The Grace Venture Challenge began in 2003 and calls our congregation to “Live more simply, give more sacrificially, & accomplish the Great Commission.”

2024 Grace Venture Strategy Committee

Floyd Harvey (elder), Greg Dickinson (elder), Tom Jordan (elder), Stephanie Braithwait, Jim DiLorio, John Barton, Ashley Austell, Sandy Federico, Brad Godwin, Erin Hardison, Becky Kerstell, David McElveen, Tommy Goins, Amy Cooper, Joseph Husley

Total amount given to Grace Venture between 10.26.2003 - 7.31.2024 $4,394,530.29

George Müller once wrote of his conversion: “When I surrendered myself totally to Christ, the love of money was gone, the love of a home was gone, the affection of wealth was gone, the love of worldly things was gone. God had become my everything, and because I found everything in Him, there is nothing else I wanted. And I stayed with Him, a happy man, a very happy man, seeking to only accomplish the things of God. " Following Christ and living for Him produces in us new wants, desires, and satisfactions that leverage our resources & gifts to point people to Christ.

In 2 Corinthians 9:6-15, Paul presents a model that explains both the origin and result of our generosity. “You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and…your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God” (v. 11). God’s grace and blessing is given so that we can be generous. As we are generous, we both supply the needs of others and show thanks to God (v.12), and others praise God because of our generosity (v.13).

God’s giving to us is like the filling of a cup, and our giving to Grace Evan & Grace Venture reveals our cup running over impacting the lives of others around the globe. In the context of our own blessing and gratefulness, we learn to be generous givers. We didn’t earn it; we never will. God’s gift of salvation was the highest demonstration of unconditional generosity.

”But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” - Romans 5:8

Grace Venture PURPOSE

1. To focus Grace Evangelical Church on the accomplishment of the Great Commission by challenging us to "excel in the grace of giving." 2 Corinthians 8:7

2. To Listen to and obey the Lord's prompting for our lives in the area of generosity and Kingdom service. Proverbs 3: 5-6

3. To develop & shepherd a personal & corporate vision for sharing the joy of living generously. Hebrews 10:24-25

Grace Venture BELIEFS

 

1. Giving is a heart issue. “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” - Matthew 6:21. As we mature in our walk with Christ, it becomes easier to see that the things we invest our time, money, and energy are the things that matter the most to us. The purposeful reallocation of our “treasure” can be an effective way to steer your heart away from earthly values and toward Kingdom treasures.

2. God gave first. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son…” - John 3:16. God is the ultimate model for giving; the most generous of all givers. God in his grace has blessed us with goods, skills, and opportunities to generate what we need in our lives and an amazing world in which to live out his calling.

3. God owns it all. “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.” - Psalm 24:1. How does our perspectives change when we come to understand that it is not our money, wealth, possessions, or assets, but instead, they all belong to God? We are God’s money managers. The wealth of the earth and all its resources are entrusted to us, with the privilege to be stewards of its wise use for Kingdom expansion.

 

4. Seek first the Kingdom of God. “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33. In Matthew 6:24, Jesus reminds us,…”you cannot serve both God and money.” He adds in verse 25, “Therefore, do not worry about your life.” Jesus is assuring us that you do not have to worry about your earthly life because God has promised always to take care of you. With earthly matters in God’s control, you are free to pursue more spiritual matters, seeking first and above all else, God’s kingdom and His righteousness through spiritual maturity.

5. Heaven, not earth, is my home. “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.” - Philippians 3:20. Life is short. Eternity is…forever. Our home is in heaven. This simple yet radical thinking begs an important question: Why should I invest so much time, energy, and resources into what is short? Spending money on temporary thing isn’t wrong, however, if we have an eternal perspective and truly understand that Heaven is our forever home, our daily lives and what we invest in will be impacted for a lifetime.

6. Giving brings joy. “…remembering the word the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘it is more blessed to give than to receive.’ - Acts 20:35. “In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.” - 1 Timothy 6:19. Your life becomes joyful, fulfilling, and purposeful as your live in God’s calling. Joy is experienced in the act of giving, but even more so in the alignment of your heart with God’s will. Generosity enables you to live in the joy of a “life that is truly life.”

Grace Venture HOPE

1. To generate “above and beyond” funds (outside of regular tithes/offerings to Grace Evan) to be managed by the Grace Venture Strategy Committee seeking to accomplish the Great Commission & Kingdom expansion.

2. To call our Grace Evan family to a lifestyle of simpler living so that we can give more sacrificially toward the Great Commission.

Grace Venture PRAYER

Our prayer is that the Grace Venture Challenge mindset will produce more living by faith, and propel our congregation into a daily lifestyles of living more simply, giving more sacrificially, and accomplishing the Great Commission. We share the joy of giving not out of duty or guilt, but out of gratitude for salvation in Jesus Christ.