An ancient story is told of a roadside beggar who asked for alms from Alexander the Great as he passed by. The man was poor and wretched and had no claim upon the ruler, no right even to lift a solicitous hand. Yet the Emperor threw him several coins. A courtier was astonished at his generosity and commended, “Sir, copper coins would adequately meet a beggar’s need. Why give him gold?” Alexander responded in royal fashion, “Copper coins would suit the beggar’s need, but gold coins suit Alexander’s giving” (Unknown).

We serve a God who is so generous and always provides more than we deserve. Genuine generosity is a result of God’s miraculous work for anyone who is constantly seeking God’s kingdom first and His own character in which He richly promises to provide all things to enjoy (Matt 6:33). One of the manifestations of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit is being generous. When believers embrace God’s grace and internalize God’s lavish generosity, their own lives begin to overflow by sharing all they have with others (Acts 4:32).

The Lord has admonished His people to “try Him” and believe His promise that faithfulness in giving tithes and offerings wouldn't make “room enough to receive” His blessings (Malachi 3:10). This transformation experience becomes a natural byproduct of living a Spirit-filled life. It defines the living connection with God where generosity is an act of worship. The calling clarifies our purpose to share our quality time, love, and resources in fulfilling the global mission field of the church (Matthew 28:19, 20) and meeting the needs of others (Hebrews 13:6).

How are we responding to God’s call of being His co-laborers? The messenger of the Lord has given the imminent  invitation: “God calls upon His people to awake to their responsibilities. A flood of light is shining from the word of God, and there must be an awakening to neglected obligations. When these are met, by giving back to God His own in tithes and offerings, the way will be opened for the world to hear the message the Lord designs it shall hear. If God’s people had the love of Christ in their hearts, if every church member is thoroughly imbued with the spirit of self-sacrifice, if all manifested thorough earnestness, there would be no lack of funds for home and foreign missions” (MMR, May 9, 1908, para. 9).

It is our hope and prayer that every church is like a “city set upon a hill, that it cannot be hidden” (Matthew 5:14) to give light to the people within the community. The Montana Conference invites each member to arouse and allow the working of the Holy Spirit to catch the eternal value of the vision “Each One Reach One” designed to reach a lost and dying world. Luke 14:23 admonishes us to answer the urgent call to “Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.”

In restrospect, we can praise God that the graphs below reflect the giving-pattern of the Montana Conference members over the past six years (and the year-to-date ending July 31, 2025).