Glad Tithings

If you've taken a class, made a contribution or agreed to pray for Christian Stewardship Ministries during the past six months, Pat Inman would recognize your name. Pat volunteers six hours each week in the CSM office updating the database, recordking contributions and paying bills.

Pat and her husband Jim lead the Crown Ministries studies at Church of the Apostles in Fairfax, Virginia. They learned about CSM three years ago when some of their students needed additional help with finances, and they accompanied them to Ken's financial counseling sessions. 

"From Ken we saw how important it is to treat one another in a Godly fashion," Pat says. She was encouraged and impressed by the godliness, kindness and compassion Ken showed to those who were struggling with financial issues that others might find simple and easy to manage. "I am grateful to be able to work with someone like Ken who exhibits such a high degree of honesty and integrity. I am challenged by that." Pat says she learned through CSM that "Change is a process; it's rarely immediate. We need to be patient with ourselves and with one another."

A Christian as long as she can remember, Pat made her commitment public when she was in the fourth grade. However, she feels she's grown into a much more intimate relationship with the Lord over the past 10 years. Through her husband, she has come to see God as "more merciful and accepting than the God I knew before."

In addition to volunteering at CSM, Pat prepares taxes for H&R Block and works part-time in the finance office at Church of the Apostles. She and Jim live in Lorton, Virginia.

Joyful Dividends

Dear Ken Smith,

The journey begins! My desire is to see transformation in the area of time and money management. Please send me Glad Tithings and a list of materials available through your ministry. I have read your book It's About Time and want to implement the ideas into a transformation of my life.

Great book,

Mike Walentoski 
Shoreline, Washington

Dear Mr. Smith,

I have just recently finished reading your book It's About Time. What an eye-opener and a blessing! I checked the book out of the library and would like to obtain a copy for myself. Please send me information regarding how I can purchase the book...

Sincerely,

Leah Polomchak 
Youngsville, N.C.

Dear Christian Stewardship Ministries,

Greetings in His name!...I have been reading Ken Smith's book It's About Time for a couple of weeks now. It has been a gift from God. I am in so much need of getting organized, need of stress management, need of time management, need of lists to do, need of schedules, etc. I have been praying and fasting for many months now for this area of my life.

...It was in 1994 that I had a breakdown and was very ill. My life was taken away from me. I couldn't talk, walk or think. My mind had broken. For three years I couldn't take care of myself. My sweet, sweet husband looked after me. All I could do was hang on to the scripture, "weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning" (Psalm 30:5).

...In September 1997, I started to feel better. Currently I am able to teach one day a week in elementary school. As well, I just started up my own business!

...What I have learned is that I need to take care of myself first before I can take care of others. Now I go to bed early and eat properly. However, I still need help. I have tried my best at getting organized, and it is not good enough. Now I need to do God's best and need His strength to do it. I know that I can overcome this with the Lord's help. So far I have implemented following a daily to-do list, having a weekly to-do list and using daily organizers. Thank you, Ken Smith!...

Best regards,

Reader from Canada

© 1999 by Christian Stewardship Ministries, 10523 Main Street, Fairfax, Virginia 22030. Telephone (703) 591-5000, fax (703) 273-1795, e-mail ken@csmin.org