enTrusted: Serving God with Excellence – A Landmark Retreat for Church Treasurers and Stewardship Leaders
In the serene surroundings of Lake Whitney Ranch in Clifton, Texas, history was made as the first retreat for the Texas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists local church treasurers and stewardship leaders unfolded. Coordinated by Texas Conference Treasury and Texas Conference Planned Giving & Trust Services, enTrusted: Serving God with Excellence brought together more than 250 attendees united by their commitment to faith and responsible stewardship. This retreat marked a significant milestone in the journey of these dedicated individuals. Leaders chose between two weekend options: October 20-22, 2023, in English or October 27-29, 2023, in Spanish.
“In Bible times, a steward was a respected person of high integrity entrusted with his master’s possessions,” Lynette Ecord, Texas Conference Planned Giving & Trust Services | Stewardship director, stated. “It’s about recognizing that God owns all, and we are His managers, responsible for using His possessions to honor and please Him. Whether that is through our time, money, talents, or resources.”
Nestled in the heart of Texas, Lake Whitney Ranch provided the ideal setting for this transformative event. enTrusted was not just a retreat but a groundbreaking initiative. As the first of its kind, it represented a pivotal moment in the history of church treasurers and stewardship leaders in the Texas Conference. This event sought to empower these individuals with knowledge, skills and a renewed commitment to serve their congregations with excellence, all while preserving the integrity of their ministries.
Texas Conference local church treasurers are dedicated volunteers entrusted with God’s finances. This event acknowledged their service, affirmed their work, and discussed their challenges. Local church stewardship leaders were also acknowledged for their contributions to God’s work in their area of ministry.
“The keynote speaker, Texas Conference Executive Secretary David Montoya, reminded us of our responsibilities,” Texas Conference Treasurer Randy Terry added. “The weekend emphasized the importance of working together to be God’s ‘enTrusted’ representatives. I want to thank our local church leaders and conference team who work tirelessly to safeguard God’s money.”
The comprehensive stewardship training program covered invaluable insights. The goal was for attendees to leave Lake Whitney Ranch equipped with practical guidance and a renewed sense of purpose to enhance their roles as stewards of their respective churches and communities.
A standout feature of the retreat was the church fraud prevention certification program, tailored specifically for treasurers. In a world where financial misconduct can have devastating consequences for any organization, this certification was a critical step toward ensuring that treasurers were well-prepared to protect their churches from potential financial malfeasance.
The evaluation survey results were positive, with 99% of the survey recipients indicating they would attend another stewardship/treasurer retreat. They also shared what they liked about the weekend and what would improve it, including topics they would like to see covered. This event reinforced the commitment to the financial well-being of our congregations and the divine trust with which we have been ‘enTrusted.’
“It is exciting to see our departments and local church leaders coming together,” Texas Conference President Elton DeMoraes, shared. “Together As One, we can all be good stewards of our time, money, talents or resources. Thank you to the organizers and volunteers who made this weekend possible and the local church treasurers and stewardship leaders on the front lines of ministry in their churches and communities.”
The next local church stewardship and treasurer spiritual weekend is scheduled in Houston for September 20-22, 2024. Email [email protected] to ensure you are on the list for updates.
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By Dileanny Jimenez and Tamara Michalenko Terry. Dileanny Jimenez is an associate treasurer overseeing church audits for the Texas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Tamara Michalenko Terry is the Communication & Public Relations associate director for the Texas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Photos by Jorge Velez.