The Adventist Church has seen numerous changes in the way we proclaim the good news of the Second Advent. We have gone from small tent meetings to large auditoriums and from street preaching to global satellite events. The same is true in the stewardship ministry.

Treasurers have progressed from hand-written ledgers to computer spreadsheets and from counting cash to receiving checks in the tithe envelopes. Now, members give online via credit cards and donate stock, real estate and money via trusts.

During the last five years, much has been accomplished in the seven conferences in our union. For example, one conference has changed its departmental name to “Commitment Ministries” to better represent the younger generations of our church. Another has formed a stewardship committee to study and develop better ways of communicating the message of holistic stewardship to its members.

The stewardship bulletin insert The Stewpot, now in its 11th year, continues, and twice a year a newsletter titled Dollars & Cents is sent to all the head elders, finance chairpersons and treasurers concerning special offerings, stewardship and financial book reviews and other relevant information. As we face the next quinquennium, Stewardship will continue to keep members focused on Christ as the giver of all good and perfect gifts and the joy of giving back to His work.