twenty-five percent.
Brian – Wow, the Bible suggests we give ten percent, but you give twenty-five?
Elizabeth – How much do you give, Daddy?
Brian – Not twenty-five percent. Let me skirt around that and ask you another question. Besides making us all look bad, why do you give? Is it because Mommy and I taught you to give?
Elizabeth – Yes and no. Yes, you did teach me to give, but I also want to give because I love God!
Brian – I know you do Elizabeth, and that is what makes me so happy. I can teach you to give, but I can’t teach you to fall in love with God. So if you love God, how do you put God 1st in your life?
Elizabeth – Instead of buying a coke, I could give that money to missions and instead of staying home watching TV, I can volunteer at the church!
Brian– That’s really nice Elizabeth. A few weeks ago, I went to a spiritual retreat with people from St. John’s and was reintroduced to a passage from Colossians that sums it up pretty well what I think it means to put God first is giving and living:
Colossians 3:15-17 CEB
The peace of Christ must control your hearts-a peace into which you were called in one body. And be thankful people. The word of Christ must live in you richly. Teach and warn each other with all wisdom by singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing to God with gratitude in your hearts. Whatever you do, whether in speech or action, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus and give thanks to God the Father through him.
Brian – It all starts with peace. Peace of mind leads to gratitude. Gratitude leads to giving thanks in all that we do! Sometimes it seems hard to put God first, so Elizabeth and I would like to encourage you all with part of a song we sing almost every night:
Our Father, who art in Heaven
Hallowed be thy name
Come and let Your glory,
Come and let Your glory fall.
Our Father, who art in Heaven
The rocks cry out Your fame
Come and let Your glory,
Come and let Your glory fall.
I will sing, sing a new song
I will sing, sing a new song
I will sing, sing a new song to the Lord
Brian – Will you pray for us Elizabeth?
Dear Lord, you give us so much. Teach us to sing a new song of gratitude in our hearts. Let the peace of Christ live in our hearts so we can put YOU FIRST! In Jesus’ name, Amen!