Hello, my name is Ron Soule. I am a member of the board of directors of Lutherans For Life (LFL) and also serve as treasurer. After 42 years as a banker I retired, and now enjoy working with Christian organizations, like LFL, by sharing some of my financial experience and assisting them with corporate governance and planning.
Why is Lutherans For Life important to me? It’s the mission! “Equipping Lutherans to be Gospel-motivated voices For Life.” LFL shares Good News from God, our Heavenly Father—the message that He loves ALL of us, and sent His Son, Jesus, to die on a cross to pay for ALL our sins and when we receive Him as our Savior, by grace through faith, we are forgiven! There is not a single sin that we have committed that He cannot forgive—including those sins that rack us with guilt and despair. Romans 8:37-39 says, “[I]n all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor rulers, neither things present nor things to come, nor powerful forces, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Lutherans For Life is much more than an anti-abortion group. It is a Christian ministry that brings words of hope and forgiveness to those who are experiencing unplanned, unwanted, and difficult pregnancies or those struggling with end-of-life issues. Lutherans For Life has an effective and powerful Gospel-motivated message that is spoken with truth and love. The message that God is in control—even when we cannot see or understand how this can be. (The “most powerful message in the universe,” as Dr. Lamb used to say.)
Today, I would like to share with you how we can make giving to Lutherans For Life easier and more efficient, both for you and LFL.
A long time ago, I discovered two important concepts that assist me in giving my personal financial support to a Christian non-profit.
The first concept is this: I can have more of an impact if I give periodically rather than by making single donations. In response to an annual appeal letter, I used to send a check for an amount that I thought was appropriate (or frankly, that I felt I could afford at the time). The problem was it seemed as if all organizations sent out appeals around the same time of year. For example, let’s say I decided I could give $100. Later, I found that if I gave $10 per month it was much easier for me financially, and—as an added benefit—it also increased my giving from $100 per year to $120 per year. Also, like you and me, ministries incur most of their expenses on a weekly or monthly basis (such as programs and payroll and utilities, etc.). Very few expenses came up on an annual basis, so my donations were better suited to real financial needs.
The second concept is this: It is much easier for me to give periodically if I do it automatically. By giving automatically I do not have to remember to send a check each month—which involves writing a check, addressing an envelope, finding a stamp, and dropping it in the mailbox. From personal experience, I can say it is much more convenient and efficient for me to have my donation automatically taken out of my checking account electronically (or have it taken from a credit or debit card account monthly). It is also easier to consider making slight increases to the monthly deductions. Routinely, I consider increasing my monthly donations by a small amount (sometimes based on my own financial blessings or in response to a prompting or special need).
By combining periodic giving and automatic (or electronic) donations, God has blessed me to be able to give a substantial amount of my income in support of kingdom work. I started out doing this “small” and slowly worked up to more significant donations. Here is an example of how you might consider giving periodically by automatic (or electronic) donations:
Monthly Amount / Annual Total Given
$10 / $120
$15 / $180
$20 / $240
$25 / $300
$30 / $360
$35 / $420
$40 / $480
$45 / $540
$50 / $600
To set up monthly giving via electronic withdrawals to Lutherans For Life from your bank account or automatic deductions from your credit or debit card, fill out and return the form below or contact Jerilyn Richard at the Lutherans For Life national office—888-364-LIFE (5433); jrichard@lutheransforlife.org. You can also sign up through the “Donate” button on this page.
Sincerely,
Ronald L. Soule
Treasurer and Member of the Board of Directors
P.S. Remember, your gifts help us equip, “Gospel-motivated voices For Life.” We have a great message and a great Savior! “Indeed, he who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also graciously give us all things along with him?” (Romans 8:32)