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ADVERTISEMENT The Giving Path Giving to LCMS congregations isn't one step. It's a path. For nearly every LCMS member, giving isn't something you start doing the first day you walk through the doors for services. In reality, it's a journey for most members. It might start small, then grows as your participation in congregation activities and your closeness to other members become deeper. Like a lot of accomplishments in your life, it's one that is marked by a series of milestones. Let's take a walk through the giving milestones that many LCMS church members go through in their faith-and-giving journey. 1. Giving for a Personal Event Many members first become acquainted with giving to a congregation through a personal event they hold at the church. This can take many forms. Perhaps it's your child's wedding or your own wedding ceremony. It could be a Baptism. Maybe it's for hosting the funeral of a loved one, or for holding an organizational or faith- group meeting in the facility. Whatever that initial introduction to giving is, it's always eye-opening. These events show that the con- gregation is open and accepting of your family events. It also shows why members give. There are staff and volunteers who take time and make a sincere effort to make you feel welcome and comforted during these passages. With these events, it's easy to see why making a gift to the congregation is a necessary and heartfelt gesture. You directly see the benefit the congregation brings to you and to your community. This is how many members begin their giving journey. It might sound transactional: you pay a set fee for the church to host your friends and family for a meaningful day. But it's more than that. You're supporting a group of people who are offering meaningful services to a huge group of people. This is the first step on the giving journey LCMS mem- bers take. It's only the first gift, though. FAITH 22 Lutheran Life

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