Glad Tithings

Family newsletter of Christian Stewardship Ministries

"Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy." (1 Cor. 4:2)


September 1997
Volume 16 No 3

Principle in Practice

Ministry News

Prayer Corner

CSM Intercessors

Joyful Dividends

About CSM

© 1997 by Christian Stewardship Ministries

Glad Tithings is a newsletter of Christian Stewardship Ministries, a nonprofit public foundation. To receive Glad Tithings regularly, send your name and address (with a zip code) to CSM. Gifts are tax deductible, greatly needed and deeply appreciated. The ministry's annual cost per person is approximately $15. Any portion of this newsletter may be quoted or reproduced without further permission, provided excerpts are in context, by adding the following credit line: "Reprinted from Christian Stewardship Ministries' newsletter Glad Tithings, Fairfax, Virginia," and furnishing a copy to CSM.

Christian Stewardship Ministries, 10523 Main Street, Fairfax, Virginia 22030. Telephone 703-591-5000, fax 703-273-1795, e-mail ken@csmin.org

Steve Skancke: Setting Priorities Consciously

A lifelong church member, Steve Skancke found a weekly men's Bible study and a home fellowship group the key to growing in his faith. After hearing Ken Smith speak to a Sunday school class on the importance of good stewardship in the early 1980s, he became a supporter of Christian Stewardship Ministries.

"As people come to know the Lord, they need to know how to get free from financial bondage they got into before they knew Jesus," Skancke says. Living paycheck to paycheck with the "old entanglements" of car loans, furniture loans, student loans and home equity loans is a way of life for many new Christians, Skancke notes. He has found that CSM can help new believers "get their resources re-oriented for Christ."

From Ken Smith, Skancke learned to set priorities consciously, to allocate time, money and commitments in line with God's will. At the same time, he has learned to be more dependent on the Lord for his needs. He is seeking to live out Philippians 4:6-7, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

A merchant banker with G. William Miller & Co., Skancke helps businesses put their affairs in order. The firm works with companies to restructure debt, arrange mergers and acquisitions and establish investment programs.

He and his wife Nancy and their two children attend The Falls Church. They live in Great Falls, Virginia.

Joyful Dividends

Dear Ken,

Thank you for helping me in areas that seem overwhelming. God put you in my life in His perfect timing.

It's About Time reader


Dear Ken,

I wanted to let you know how much I have appreciated your ministry and the course in time management [LMS] I have been taking. As a priest I have had training in various aspects of ministry, and on my own have taken various time management seminars. Your course has been much more helpful to me than any of those seminars. After thinking about it, I feel there are several aspects of your course that make it unique, and therefore much more helpful.

First of all it is based on Christian theology and is filled with Bible study. This gives it a solid foundation and has helped me see how much the Lord really does have to say about how I spend my time. Second, it is spread out over three months with time to work on various pieces a week at a time. Often I would go to a seminar for a day, and that would be it. In this course, I have had the time to integrate the theory into my schedule and life. Third, there is accountability within the group. That has helped me keep on going! Having a group of pastors has been especially helpful.

Because it has been so helpful to me, I plan to teach this at [my church], and several people have already indicated interest in taking it. Once again I want to thank you for your fine ministry. It has helped me be more productive as a person and priest.

An Episcopal priest


Dear Mr. Smith:

I recently purchased and read It's About Time. I found myself especially in the section about procrastination. I often find that I have so much to do that I get overwhelmed, so I get nothing done. I am in the process of overcoming (I will overcome) procrastination and inertia! Please send me the newsletter Glad Tithings and a list of materials available through CSM.

Thank you and may God bless you.

A Texas reader

Glad Tithings Business & Professional Sponsors

Cross, Dunning & Associates
Architects - Planners

Robert P. Dunning, AIA
Fairfax, VA (703)385-7500

2C8 Transportation Ministry

Donate Your Car or Truck
Tax Deduction to the Donor
Falls Church, VA (703)237-0058
Midas Mufflers & Brakes

Reston, Virginia (703)689-9702
Sterling, Virginia (703)444-6367
Vienna, Virginia (703)893-2181

Robert D. Ben-Kori
Certified Public Accountant

(703)451-4571
Springfield, VA

Gentle Dental Care

Joseph P. Grieco Jr., D.D.S.
Fairfax, VA
(703)385-9700

The Washington Group
Consultants

John B. Mumford
Fairfax, Virginia (703)591-6600

Golden Construction Incorporated
General Contracting

C.G. Smith, President
Chantilly, VA 703 968-2755

Irene Boyer
Writer, Editor, & Desktop Publisher

Specializing in Community Association Communications
Annandale, Virginia (703)425-1080