The Heart of Brethren Stewardship: Moment For Giving
Greyson Smith has been attending Palmyra Church of the Brethren (PCOB) for over 10 years. From playing the canticle bells, singing in the quartet, serving as an usher, or being an avid Sunday school learner, Smith knows his way around PCOB. Smith learned about stewardship in the Sunday School Classroom, and he was ready to put this lesson into action. For Smith, this meant “packing my bags and going on the many trips the denomination made possible”. Trips such as the Christian Citizen Seminar (CCS), the National Youth Conference (NYC), and the Annual Conference expanded Smith’s understanding of what it means to be a good steward to the community and world. Smith puts it succinctly, “Stewardship is about taking care of what you’ve been given.”
Christian stewardship is living with respect for the earth so that creation is preserved, brokenness is repaired, and harmony is restored. During CCS, Smith put stewardship in action by “advocating for global and national issues directly to our legislators.” During the NYC, Smith was stunned by the massive gathering of Brethren Youth who demonstrated the power of collective stewardship and “what we can accomplish when we pull our resources and faith together”. At the local level, Smith participated in many summer work camps where a “small, dedicated group can make a massive tangible impact on a local community.” Smith describes it as “incredibly fulfilling” to continue working alongside like-minded, dedicated volunteers who share the same social responsibility that comes with Christian stewardship.
Smith reflects on his PCOB story and the experiences that built his foundational understanding of stewardship. As Smith looks to the future for himself and his family, he is eager for his children to have the same opportunities to learn and grow in the way of Jesus. “Ultimately, my hope is that they learn the exact same lessons the Brethren church taught me. That stewardship isn't one-size fits-all. It manifests in various forms through our voices, our hands, our time, and our music. I hope they learn to look at the gifts they've been given and to always strive to do the best that they can with their capabilities.”
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