“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13
Envision the For Tanzania Giving Circles—circles of Love, Faith, Hope and Miracles—as four concentric but connected circles, growing together from the inside out, from the essential seed to its eventual blossom.
Love may be viewed not as the smallest circle but as the innermost circle, the fertile seed, the core, or what Paul calls “the greatest of these.”
Faith grows out of both Christ’s profound love for us and our progressive love for Christ.
Hope emerges from the trust and confidence in Christ that our faith both inspires and sustains.
Miracles burst forth from the implanted seed of love, nurtured by our vital faith and vibrant hope. God delivers miracles through us, demonstrating God’s power to bear fruit…”fruit that will last.” (John15:16)
Thus, our generosity springs forth from our Love for the people of Tanzania, for The United Methodist Church of Tanzania and for the pastors who diligently serve their congregations.
Our generosity springs forth from our Faith in God’s abiding presence and in God’s call for us to be the Church serving the people of Tanzania together as one Body of Christ.
Our generosity springs forth from our Hope in the grace-filled promise of victory through resurrection and salvation that Christ’s birth offers us for such a time as this.
Our generosity springs forth as the Miracle, the new thing that God is doing now in our midst and in Tanzania. God is making “a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” Do we not perceive it? (From Isaiah 43:19)
Please, please tell us when and how your congregation celebrated For Tanzania Day in December, and how you encouraged generous giving. Tell us how much money was raised, and how it felt for members to support this crucial campaign. Please send us your information–including personal stories of exemplary givers–and any photos you can share by the first week of January, so we can highlight encouraging reports, including yours, in our media. We’ll share the good news of our global missional stewardship as United Methodists in GNJ Digest and in NEWSpirit newspaper in January. Thanks!