Laura Taylor, our Parish Giving Officer, talks about how generosity has underpinned her journey in faith and is at the heart of her calling as a Christian.
Growing up as a Christian, generosity was just something we did. I grew up in a church where tithing 10% of your income was the norm, so when I started my first job at 16 that’s what I did.
It wasn’t a generosity that changed my heart, or a generosity that showed God to others, but just something to tick off my spiritual checklist.
I first experienced true and radical generosity at my wedding. My husband and I were students, so finances were limited. We wanted a wedding and reception that the whole church could attend, but this was looking to be a difficult task.
But the church gave out in abundant generosity. They allowed not only to use the church for free, but the choir, organist and bellringers also offered to support the wedding without cost.
If that wasn’t enough, the vicar allowed us to have our reception in his garden, and the congregation supplied all the food, which not only fed the 150 guests but also my husband and I for two weeks afterwards.
This act of generosity started me on a journey of questioning why people were so radically generous and my only answer was that this was an outpouring from the heart of God.
The congregation’s generosity showed me the very heart of God – a God who is abundantly generous.
I hope to live by that generous example every day. So much of my journey in faith would not have happened if it weren’t for this (and other) acts of generosity from the community of God around me.
An act of generosity can change someone’s life. I am so grateful to those who were, and continue to faithfully give in my church, and the way it supported me in my journey of faith.
I may not always have a lot to give, but if I am giving out of my time and money, then I know I am contributing to the Kingdom of God and to other people’s journeys of faith.