Active Generosity 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  Other prayer points:  Pray for the submission of diverse stories of answered prayer - especially reaching the goal of 250,000 stories by 2028  Pray that the monument becomes a living testimony to God's faithfulness and leads people to Christ through personal stories  Pray for 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/  

In this episode of Active Generosity, hear from Tania Bright, Co-CEO of our charity partner Home for Good and Safe Families, which offers hope, belonging and support to children, families and care leavers.  Tarn, as she likes to be known, shares insights on the fluidity of money, the gift of being able to receive as well as give and how she's resisted a scarcity mindset to be generous, even in periods of financial hardship. She also weaves powerful stories of generosity with her faith journey, which includes her experience as an adoptive mum and how she's trying to encourage her two boys to be generous too.   "God designed us to live in that generous flow and we get a sense of wellbeing as a result of that. Well, what a God and what an amazing thing we can give out of lack and feel joy, give out of generosity and overflow and still feel joy. It's the joy of giving, the joy of giving even when it can feel hard."  Tarn's favourite Bible verse on generosity:   'In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.' 2 Corinthians 8: 2 (NIV)  See our note on Bible usage: https://www.stewardship.org.uk/bible-usage  How you can pray for Tarn:  For her family's plans to foster a teenager  For Home for Good and Safe Families, that the generosity of their donors would continue to flow  For the life of the Church in the UK:   for young people coming back into a relationship with God  that an overflow of God's goodness would be felt across our country as we tackle some really big challenges  for more children coming into the care system   that we would be places of welcome as the Church and would open our hearts and our homes to as many children as possible so that we can live out the Gospel message as fully as possible  Related links:  Home for Good and Safe Families: https://safefamilies.uk/who-are-home-for-good/  GoHenry tools for helping kids to learn about good money management: https://www.gohenry.com/  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 Gary Grant, Co-Founder and Non-Executive Chairman of The Entertainer, the largest family-owned toy retailer in the UK. "I wasn't generous before I was a Christian. In fact, quite the reverse, everything that I had was mine so why would I want to give it away". Hear about the dramatic journey of generosity that Gary has been on, both personally and professionally, since he came to faith in 1991. That journey includes setting up our charity partner Restore Hope, which helps people get back on their feet with practical support. "You can't outgive God. Be as generous as you can, as often as you can and make as big a difference as you can." Gary's favourite Bible verses on generosity: "Those who honour me I will honour, but those who despise me will be disdained." 1 Samuel 2:30 (NIV) See our note on Bible usage: https://www.stewardship.org.uk/bible-usage How you can pray for Gary: ·       For discernment to use his time wisely to best effect ·       For his fundraising efforts to get the new community hub for Restore Hope up and running ·       For good health Related links: The Entertainer: https://www.thetoyshop.com/aboutus Entertainer founder hands over shop chain to staff: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgm2jjwmw9jo Restore Hope: https://restorehopelatimer.org/ Give with Stewardship to Restore Hope: https://www.stewardship.org.uk/partners/20096832 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/  X: https://x.com/stewardshipnews  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 Annika Greco Thompson, a Growth and Relationship Manager for Stewardship.   Annika shares insights from her experience of faith and generosity and how they feed into her work with Stewardship, supporting and encouraging donors on their own journeys of generosity.   "One parable that I've been thinking a lot about lately is The Good Samaritan. This one speaks to me of the ministry of reconciliation which I believe is directly linked to generosity… It's not just about giving money, it's giving up of our power and our control…in order to see someone through to health and well being and fullness and that is exactly what generosity is supposed to do."  Annika's favourite Bible verses on generosity:   The Good Samaritan – Luke 10:25-37 (NIV)  See our note on Bible usage: https://www.stewardship.org.uk/bible-usage  How you can pray for Annika:  that she may continue to challenge herself to give more and to trust God more in that  that she uses the platform she has at Stewardship to speak the truth in boldness and to encourage Christians to step up in their generosity  to not be afraid of what man might think but to really try to be faithful to what God is asking of her  Related links:  Journey of Generosity – find out more and register your interest: https://www.stewardship.org.uk/event-series/journey-generosity  Recent blogs by Annika:  Investing for the Kingdom: A full-time ministry: https://www.stewardship.org.uk/blogs/investing-kingdom-full-time-ministry  Just grace, forgiveness and accountability at work: https://www.stewardship.org.uk/blogs/just-grace-forgiveness-and-accountability-work  What if Lent wasn't just about giving stuff up?: https://www.stewardship.org.uk/blogs/what-if-lent-wasnt-just-about-giving-stuff  Annika's bio: https://www.stewardship.org.uk/about-us/our-people/annika-greco-thompson  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/  X: https://x.com/stewardshipnews  LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/company/stewardship  Podcast presenter: Ruth Jackson Podcast producer: Vimbai Chigwangwa Episode website: https://www.stewardship.org.uk/podcast/