Active Generosity Podcast

In this month's episode, we hear from Pauline Wilson, Team Leader for the Stewardship and Finance Department at the Church of Scotland. With 25 years' experience in charity governance and deep personal roots in Christian stewardship, Pauline brings warmth, wisdom and a compelling vision for a joy filled approach to generosity. 
Pauline explores the heart behind Christian giving, how churches can cultivate a culture of generosity and the story behind the book 'Living Generously: A Whole-Life Response to God's Love', which is cowritten by Pauline and her team. 
This episode explores: 
why and how generosity – not finance – drives Pauline's work with her team  
what it means to be a wise steward 
common misconceptions about giving 
the strong relationship between trust and generosity, with reference to Stewardship's Generosity Report 2026 
Enter our giveaway! 
We have five copies of 'Living Generously: A Whole-Life Response to God's Love' to give away. To enter, simply subscribe to our podcast email by completing our competition form.  Already subscribed? You're still welcome to enter - simply complete the form and we promise you won't receive our podcast emails twice! 
Enter now
"We're called to reflect God's generous nature in our lives so it's front and centre of what it means to be a follower of Jesus. And I guess when I reflect back with that generosity lens, I see God's generosity expressed in a very direct way through the Church, through family, through the people that have been part of my faith journey, just part of my life."    
Pauline's favourite Bible verses on generosity:  
"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 
They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22–23 (NIV) 
Pauline comments, "These verses always bring me back to God's generous nature and remind me that God's love is unshakable and never-ending, that every day I can wake up with the assurance of God's presence." 
See our note on Bible usage: https://www.stewardship.org.uk/bible-usage 
 How you can pray for Pauline 
for continued dependency on God's faithfulness in her own life 
for congregations to become communities marked by generosity and sustainable mission 
for a deepening understanding of stewardship across denominations 
 Related links: 
Church of Scotland's Stewardship and Finance Department: https://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/about-us/departments/stewardship 
Further information about 'Living Generously': Living Generously A whole-life response to God's love by Fiona Penny, Darren Philip, Katherine Southern, Pauline Wilson - Paperback / softback - 9781800830493 
 Subscribe to this podcast: https://www.stewardship.org.uk/subscribe#Podcast 
Be the first to receive each month's podcast. You'll hear from our donors, partners and colleagues about their journey of generosity, exploring why and how they give, the joys and challenges they've experienced along the way and what a difference generosity makes to their lives. 
Sign up to 40acts, our generosity challenge for Lent:  https://www.stewardship.org.uk/40acts 
This Lent, Stewardship will guide you through 40 days of reflections and challenges, created with Christian partners and voices from across the Church. Each day offers a simple opportunity to live out generosity in everyday life. 
New for this year: you can follow and track your 40acts journey in the Stewardship Giving App, helping you stay engaged and see how your generosity grows. 
 Download the Stewardship Giving App: https://www.stewardship.org.uk/giving-account 
 Follow us on social media:  
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stewardship/ 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stewardshipuk/ 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/stewardship/ 
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@stewardship.org.uk 
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/stewardshipuk 
 Podcast presenter: Ruth Jackson Podcast producer: Vimbai Chigwangwa 
 Episode website: https://www.stewardship.org.uk/podcast/

Welcome to the 40acts Generosity Challenge, Stewardship's new podcast for Lent.
Would you like to do Lent differently this year? This 40-day period of fasting, prayer and reflection leading up to Easter is normally associated with giving stuff up but 40acts, our generosity challenge for Lent, flips that right on its head to focus instead on giving stuff away – that's right, giving stuff away - not just money but also our time and talents. It's a wonderful opportunity to bless people in creative ways big and small and to have lots of joy and fun in the process.
Each week from Ash Wednesday onwards throughout Lent, hear from a member of our Stewardship community who is engaged in 40acts. Our guests will share the highs and lows of their 40acts journey so far and how their faith is helping them to keep going.
So, please join us for encouragement and inspiration as you embark on your own 40acts journey this Lent season. 
Listen to our podcast trailer to find out more and sign up for 40acts to be the first to receive each week's podcast as well as daily resources to support you on your 40acts journey. 
Together, let's discover the joy of active generosity this Lent.
Sign up to 40acts to receive this podcast: https://www.stewardship.org.uk/40acts
Follow us on social media: 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stewardship/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stewardshipuk/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/stewardship/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@stewardship.org.uk
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/stewardshipuk
Podcast presenter: Ruth Jackson Podcast producer: Esther Simmons
Episode website: https://www.stewardship.org.uk/

In this episode of Active Generosity we hear from Anne Reitsema, CEO of Medair, an international humanitarian organisation that has provided emergency relief to over 53 million people in 43 crisis-affected countries.  

Anne shares her remarkable journey from growing up in South Africa as the child of missionaries to leading life-saving programmes in some of the world's most challenging contexts. 

This episode explores: 

how generosity transcends cultural boundaries and brings hope
the impact of childhood experiences on Anne's calling to humanitarian work
Medair's mandate to provide healthcare, nutrition, water and shelter in crisis zones
what it means to live with a generous spirit - even in times of scarcity
powerful stories of faith, including the feeding of the 5,000 and an eight-year-old donor's inspiring gift
the role of biblical stewardship and why generosity is central to thriving communities

"If I see scarcity, I struggle to be generous. But if I know His abundance, I can in faith lean into the generosity that He has called us to." 

Anne's favourite Bible verses on generosity:  

Anne highlighted Isaiah 58 as her go-to passage. It speaks about true fasting, caring for the hungry, the poor and those in need of shelter. It promises that when we 'spend ourselves' for others, we will be like a well-watered garden, repairers of broken walls and communities will flourish. She also noted the importance of Sabbath rest in that passage - giving from a place of fullness, not emptiness. 

See our note on Bible usage: https://www.stewardship.org.uk/bible-usage 

How you can pray for Anne: 

Anne asked for: 

protection and wisdom for Medair's teams working in hard-to-reach and conflict-affected areas provision and resources to continue life-saving work
courage to operate from a spirit of abundance, not fear
flourishing and joy as they live out generosity in challenging times 


Related links: 

Medair: https://www.medair.org 

The Interagency Standing Committee (IASC): https://interagencystandingcommittee.org 
Subscribe to this podcast: https://www.stewardship.org.uk/subscribe#Podcast 
Be the first to receive each month's podcast. You'll hear from our donors, partners and colleagues about their journey of generosity, exploring why and how they give, the joys and challenges they've experienced along the way and what a difference generosity makes to their lives. 
New podcast coming for 40acts, our generosity challenge for Lent - sign up now!  https://www.stewardship.org.uk/40acts 

This Lent, Stewardship will guide you through 40 days of reflections and challenges, created with Christian partners and voices from across the Church. Each day offers a simple opportunity to live out generosity in everyday life. 

New for this year: a weekly podcast miniseries to inspire and encourage you on your 40acts journey. Plus 40acts will be available in the Stewardship Giving App for the first time, helping you stay engaged and see how your generosity grows. 

Download the Stewardship Giving App: https://www.stewardship.org.uk/giving-account 
Follow us on social media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stewardship 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stewardshipuk/ 
LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/company/stewardship 
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@stewardship.org.uk
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/stewardshipuk
Podcast presenter: Ruth Jackson Podcast producer: Vimbai Chigwangwa
Episode website: https://www.stewardship.org.uk/podcast/

In this episode of Active Generosity, we are joined by Founder and Director of Stewardship Wealth*, a faith-aligned financial planning practice based in the North East of Scotland.     

Simon shares the incredible journey he's been on to embed faithful stewardship and joyful generosity into his financial planning business. He also unpacks his personal faith journey and how he tries to support others in their journeys of generosity.  

"There's no such thing as my money. It's God's money He's asked me to manage for Him for a purpose, for a season. There's no such thing as my time, my skills, my expertise, my health, my love, my life. Jesus is a sustainer of all these things…So, all of this is to do what God has given me for His will. He chooses to give me free will in how I respond and what I want to respond is faithfully in my finance and be a really good steward." 

*Stewardship Wealth is a limited company that is completely independent of Stewardship (charity no: 234714). Stewardship Services (UKET) Ltd is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and does not provide investment advice or recommendations in relation to investments or firms (which include Stewardship Wealth Ltd).  If you do require financial advice, you will need to consult a regulated financial adviser.  

Simon's favourite Bible verses on generosity:  

"For where your treasure is, there you heart will be also." Matthew 6:21 (NIV) 

See our note on Bible usage: https://www.stewardship.org.uk/bible-usage 

How you can pray for Simon: 

At the time of recording, Stewardship Wealth was trying to buy a building for use by Simon's church. Simon asked for:  

patience and perseverance through the process
God's provision for the decision-makers
Stewardship Wealth to be the resource it needs to be for the local church  
Stewardship Wealth to grow in its business generosity for the church  

Related links: 

Stewardship Wealth is a limited company that is completely independent of Stewardship: https://stewardshipwealth.uk/  

'Where Your Treasure Is…': The Podcast where Faith and Finance Meet with Simon Glazier and Bex Elder: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/where-your-treasure-is-the-podcast-where-faith/id1622954782  

Subscribe to this podcast: https://www.stewardship.org.uk/subscribe#Podcast 

Be the first to receive each month's podcast. You'll hear from our donors, partners and colleagues about their journey of generosity, exploring why and how they give, the joys and challenges they've experienced along the way and what a difference generosity makes to their lives. 

Follow us on social media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stewardship 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stewardshipuk/ 
LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/company/stewardship 
Podcast presenter: Ruth Jackson Podcast producer: Vimbai Chigwangwa
Episode website: https://www.stewardship.org.uk/podcast/

In this episode of Active Generosity, we are joined by Richard Gamble, Founder of the Eternal Wall of Answered Prayer.      

Richard Gamble shares the inspiring journey of the Eternal Wall of Answered Prayer, a new national monument due to open in 2028, that will aim to make hope visible through stories of answered prayers. He discusses the challenges, milestones and the role of faith and generosity in bringing this vision to life. Richard reflects on his personal faith journey, the importance of stewardship and how he models generosity in various aspects of his life, including his former role as the chaplain of Leicester City Football Club. The conversation emphasises the power of storytelling and community involvement in the project.  

"When I think about how God talks about being generous and with the gifts that we have and steward doing them wisely, I think about stories about answered prayer. And I don't necessarily, as most people, go to finance. I believe every time that God answers a prayer in our lives, it's like dynamite in our pocket." 

Richard's favourite Bible verses on generosity:  

'We have heard it with our ears, O God; our ancestors have told us what you did in their days, in days long ago. With your hand you drove out the nations and planted our ancestors; you crushed the peoples and made our ancestors flourish. It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, for you loved them.' Psalm 44, 1-3. 

Richard comments: "I love this scripture because if we give in line with His will, if we give in line with His promptings, then the person who receives knows that it's God's hand at work." 

See our note on Bible usage: https://www.stewardship.org.uk/bible-usage 

How you can pray: 

Richard's request: 

pray for protection and strength for him and the team behind the Eternal Wall of Answered Prayer, to help them face any opposition and spiritual battles 


Please also pray for: 

the submission of diverse stories of answered prayer - especially reaching the goal of 250,000 stories by 2028
the monument to become a living testimony to God's faithfulness and leads people to Christ through personal stories
the successful raising of £5.7 million needed for operational readiness 

 
Related links: 

Eternal Wall of Answered Prayer: https://www.eternalwall.org.uk/ 

Subscribe to this podcast: https://www.stewardship.org.uk/subscribe#Podcast 

Be the first to receive each month's podcast. You'll hear from our donors, partners and colleagues about their journey of generosity, exploring why and how they give, the joys and challenges they've experienced along the way and what a difference generosity makes to their lives. 

Follow us on social media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stewardship 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stewardshipuk/ 
LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/company/stewardship 
Podcast presenter: Ruth Jackson Podcast producer: Vimbai Chigwangwa
Episode website: https://www.stewardship.org.uk/podcast/