When I was a young boy, I enjoyed hearing the story of David and Goliath and the chorus we sang that ended with these triumphant words, “…and the giant came tumbling down!”

We face “giants” often. God still uses His humble, obedient, faith-filled servants to conquer giants. Every “David” is convinced that nothing is impossible with God.

You are a “David” in a very crucial moment in the history of the Church of the Nazarene.

Because of the change introduced earlier this year for the World Evangelism Fund (WEF) giving plan, and due to the global economic recession, a very real “Goliath” confronts us as a global church. After already initiating significant reductions at the Global Ministry Center, we face the prospect of a drastic cut in our missionary force. Let me explain.

The giant
Our church leadership responded to churches’ call to simplify the WEF giving. As a result, this year all churches at their district assemblies are implementing a new worldwide system. Many churches and pastors have expressed excitement in regard to this new funding plan because it is accomplishing exactly what they requested.  Not only is this new funding plan simpler, it is also designed to stimulate growth at the local church level by reducing the percentage of WEF income most churches will give. 

However, reducing the WEF giving percentage from 10 to 5.5 percent creates a short-term challenge for the global church. As we transition from the old funding plan to the new one, it has been estimated that we could lose as much as $13.5 million (USD) in WEF income per year. The good news is that this loss should exist only in the short term -- 3 to 5 years. 

With the effect of lower WEF contributions combined with a very proactive focus on stewardship training, we expect to see local church income increase by as much as 30 percent over the next five years. Therefore, five years from now the new funding plan has the potential of producing more WEF income than the old funding plan.

While the challenge we are facing is only for the short term, the bad news is that the damage to ministry will be great unless we intercede and bring this giant tumbling down.

The David
Nazarenes have always been a generous people. As a result, our denomination is a powerful spiritual movement worldwide. We are experiencing tremendous growth in many nations.  Opportunities beckon to us as never before. But this “Goliath” is real and stands before us.

King Saul and his army cowered in fear, but David stepped up to the challenge. He conquered in the name of the Lord. We Nazarenes face the same choices – fear or faith? Retreat or advance?

You are the “David” in your church. The 2010 Thanksgiving/Harvest offering provides a key moment for us to stand together in victory.

Our General Superintendents ask that the Thanksgiving/Harvest offering this year be “above and beyond” regular WEF giving. They are asking for a WEF PLUS offering – an offering in addition to the WEF contribution from your church that is based on 5.5% of current church income. We need you to make your regular 5.5% WEF contributions and to encourage your congregation to give to this extra Thanksgiving/Harvest WEF PLUS offering, as well.

Our global WEF PLUS offering features four key components:

Prevailing Prayer. Please begin now to challenge everyone in your church to pray for the largest Thanksgiving/Harvest offering in the history of our denomination.

Love Offering. This offering is above denominational obligations and commitments. It flows from hearts filled with God’s love and a passion to reach a lost world with the promise of hope in Christ, both now and for eternity. Each local church sends this WEF PLUS offering in addition to regular WEF giving.

Unanimous Participation.  We need every person in every church worldwide to give -- Children, teens and adults.

Strategic Sacrifice. We are asking every Nazarene to give sacrificially. This could mean a child gives 10 dollars in coins she collected while an adult gives one day’s salary. If each cannot give a day’s salary, consider giving at least something beyond the normal Thanksgiving/Harvest offering for WEF.

Please talk together about WEF PLUS. Begin now praying, planning and preparing for this offering. A WEF PLUS offering can keep our missionaries on the fields and our denomination advancing in partnership with God’s mission in spite of our current financial challenges.

We must reach our world for Christ.  We dare not allow economic limitations to detain or stop us. God owns all the world’s resources. Together, we can conquer the “giant”! Thank you in advance for your vital role in WEF PLUS.