The 1834 Mindset

In 1834, eighteen people believed Greenville needed another church. With no campus and few resources, they probably couldn’t have imagined what Rocky Creek would become almost two centuries later.

They simply believed the gospel was worth the sacrifice. Stepping out in faith, those eighteen believers gave what they had, built what they could, and established a church for people they would never meet.

That same spirit continued through the generations. Farmland was given. Money was sacrificed. Members offered their labor and skills. Even the children of Rocky Creek saved their pennies and worked extra chores to help purchase the bell that still hangs in our steeple today. None of them could do everything. But everyone could do something.

We are here today because generations before us decided that what God had entrusted to them was worth investing in what came next. The 1834 Mindset isn’t about giving the same things they gave. It’s about having the same heart they had.

So what has God placed in our hands?

Our resources may look different today. Income and savings may provide an opportunity for some. Others may have appreciated investments, such as stocks or mutual funds, that can potentially be given directly rather than sold first. Those who qualify may consider a Qualified Charitable Distribution directly from an IRA. Property, other appreciated assets, donor-advised funds, something valuable that could be sold, or even something we could simply do without may provide other opportunities.

There may be ways to give that you have never considered, and some may even offer significant tax advantages. As you prayerfully consider what God has placed in your hands, seek wise counsel to determine how those resources might be used most effectively.

But before asking how you could give, ask a more important question: What has God entrusted to me, and what would He have me do with it?

Last year, a year-end giving emphasis helped us begin preparing for this project, and God provided an incredible amount through the generosity of our church family. Yet, only a portion of our giving households participated in that special offering. Imagine what could happen on September 20 if everyone participated.

We aren’t looking for one person who can give everything this project needs. We are asking for everyone to give something. Some will give from abundance. Others will give from little by adjusting their plans and priorities. Even a child may bring a handful of dollars earned one chore at a time.

We aren’t asking for equal giving. We’re asking for equal sacrifice. The amounts will be different. The gifts will look different. But each of us can ask the same question: What would it look like for me to sacrifice for those who come after me?

Those eighteen believers in 1834 looked at what God had placed in their hands and decided to use it for people they would never meet. Almost two centuries later, we have inherited the results of their sacrifice.

Now it’s our turn. Different resources. Different times.

Same heart. Same mission.

The 1834 Mindset.