THE PRINCIPLE OF INVESTMENT

And that's how they discovered that they couldn't outdo God in giving, and not only was their personal lives blessed, but God blessed the church as well.

The small Zambian Baptist Church was poor. The members loved their pastor, the Rev. Godfrey Mulando, but were unable to pay his salary. That love was mutual, and the pastor had dedicated himself to teaching the believers an intimate, daily walk with God. However, he had been warned not to preach about money, for doing so would scare the people away.

Mulando once went to Singapore to take a course on methods of evangelism, and he was so impressed by what he heard about God's commandments and promises concerning the matter of money and possessions that he became convinced that his people also needed to know this truth.

Stewardship is part of the gospel

When he returned to Zambia, he began to preach in the following terms:

Stewardship is part of the gospel. A person cannot fully know God unless he knows his concept of stewardship and practices it.

“The service is not complete unless we give some offering. When the wise men went to worship Jesus, for example, they brought him precious gifts."

The church members were consecrated people and did not fall away from the church because of God's commandments regarding giving. Rather, they were moved by what they heard and also felt ashamed of their own disobedience. They then asked their pastor why he had not taught these things before. Then he was forced to admit that he didn't know them himself.

Stewardship is part of the gospel. A person cannot fully know God unless he knows his concept of stewardship and practices it.

And so, for the first time, members of the Masala Baptist Church in Ndola, Zambia, began tithing and joyfully giving of themselves as well as their money. In addition to bearing church expenses, they accepted the responsibility of paying the pastor's salary and rent. Then they purchased a motorcycle for the pastor to facilitate his pastoral visitation and evangelistic work.

Even more: They wrote to the missionary society saying: "You don't need to send money anymore; just send your prayers and your love" #amor #church #missions

And that's how they discovered that they couldn't outdo God in giving, and not only was their personal lives blessed, but God blessed the church as well.

This one grew. As believers realized that God was fulfilling his promises, they began to talk about their blessings and Christ with friends, neighbors and relatives, and to give of themselves to them. They started bringing people to church. It grew so big that they had to tear down the walls and enlarge the building.

Soon they founded another church in an area where there was no preaching of the gospel. Then another, and another until in a short time there were five churches in a place where until recently there was only one church full of difficulties.

"When believers started giving, they saw that they had a big role to play in the wider area of evangelism. Before they realized it, they were mere spectators in the church. But once they started tithing and contributing to God's work, , began to feel their responsibility to witness, to bring people in, to teach and help them, and they felt very excited" said Pastor Mulando.

"Before I went to Singapore in 1974, we had 134 members; and within just five years I saw the church grow to 300 members (not counting affiliated congregations and 200 congregations that were not yet members)"

Pastor Godfrey Mulando and his people were experiencing an important leadership principle in practice:

“...give and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be given to you; for with the measure you use, it will be measured to you' (Luke 6:38).

This is the principle of investment.

Extracted from the book: Be a Real Leader

Leadership that endures for a changing world

Bethany Publisher

Author John Haggai

Lucas Anunciação

@prlucasanunciacao