A Revolution in Generosity: Transforming Stewards to Be Rich Toward God [Hardcover]

Wesley K. Willmer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2008

Give over $100 today and get this personalized state-of-the-art fountain pen free! Become a gold sponsor and your name iwll be featured on our exclusive "wall of fame"! Send in your donation by December 31st and enjoy the benefits of giving on your next tax return! Who hasn't heard fundraising gimmicks like these? Or, who hasn't used these gimmicks on others? As Wes Willmer writes, "Generosity is the natural outcome of God's transforming work in individuals when they are conformed to the image of Christ." Fundraising and giving are not simply "drops in the bucket." Capital campaigns and raising funds go deeper than the money. They are spiritual activities in becoming more like Christ. A Revolution in Generosity is a work by some of the best shcolars and practitioners on the subject of funding Christian organizations. As Willmer writes, "The foundation for realizing a revolution in generosity is understanding the biblical view of possessions, generosity, and asking for resources." With over twenty expert contributors, this book is a must-read for organizations striving to rid themselves of secular asking practices and gain an eternal approach.  

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Wesley K. Willmer is vice president of university advancement and a professor at Biola University. He has been author, co-author, editor, or editor-in-chief of twenty-one books and many professional journal publications. Two recent books include God and Your Stuff: the Vital Link Between Your Possessions and Your Soul and The Prospering Parachurch: Enlarging the Boundaries of God's Kingdom. He resides in Fullerton, California, with his wife, Sharon. He has three grown children and two granddaughters.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 432 pages
• Publisher: Moody Publishers (May 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802467539
• ISBN-13: 978-0802467539
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.2 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #193,692 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Transactional Donors or Transformational Stewards?, May 17, 2008

By 

John W. Pearson "John Pearson Associates" (San Clemente, CA, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Revolution in Generosity: Transforming Stewards to Be Rich Toward God (Hardcover)

In a recent Wall Street Journal column by Peggy Noonan, she excoriates the current Republican leaders (she worked in the Reagan White House), with this insight, "...they speak that language [the language of marketing] because they are marketers, not thinkers. Not serious about policy. Not serious about ideas. And not serious about leadership, only followership."

Today, the state of Christian fundraising and giving has similar sins. Fundraisers and pastors often focus on the money-raising transaction--not the giver's spiritual transformation into a genuinely generous giver (as Christ demonstrates generosity). Much of fundraising today is about marketing because leaders have neglected the big biblical idea: transforming stewards to be rich toward God.

There's help! Substantial help. Three cheers for Wes Willmer, general editor, and his labor of love by inspiring 20 thinkers to contribute chapters to this important book. Willmer writes, "A basic premise of this book is that believers are on the wrong road when it comes to giving and are therefore not generous." He describes the biblical way, the transformational way, to biblical generosity. He's supported by 20 articulate experts, including R. Scott Rodin, Dick Towner, Howard Dayton, Brian Kluth, Lauren Libby, Todd Harper, Rebekah Basinger, John Frank, Ron Blue, Paul D. Nelson, Daryl Heald and others.

Daryl Heald, president of Generous Giving, describes a bold step by a member of his accountability small group who played "the money card"--the one area in which no one wanted to be held accountable. One morning, one of the guys put his net worth and giving records on the breakfast table at his small group gathering. "That was the beginning of true transparency," said Heald.

The Donor Bucket is one of 20 chapters in my book, Mastering The Management Buckets: 20 Critical Competencies for Leading Your Business or Non-profit. Willmer includes my Donor Bucket core competency in his introduction. But don't settle for the "Cliffs Notes" in my book--read and study Willmer's remarkably deep, but practical treatise on transforming tippers into generous givers.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beyond Theory, January 21, 2009

By 

K. Wood (Wisconsin) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Revolution in Generosity: Transforming Stewards to Be Rich Toward God (Hardcover)

Fabulous book on developing a healthy mindset for generosity. It moves us from the transactional approach of giving to get to transformational and giving because we are generous. The work we do in the ministry of development must focus on the spiritual lives of those we serve and in developing stewardship of all of God's resources. The introduction sets the tone and the other authors supplement, build upon and bring fresh content to a needed topic. No need to fear fundraising or avoid fundraisers when the focus is on what God is doing and challenging one another to get on board with how He is moving. The chapters bring benchmarks for spiritual maturity and I highly recommend it to pastors, denom execs, church board, parachurch leaders and people who simply want to grow in this area.

5.0 out of 5 stars Revolution in Generosity, April 24, 2010

By 

Dennis Wry (SIMSBURY, CT, US) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Revolution in Generosity: Transforming Stewards to Be Rich Toward God (Hardcover)

Revolution in generosity is a series of essays on how faith-based fundraising should be done. I think the book is essential reading for anyone who seeks to work in this area. My compliments to the writers for their excellent work.