“My Two Cents” is this blog’s title, and “two cents” is also the annual per capita giving for some Nazarene districts (not individual donors, mind you, per capita average for the entire district). Dominican Republic Oriental; Congo Virunga and Equatorial Guinea are three such examples. There are many districts in the world regions where per capita giving is one dollar or less. In comparison, the highest region’s per capita giving is USA/Canada ($1189.76). The Oregon Pacific District has the highest per capita giving of any district on the USA/Canada region at $1,847.17.

In no way, am I suggesting that “under-a-dollar districts” aren’t pulling their missional weight. In fact, it’s just the opposite. These districts may be a real time example of Jesus’ story of the widow’s mite in Mark 12. Mark writes: 

Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”  Mark 12:41-44

If the “under-a-dollar” districts are examples of the widow’s mite, is the USA/Canada church like the rich people throwing in large amounts into the pot? Like in Mark 12, it could very well be there are districts in Africa (the African per capita giving is $13.35) which give a higher percentage of their income than church members in the United States. 

Jesus said in another place: When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required (Luke 12:48). In light of those words, the USA/Canada church should not be impressed in the massive disparity in per capita giving between regions or how the USA/Canada region pays the lions’ share of the World Evangelism Fund (94-95%). Instead, those in USA/Canada might want to address ways to be more generous than they currently are.

Here is one way for the USA/Canada church to do better: Monetary forecasters suggest that the greatest wealth transfer in history is taking place now; as the Silent Generation and aging baby boomers pass off their wealth to the next generation.  Members in those “under-a-dollar districts” have no transferable wealth and are relying on those in the west “to whom much has been given” to be generous even in their passings. If USA/Canada Nazarenes took such a faithful approach in their estate planning, imagine how much more good could be done in the name of Jesus in the coming years.  Tithing a portion of one’s will could be a game changer across at home and abroad.

Recently, the church where I pastor received word that a deceased parishioner has generously given more than a tithe of their estate to the church. The will stated the church will receive 15% of the estate. The deceased member would not be considered wealthy by many standards. Still, this faithful parishioner was generous even in his passing. A few years ago, another faithful member with no family (besides her church family) gave the church 40% of her estate. If all Nazarene’s followed these examples, the blessing could be felt around the world!

Again, it’s my two cents, but I contend that Nazarenes in USA/Canada can (and must) do better for the global proclamation of the Gospel as their coins are tossed into the World Evangelism Pot . To whom much is given, much will be required.