Stewardship

Stewardship involves how we, as God's people, use the many, many blessings we have received from God. These blessings include our valuable time, our considerable talents as well as our financial resources .

Our time and talents can and are used within the congregation but we primarily use them in the situations we find ourselves in life: work, home, school, play. We are witnesses to Jesus Christ on a 24/7 basis. There is never a time when we are not witnessing to Jesus Christ. The haunting question always is: what kind of witness are we giving?!

In a capitalist economy -- as we have in America -- things happen when money is expended. It is no different for any church. As the funds available for ministry increase, so does the ministry performed. It is as simple as that.

East Side Lutheran Church is blessed with generous people who are committed to being “In the Neighborhood for good … and for God.” You are invited to join us in this commitment.

Giving to East Side Lutheran Church

There are many ways you can support the various ministries of East Side Lutheran Church .

• General Fund – gifts support the overall ministry of the congregation.
• Building Fund – gifts help make our monthly loan payments.
• Radio Ministry – gifts support the broadcast of our 9:30 am worship service over KSOO Radio (1140 AM). Our worship services have been continuously broadcast on KSOO Radio at 11:00 am for 60 years!
• Endowment Fund – gifts to East Side 's Endowment Fund are wisely invested and the annual income is used to support four specific areas: global/national benevolence, local benevolence, student scholarships to colleges/universities, and capital improvements.

If you are interested in financially supporting the ministry of East Side Lutheran Church, please contact Pastor Olaf Roynesdal , ESLC, 1300 East 10 th Street , Sioux Falls , SD 57103-1796 . E-mail: Olaf@EastSideLC.org Please also contact Pastor Roynesdal if you are interested in information about leaving a gift for the benefit of East Side – or any church ministry – in your will.

For Your Information

The annual operating budget of East Side Lutheran Church is $ 549,270. $55,000 is earmarked for benevolences, through which we support our South Dakota Synod, St. Dysmas Prison Ministry, the St Francis House, the Community Outreach Center, Shetek Bible Camp, and Spirit of Joy Lutheran Church (a new mission started in SW Sioux Falls). The rest covers staff expense, utility and insurance expenses, program expenses.

We make monthly payments to Thrivent Financial for Lutherans in the amount of $15,728. This pays for the building addition, the complete renovation of the old church building, and the refurbishing of our Schantz Organ.

The property assets of the congregation total $ 5,500,000 .

Ten Guides for Giving from the

Apostle Paul, Second Corinthians

In his second letter to the Christians at Corinth, Paul outlines ten guides for giving. They have been helpful to innumerable people throughout the years.

1. Give Yourself (2 Corinthians 8:5)
   If giving doesn't always begin with the dedication of ourselves, it does always include such  

a dedication.

2. Excel In Your Giving (2 Corinthians 8:7)
   Paul urged the Christians at Corinth to excel in three things: faith , love and giving.

3. Let Christ Be Your Example   (2 Corinthians 8:9)
   He was the supreme giver.  We are his followers.

4. Put Your Faith to Work (2 Corinthians 8:11)
   Don't just talk about what you'd like to do. Do it! Act on your faith !

5. Give Proportionately - a Percentage of your Income (2 Corinthians 8:12)
   We are to give according to our resources - "As the Lord has blessed us." Money is a trust; we are trustees.

6. Give What Is Honorable In God's Sight (2 Corinthians 8:21)
   It's another reminder that we live our lives in the presence and sight of God, and that he is to be   honored in all things.

7. Give What Is Honorable In The Sight Of Others (2 Corinthians 8:21)
   Our giving is an expression of our faith . It's a witness to others, and others are encouraged and   strengthened by what we do.

8. Give As Proof Of Your Love (2 Corinthians 9:6)
   Talk is easy and often cheap! Paul asks us to let our giving (not our talking) prove our love.

9. Giving Leads To Blessings (2 Corinthians 9:6)
   While this appeals not to the highest of motives, it nevertheless is a promise of God and is the experience of countless members.

10. Give Cheerfully (2 Corinthians 9:7)
   Even when money is given begrudgingly, the church makes good use of it and Christ's mission is served. But when we give cheerfully we are blessed ourselves.