Revolution in Generosity: Transforming Stewards To Be Rich Toward God

by Wesley K. Willmer (Editor), Charles W. Colson (Foreword by)

"Give over $100 today and get this personalized state-of-the-art fountain pen free!" "Become a gold sponsor and your name wll 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 scholars 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.

432 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2008

Reviews

[Matthew Cazee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful and challenging read. Wish it was more widely circulated!

[Jehiel Ortiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, and I can summarize that this is not a book, but a consultant manual.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

The best practical Christian book on fundraising I have read. The framework is very biblical and focuses on the development officer as a shepherd and discipler. Biblical framework and godly advice throughout.
I would have given the book a higher rating had it been slimmed down a bit. By nature of it being a collection of essays by many authors, there was a fair bit of redundancy and the quality of chapters was a bit uneven. The book could have easily been trimmed by 150 pages. That said, I would still consider the book a must read for Christian development officers and board members.

[Randy Alcorn]

Our approach to money and possessions isn’t just important—it’s central to our spiritual lives. Our giving is a reflexive response to the grace of God in our lives. It comes out of the transforming work of Christ in us. I pray that this book will lead you to a greater understanding and appreciation of this truth.

[Dale Nolan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Without a doubt, this is the most comprehensive book on the topics of stewardship (what we do with our money) and fundraising (acquiring money for a cause) I have ever seen. It's philosophy is built on relationships between the two groups instead of techniques for squeezing more money from the donor.