As we went through the ReGifting challenge in 2010 and 2011, one question kept coming to the surface - What happens after the year of ReGifting is over?  In other words, since the missional thrust to give away all of our tithes and offerings was successful, we kept wondering, "How can we sustain this?"  

It is bordering on impossible to give away everything on an ongoing basis.  So, instead of raising funds and giving away the offerings, what do we do on an ongoing basis?  

Near the conclusion of ReGifting, we came to a realization.  This was a stewardship issue.  And if you look through the Bible, God often deals with stewardship issues by telling people to work in cycles.  For example, work 6 days and rest on the 7th...work the land for 6 years and let it rest on the 7th.

So, our current solution to sustainability is to follow this cyclical pattern.  Each year for 6 years, we are saving 15% of the budget (while still allocating some resources to help those in need).  Then, on the 7th year, we will have enough in savings to cover almost 1 entire year's budget...allowing us to "ReGift" the entire offering for that year.

Thanks be to God for His indescribable Gift!

      A family in our church owned a rental house in addition to their personal home. After enduring a few substandard tenants, they were no longer enthusiastic about being landlords. Unfortunately, the economy was so bad at this time that selling the home was unlikely. So, they began to pray and seek God’s direction.
      In spite of the economy, they felt like God was to directing them to stay away from new tenants. The couple trusted God in this and assumed that he would further lead them to sale the house. But, in order to get to that point, they knew they would have to go in and make some significant repairs. They had to patch holes in walls, repaint several sections of the rooms, replace some broken tile and clean the place thoroughly. Because of their already demanding schedules, this repair work was going to take a few weeks to complete. As they tried to follow God’s leadership, they dove in and started the work.
      As the house was nearing completion, I received a phone call from a leader in our church named Cindy. She stated that a co-worker’s daughter was in desperate need of help. Over the last five years, this woman had been the victim of ongoing domestic violence. The husband was so controlling that she had only seen her parents a handful of times during those long years. Her children hardly even knew their grandparents.
      Eventually, Cindy told me that the situation had climaxed and this abused spouse fled with nothing more than her children and the clothes on their backs. Since she was no longer a practicing Jehovah’s Witnesses, her father would not take her into his home. So, they needed a place to live and a way to survive.
      As this situation was presented to our church, the owners of the rental home realized what God had planned for their property. They now understood that God wanted the house available and fixed for this mistreated family. Within a few days time, the abused family moved into their new home without having to pay rent or utilities. After walking into the house, the three-year-old daughter squealed and leapt across the house like it was Christmas morning. She could not believe they were living in a house with new carpet.

      God gave this family a new start...and He used ReGifting to show His kindness over and over again.

Want to get a full view of ReGifting and how you can use this in your church or your personal life?  Read Giving Away the Collection Plate: ReGifting God's Love and Money by John Richardson.