Download Generosity Path—How Do Different Cultures Respond?

Generosity Path—How Do Different Cultures Respond?
First some background on Generosity
Path…
Generous Giving Started by four friends in 2000
“Journey of Generosity”
Safe environment
Scale
Overnight retreat among friends
Fully funded by the Maclellan Foundatio
More than 300 JOGs in N. America & 80-100 international
Generosity Path works outside of N. America
Results!
$1.2 billion incremental giving; $54,000 per participant
God has given us a process that works—Why does it work?
Why does it work…?
The way adults learn
Listening to God
Stories
Facilitated conversation
We offer inspiration and space
Video examples of radical generosity by rich & poor
Scripture
God’s Word speaks powerfully about giving
Rinse & repeat
Group interaction & listening to the Spirit
Works every time!
Observations Among Different Cultures
Overview
Cultural dynamics show up in
giving!
Scripture affirms some aspects of
each culture’s approach to giving.
Scripture pushes against other
aspects of each culture’s approach
to giving.
What money means to us…
Men
It’s a score card & it’s competitive; this seems to cross
cultures
Women
Security for me & my family—especially in
cultures with high gender disparity
Generational views on giving…
First generation
Tends to be open-handed; a biblical sense
that my wealth comes from God and I should
be generous with His money
Second & third generations
More closed-handed; a fear of the inability
to create wealth, so the tendency to try hold
on
“Role” in wealth management…
Business owners
First instinct is to be more generous to
“their people” as they build the business.
Investors
Prefer a ”portfolio” of giving opportunities
Professionals
Are often systematic in their giving (think
spreadsheets), but get joy from being
spontaneous
Reasons we love money...
The West
What I can have—things or experiences
China
How I show worth or value through providing for family
India
The amount of land or property I can acquire
It’s all about identity!
Matthew 6:21
Hindrances to generosity...
China
Korea
Whom can I trust? How can I transfer funds
without raising suspicion?
What is the standard? How do I get a “A” in giving?
Indonesia
Does the church use my money well? Pastor is rich!
S. Africa/L. America
I’ve been burned by the
“prosperity gospel"
Who’s involved in giving...?
Giving is an individual and unilateral decision.
I have financial advisors, but no one advises me
on my lifestyle or my giving.
West
Asia
Generally, I give to the church. They decide how to use
the money.
Latin America
I’m helping to build the family
business, and we will decide together
how to give.
Views of the church...
State church cultures
I’ve already given through taxes.
Mostly Christian cultures
Minority Christian cultures
Church giving, but
emphasis on parachurch
Most give to the church
and have suspicion of
other organizations.
Church provides all of the
necessary ministries to
which to give.
Causes or focus areas in giving...
West
Asia
Mercy, orphans, adoption/foster, antiTrafficking ministries are in vogue. And we enjoy
telling others how we’re making a difference.
Proclamation ministries are the priority. Many wealthy
Christians are newly so, and want to fund work that shar
the message of the Gospel. This includes cross-cultural
missions.
Generosity in the United States
Evangelicals in the US are among the
most generous people in the world. A
Gospel-oriented approach to life
generally leads to more giving.
Theology
matters!
On average…
American evangelicals give about 6% of their incomes to charity. The
more a Christian prays, reads the Bible and goes to church, the more she
gives.
Non-evangelical Christians give approximately 2.4% of their incomes.
Non-Christians give an average of 2%.
Generosity is evidence of spiritual growth and maturity! And many say that
“Generosity is the new evangelism.”
Faith impacts
philanthropy…
Bill and Melinda Gates have showed renewed openness to faith.
More and more philanthropists express how their faith motivates their
giving.
Others are borrowing biblical terms—like tithing—to frame the new
philanthropic movement.
Generosity helps the US
church…
We need a positive narrative alongside what the culture views as the
“what we’re against” narrative. Generosity provides this opportunity.
Many emerging non-profits in the US are led by Christians, though
proclamation of the Gospel is not their purpose… Kiva, Charity:Water,
International Justice Mission. This allows Christians to regularly interact
with government and secular NGOs.
When Christians talk about and live the biblical message of generosity, we
demonstrate Kingdom values which are counter-cultural and attractive.