Dear Church Family,
 
When we talk about stewardship, most of us probably think first about the resources that come into our homes each month: our income, our budget, and the portion we prayerfully choose to give. Those are important parts of faithful stewardship, but they are not the whole picture.
 
In 2 Corinthians 8, Paul writes about a generous financial gift that was being entrusted to him and others for ministry. What stands out to me is how seriously he took the responsibility. Paul wanted that gift to be administered in a way that was honorable not only before the Lord but also before people.
 
I believe there is an important principle there for us. God calls each of us to be faithful with what He has entrusted to us, and those of us entrusted with leadership in the church have a responsibility to steward those resources wisely and help people understand the opportunities available to them.
 
That is one reason I want to share something with you today that you may never have considered.
 
For many of us, giving has always meant giving from our regular income. But God may also have entrusted resources to us in other forms. Appreciated stock, retirement accounts, and donor-advised funds are just a few examples of assets that can sometimes be used for charitable giving. Depending on your circumstances, there may be possibilities you simply have never thought about.
 
The point is not simply to give more but to prayerfully think differently about how we give.
 
Our friends at Mortarstone Charitable have a valuable document that explains several of these possibilities in straightforward terms called the 2026 End of Year Generosity Guide.
 
One area I especially want some of our church family to be aware of involves retirement accounts. For those age 70½ and older, the guide explains Qualified Charitable Distributions from an IRA. It also addresses Required Minimum Distributions and ways those funds may be used for charitable giving. The guide covers other possibilities as well, including appreciated stock and grants from donor-advised funds.
 
I recognize that some of this may be unfamiliar, and I am certainly not suggesting that every option is appropriate for every person. These decisions can involve financial and tax considerations, and I encourage you to speak with your own financial or tax advisor as you consider what’s wise for you.
 
We also want to help you ask the right questions. You’re welcome to contact Liana Fairbanks in our CityRise Business Office, or you can schedule a conversation here with Dr. Tim Deatrick, our philanthropic advisor through MortarStone.
 
Some forms of non-cash giving take longer to arrange than a typical gift, which is why I wanted to put this information in your hands now rather than at the end of December. My hope is simply that you will know these possibilities exist and, if one of them applies to you, have the resources you need to explore it thoughtfully and prayerfully.
 
Thank you for the many ways you faithfully support the work God is doing through CityRise. I am continually grateful for a church family that understands generosity as part of our discipleship and as an opportunity to participate in the advance of the gospel.
 
 
Expecting Greater,
Pastor Roger