(From December, 1998 Nativity newsletter)

A Saving Plan
by Jabbo Gordon

Christmas was past. The Stonhams had paid their insurance policies and they were even a little ahead on house and car payments. The extra money was burning the proverbial hole in their pockets.

Then they hit upon a plan whereby they could spend it and yet save it.

They decided to buy some stock. After answering some advertisements, they received a brochure that told of a monthly investment plan. As they sat down to read it, they wondered why churches did not prepare similar pamphlets.

According to the brochure, neglected opportunities are very common in our daily life. There are even several proverbs or other expressions about them. People talk about missing the boat or letting the grass grow under their feet. Others speak of letting things slip through their fingers.

The Stonhams thought of how these expressions also apply in a religious sense. How many people have neglected the opportunity to become a member of a church? Or how many have not contributed either fiscally or physically.

It is only human nature to miss some boats or to let a little grass grow underfoot. But the church has a saving plan — an opportunity to invest in God's work.

This stock brochure said that investing is open to everyone. And if a person invests now, he or she will grow with the investment.

The pamphlet suggests obtaining further information and help from a reliable broker. Your broker, if you will, is Father Jim or any member of the mission committee or the treasurer. Their help is available for the asking.

You may have several questions about specific church needs and how you can help. Perhaps you are interested in investing more of your assets, whether they be money, time, or effort. You can rededicate your interest into your savings plan — reinvest it, as it were.

Investing in stock or the church doesn't require a lump sum. All it takes is a few dollars each week. The plan is designed for people who want to make regular investments over a long period of time.

If you skip on the plan, there is no penalty except the one you impose on yourself by breaking the habit of investing regularly.

And there are plenty of subsidiary activities for men, women, and children. The stock pamphlet says diversification of this sort is a perfectly sound way to invest.

There are as many reasons for investing as there are investors. Whatever your reason, it is never too late, or too early, to invest in the church and share in its growth.