Why we do it?

We believe both God’s joy and His generosity are cornerstones of His nature. God’s joy empowers us to be generous, and His generosity working through us creates much joy! As such, while many aspects of generosity are worthy of study, the Journey of Joy and Generosity is centered on the theme of divine generosity and our dependence on God. This retreat is an opportunity for us to invite the Holy Spirit in to help us explore, reflect on, and share our stories of His generosity and the generosity of others—ubuntu.

At the same time, we acknowledge that God’s best leaders are imitators of Christ who is our model for generosity. God gave His only begotten son, and Christ gave His very life for us so that we can sit before God without sin [ Romans 14:23]. As leaders show generosity of spirit, in kindness, in collaboration, in listening well—entire churches and ministries are likewise shown what it is to live a Christ-like life. Generosity begets generosity and it starts with creation and is redeemed on the cross. It is an integral part of spiritual formation far beyond just sharing skills, experience, time and treasure.

Ultimately, we hope to open hearts and minds to tap into God’s generosity and spur on actions and heart changes that transform lives. When we focus on and minister to God and not on ourselves, we see the world through His eyes, we love the world through His love, we can tap into His infinite generosity. There is power in the name of Jesus to overcome scarcity and dependency mindsets that can cripple nations who have experienced war, imperialism, famine and crushing poverty. Just imagine what a truly generous Church could accomplish for God’s Kingdom!