Maybe it was the celebrity speaker. Or maybe it was the fact that the local Christian community is starting to pick up on the vision of the Madison Christian Giving Fund. Whatever it was, the Sheraton Hotel staff was hopping Tuesday evening, substituting ten-seat tables for eight-seat tables so that a larger than expected turnout could be accommodated for the Madison Christian Giving Fund annual banquet.
An estimated 250 attendees came together to learn about the fund and its origin, how it is impacting ministries in the Madison area, and to hear some thoughts from retired pastor and author Stuart Brisco, someone who is well known in the Wisconsin evangelical community.
The Madison Christian Giving Fund has raised and distributed $343,000 to local ministry partners over the last three years. This has supported organizations which provide a variety of services, but because they are not willing to compromise their Christian faith they are not eligible for funding from other sources such as the United Way.
Two recipients of fund grants were represented at the banquet: the Care Net Pregnancy Information Center Fatherhood Program and Lighthouse Christian School.
The genesis of the fund was also explained. It’s affiliated with the National Christian Foundation. Linda Maris, the president of the National Christian Foundation Wisconsin said the Foundation began in 1980 to be a voice for biblical generosity. There are 28 U.S. affiliates, making it the 9th largest foundation in the U.S. and donors granted over $1 billion last year through the foundation.
Madison attorney Tom Hoffner and his wife Barbara were invited to one of the foundation’s seminars in 2012. “We were impressed by the quality of the organization,” he said. A year later, they helped launch the Madison Generosity Council. “We just wanted to help people be more strategic about their giving,” he said. “But God had much bigger plans.” When someone asked about distributing financial support to Madison area organizations, that led to the establishment of the Madison Christian Giving Fund.
Stuart Brisco, long time pastor of Waukesha’s Elmbrook church, radio speaker, and author, offered some throughts on the theme, “God’s love in action touching lives.” Brisco, now 87 years old, said, “It’s easy to be sentimental, it’s costly to have convictions. We need people of conviction in our world.”
Portage businessman Doug Fearing gave the invitation that kicked off the campaign for 2018 grants. “God is on the move in Madison, and we get to be a part of it,” he said.