FIRSTFRUITS FINDINGS NEWSLETTER VOL. 9 NO. 4 JULY - AUG 2004 A NOTE FROM THE DIRECTOR "Do you have anything about kids and money?" We often receive inquiries like this at our office. The reason we want to address the issue of training our kids to handle God's money effectively is more than just math. Teaching our kids about money is primarily teaching them values which are biblically based and hopefully reflect our own values and practices. The surveys we conduct with churches measure member's attitudes and practices as it relates to time, talent and treasure. What is striking is the significant tie between one's spirituality and how one handles money. On the survey we ask questions about time spent in personal prayer, devotions and Bible reading. We also ask questions about credit card debt. Most of those in deep credit card debt state that they "seldom" or "not at all" have quiet times with the Lord. As scripture says, how we handle our money affects our attitude and relationship toward the Lord. What better time to begin developing healthy habits and attitudes in the use of money than as children. ~ Norm Vander Wel RAISING CHEERFUL GIVERS Today's kids will need all the help they can get to thrive financially in this world, while fully understanding the connection between faith and finance. Our children and young people are under assault with messages to spend, be greedy and grab immediate gratification wherever possible. Our culture is teaching our kids how to handle money. It is not God's way. Helping our children understand financial principles will not only help them manage their money but also become good stewards. In these next few issues, we will look at what parents can do to help grow generous, joyful givers who will continue to impact Christ's kingdom for years to come. Teaching our kids good financial values while they are still under our authority will give them the tools they need to do well in the real world. The goal is to establish a strategy for independence so they can handle their own finances successfully before they leave home. It will also provide a rich opportunity to share with them the important understanding that everything we have belongs to God, and we are to handle our possessions in a way that is honoring to Him. It is important to provide our children with the proper environment to practice the discipline of handling finances, to monitor their activity so that we can maximize teachable moments, to help them set attainable goals, and finally, be sure to offer them encouragement and praise for their effort. Of course, teaching kids good financial values can begin at any age, but the younger we start, the better. Research has found that children ages 7 and younger remember about 90 percent of what they do, but less than 10 percent of what they hear. They learn best by doing, feeling, hearing and seeing. Older children also learn best by doing, but have the capacity to begin making personal decisions and learn from them. Teens are able to think abstractly and logically, but are heavily influenced by peer pressure. They are beginning to integrate attitudes and behavior with the principles we have taught them. If by this time we have not taught good financial values, it is unlikely that those values will win over the values of contemporary culture. Our kids need to learn about stewardship, and what better place to learn these lessons than at home, right here and right now. ? WHAT ABOUT THE OFFERING? Has the offering become just a routine part of worship in your church? There are many creative ways to engage children and their parents in this act of worship so they can become active participants. One way is to have an offering geared especially to kids. One church had a "noisy offering". Three weeks prior to having this special offering, a suggestion was made to the children of the congregation to start saving change. Kids were encouraged to earn the change doing extra chores for their parents or neighbors. On the designated Sunday, a large metal pot was placed in front of the church. The children were encouraged to make as much noise as possible putting their change into the pot to make a "joyful noise to the Lord" in their offering to Him. For more creative offering ideas please visit our website at www.barnabasfoundation.com/firstfruits/52 ideas AWARENESS MEANS AWARENESS! There is a story about a pilgrim who scales a tall mountain in the hope of finding a wise man who lives on its peak. The seeker is asking for a single word. The guru responds, "Awareness." "Yes, but what does that mean?" the pilgrim asks. The guru replies, "Awareness means awareness." Are the majority of Christians in the world today really aware of the simple and sometimes difficult needs of others as Jesus had been? Opportunities to serve all are around us. Small gestures of kindness, like children walking home after school with someone who seems lonely, shows they are aware. There are our churches, where volunteers can commit to being a disciple of Christ by willingly giving of their time. As Ernest Crosby said, "No one could show me where my soul might be; I searched for God, and He eluded me; I served my neighbor, and I found all three".? Used by permission Parish Publishing, Troy , MI TIPS TO TRY CLEVER COST-CUTTING IDEAS TO USE AT HOME Don't throw out the leftover wine. Freeze into ice cubes for future use in casseroles and sauces. Wrap celery in aluminum foil when putting it in the refrigerator and it will keep for weeks. Speed drying time. A dry towel in the dryer with a very damp load will speed drying time. The towel will absorb a lot of the moisture. Put one gallon of white vinegar in your empty clothes washer and run a cycle using hot water. The vinegar will clean the hoses as well as help prolong the life of the washer. RECOMMENDED RESOURCE "STU BEAR" Presbyterian Church (USA) This is a 4-lesson resource designed for children age 3 to 6 years old. It includes a small paperback book entitled, Stu Bear: A story about Stewardship for Young Children. This story introduces children to stewardship as the way God's people give thanks to God by sharing time, talents, and money with people inside and outside the church. The resource also includes a coloring book with stickers. Order from Presbyterian Distribution Services at 800-524-2612 or online at www.pcusa.org and search their resources for "Stu Bear". Stu Bear packet is $4.00.