Stewardship Testimony

by Jet Taylor

Good morning, my name is Jet Taylor, and I am 10 and a half years old. My parents have talked to me about stewardship, but it never really hit me until last year when I heard Cyndi Petrillo give her stewardship testimony. She said that her parents gave her an allowance and asked her to tithe part of it to her church. That day got me thinking that I wanted to tithe, but I had a little problem: I had no money.

My parents encouraged me to give my time since I did not have money to give. For the last year I have been involved with Blessing of the Animals, the Greeting Ministry, acolyting, and I became a Dementia Friend. All of those things are important to me because it’s given me a stronger and more open relationship to God.

I have also benefited from other people’s stewardship at St. David’s. For example, when Daddy asked people to give money for the children’s ministry, several people gave specific Godly Play sets including Cyndi Petrillo who actually bought one in honor of me because she knew my favorite story was Daniel. Godly Play helps us learn more about God and his ways. Another way your stewardship has helped me is through Alpha. Alpha has really helped me think in new ways about God and I feel like the good it’s doing for me is also happening to other people. I’m really glad to think that other people have been influenced by Alpha because of your stewardship.

But I still wanted money. After many, many, MANY months of bargaining, dealing, and practically begging, my brothers and I convinced our parents to give us an allowance. Some jobs we have to do for no money like making our beds. Our parents call that unpaid labor. Other jobs we get paid for and each month we get that allowance. This year I am so happy that I will be turning in my very first pledge card and I will be giving 10% of my allowance to the church. Sometimes I might give more if there is a special need.

I know that sometimes it will be hard to give because I may want to spend that money on something else like a new toy, but I will always feel good knowing that I will be giving money to the church’s needs. I know that I won’t be giving as much as most of you, but it’s still important to me to give. I hope everyone will be pledging and tithing this year because there are still so many people who can grow in their relationship with God at St. David’s. Stewardship has become a very important part of my life and I hope it will become important to you too.

This stewardship testimony was given at both services on Sunday, October 16, 2022.