I just heard a great sermon illustration that has special meaning for how we, as a ministry interact with you. If you've already heard it, just bear with me as I put a different spin on it.

A preacher goes to a deacon and gives him a 100-dollar bill telling him to hold it until he asks for it some time during his sermon. In the middle of that sermon the preacher suddenly changes topics for a moment when he "realizes" that he has promised to take some friends to dinner and he will need some money. He asks the congregation if anyone will give him one hundred dollars for this purpose. (If I had been in the audience that day I would have thought that either the preacher needs to find a cheaper place to eat, or I need to become better friends with the preacher.)

Anyway, the deacon immediately jumps up and gives the preacher the one 100-dollar bill he'd been given before the service. The preacher goes back to his original sermon just as if nothing had happened, leaving the congregation a bit confused and quite amazed at the deacon's "generosity."

By now I guess you're seeing the point and within a few minutes the preacher made that point clear to his congregation as well. While they might have thought the deacon was quite generous, if not a bit odd, he was actually just giving back to the preacher what belonged to him in the first place. Since he was only a "steward" of the money, he could willingly, even joyfully give it back, especially since he also knew that the money was to be used for a higher good than just to feed the preacher's friends.

The story illustrates a key principle of ownership that I trust you already understand: it all belongs to God! Even more, I hope you realize that we understand that principle.

Ultimately we, as God's servants, are using His resources provided by others, His people and co-laborers, to share His message to His children who desperately need to hear it and come to depend upon Him as Life. Do you realize what a big part of this equation you may be? When we tell donors of this ministry that they are "extended staff" we aren't just pandering to their need to belong. We really believe it! And so it is with you. They are being every bit as obedient in carrying out their part of God's plan with what He has entrusted to you.