Paying It Forward
Roger and Annette Gregory share a faith history at CityRise | West U Baptist that spans over two decades, demonstrating how consistent involvement and radical generosity lay the foundation for a lasting spiritual legacy. Their story is a reminder that the Christian walk is a "life thing," not just a "Sunday morning thing."
The Gregorys were initially drawn to the West U Baptist campus for practical reasons—a close location, great preaching from Dr. Landrum, and a beloved class. But what truly drew them into our church family was the love of God they experienced, a commitment to a love that goes out into the world through mission trips, volunteering, and giving to support efforts across the globe.
The Generational Foundation of Giving
For the Gregorys, the practice of generosity was a value passed down through family. Annette learned about selfless giving from her grandmother, who cultivated an open home where everyone was welcome and where grandkids and great grandkids were served their favorite meals and desserts. Roger similarly recalled his childhood in a Baptist home where he "learned as a child about giving by writing out his mother's check on Sunday mornings.”
As an adult, however, Roger admits that God had to work on his heart when he started earning his own money. His breakthrough came from a scriptural conviction from Ezekiel 44:30.
“And the first of all the firstfruits of all kinds, and every offering of all kinds from all your offerings, shall belong to the priests. You shall also give to the priests the first of your dough, that a blessing may rest on your house.”
He realized Scripture called for the "firstfruits of every kind"—the very first portion—to be given, not an amount calculated at the end of the year. This moment changed his perspective, helping him understand tithing and generosity in a new way.
More Than Money: Paying It Forward
The Gregorys believe that giving is not always a direct transaction. Annette says that other people often reap the rewards for us—so often, putting in our time and money contributes to the flourishing of others, not only ourselves. Annette believes this is the true blessing and sees their financial support as a way to "pay it forward for future generations when we're not around."
Roger offers profound advice to anyone struggling with giving: "Don't worry about giving. Just love God. Let God love you. And giving . . . will be an outcrop of that.” He believes that when you focus on daily devotion, tithing and generosity cease to be large issues and become simply a part of loving God.
The fruit of this commitment is evident in their children's lives. Mission trips to the Dominican Republic and Ecuador profoundly impacted their sons. Annette recalls a mission trip where her sons recognized their greatest blessing wasn't their wealth but having a father, leading their oldest to suggest they should be teaching the people "how to be good dads" instead of ESL. Furthermore, a conversation on the Ecuador trip with a church member helped guide their oldest son's decision to attend Texas A&M, a life-changing event that would not have happened otherwise.
The Gregorys' life shows that generosity born from a deep love for God is the engine that drives spiritual growth, family connection, and powerful life-change, both at home and across the world.