What if I told you that planned giving had almost nothing to do with collecting money for your ministry? Would you think I had slipped a gear or gone off the deep end?

For most of us in ministry, getting the funding is critical to our ability to provide the programs and services that help people achieve a deeper relationship with Christ, and grow in Him. So adding or maintaining a planned giving program is just trying to do that - right?

Fair enough! That's what we are all trying to do. But let's look a little closer at Matthew 6:19 through 34. We all know this passage. "Do not lay up for yourselves treasure upon earth . . .but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven . . . for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

Jesus begins in Matthew 5:1 with the Sermon on the Mount and Beatitudes, and doesn't stop talking until the end of Chapter 7. Right in the middle, he covers 16 versus on how we are to deal with His provision for our needs. We aren't to hoard - "got that"; we aren't to worry - "got that"; we are to trust Him to provide - "okay as long as I have some input". Oops!! That's not what it says is it?

In a nutshell, this passage says that He will take care of the funding if we will focus on bringing folks closer to Him.

At the CSA National Convention in January 2005, the CSA Board of Directors surprised John Frank by presenting him with a Board of Directors Award.

It was presented at the Monday evening session by Dick Epps, President of the Christian Stewardship Association Board, and Vice President of Moody Bible Institute.

The award reads "For Outstanding Service and Financial Support of the Christian Stewardship Association." John has been an instructor at the institutes for over 14 years.