Go With Us on a Journey of Generosity
How many conversations have you had about money with anyone other than a parent or spouse? Most people have had very few conversations about money - ever. So, for those of us who are involved in ministries and nonprofits either as staff, on a board, or as a partner, these conversations are ones we’ve probably just had conversations in our own heads around generosity.
Opening Doors to Generosity
And at Young Life, we’ve found a great partner to help us think about these conversations: Generous Giving. This organization has opened doors for us to have conversations about generosity without any pressure to give. These conversations have opened up minds for creativity and getting ideas swirling. They’ve been amazing relationship building experiences for volunteers, committees, and other friends of Young Life. They’ve even been ways we’ve made new friends within our Young Life circles through these conversations. Generous Giving calls these conversations and experiences JOG’s.
Before we go too far, let’s take a look at what Generous Giving is all about…
Understanding Generous Giving and the Journey of Generosity
Generous Giving stands as a truly unique organization in the landscape of faith-based ministry, distinguished by its foundational principle of giving rather than receiving. Founded in 2000 by The Maclellan Foundation, this privately funded organization operates with a focused mission: to spread the message of biblical generosity and cultivate generous hearts, particularly among those who have been entrusted with significant resources.
Unlike most organizations that discuss finances, Generous Giving approaches conversations about money from a radically different perspective. Their core philosophy centers on wanting something for people rather than from them. And they really mean it!
This fundamental shift creates an environment where participants can engage authentically without the underlying tension of being solicited for donations or commitments.
The organization's vision extends far beyond individual transformation. They envision a large-scale cultural movement where Christians become known for extravagant generosity rather than consumption or accumulation. This movement aims to reshape how society perceives Christianity, with young people organizing their lives around giving before becoming trapped in endless pursuit of material wealth, and non-believers being drawn to Christ through the compelling generosity of His followers.
At its heart, Generous Giving seeks to liberate people to live and give in God's image, reflecting His character through radical generosity. This liberation promises greater joy, freedom, and purpose as individuals trade earthly accumulation for eternal treasure. The organization believes this transformation will ultimately release billions of dollars for Kingdom purposes, advancing the gospel, serving the needy, and bringing healing to a broken world.
What is a Journey of Generosity (JOG)?
A Journey of Generosity represents the primary vehicle through which Generous Giving accomplishes its mission. These carefully crafted retreats bring together peers for meaningful conversations about God and money in an atmosphere of safety and spiritual exploration.
The JOG experience emphasizes conversation over prescription, recognizing that there is no universal formula for generosity. Rather than providing rigid answers about how or where to give, these gatherings create space for participants to reflect on Scripture, encounter inspiring stories of generosity, and listen attentively to the Holy Spirit's guidance for their unique circumstances.
The retreat format intentionally removes participants from their daily routines, allowing time and mental space for deeper contemplation. Trained facilitators guide these experiences without lecturing or teaching, instead fostering dialogue where everyone participates as fellow travelers on the journey toward greater generosity.
The pressure-free environment remains paramount to the JOG experience. Because Generous Giving operates through independent funding, participants never face requests for financial commitments. This freedom allows for authentic exploration of biblical principles without the distraction of fundraising motives.
JOGs can take various forms to accommodate different preferences and circumstances. Some gather in intimate home settings, others in vacation rentals or corporate boardrooms, and some even connect virtually through video calls. The flexibility of format ensures accessibility while maintaining the core elements of meaningful conversation and spiritual reflection.
For those called to host a JOG, the process involves selecting dates with adequate planning time, securing appropriate venues, and providing meals for guests. Generous Giving supplies trained facilitators and materials, creating a partnership that enables hosts to focus on gathering the right people for transformative conversations.
The ultimate goal of every JOG extends beyond the retreat itself, planting seeds for lifelong transformation in how participants view and practice generosity as expressions of their faith and response to God's radical grace.
Intersection of Young Life & JOGs
“We are an organization that is built on volunteers - so the whole mission already rests on the generosity of volunteers: leaders, committee, work crew, summer staff, and countless other positions. Paid staff really are there to facilitate a program that allows generous people to continue to serve the Lord through the ministry of Young Life. It would make sense then, to continue to build and teach about generosity.
The format that JOG uses is very similar to how Young Life gives testimony and uses personal story. They use a medium that feels like home to us in the same language. What they DON'T do is direct asks and so even the presentation comes with no strings attached except what God is prompting each of us. This is a winning tool for us in Young Life!”
- Lee Anne Allman, YL Staff and JOG Facilitator
The Journey of Generosity events represent a powerful strategic partnership between Young Life and Generous Giving, offering a holistic discipleship tool that transforms how participants understand and live out biblical generosity. These experiences create space for staff, volunteers, donors, and committee members to explore how generosity profoundly impacts their relationship with God, themselves, and others.
For Young Life staff and volunteers who regularly invite others to support the ministry, JOG provides essential spiritual formation around fundraising, helping them recognize the spiritual value that generosity holds for both givers and the advancement of God's Kingdom. Additionally, JOG events leverage Young Life's extensive network of relationships to share the message of biblical generosity beyond our ministry context, promoting a Kingdom-centered vision that benefits the global Church and encourages faithful stewardship.
Young Life has been leveraging JOGs heavily in recent years, and has expanded these experiences internationally too! Our Global Field Development team coordinates and often facilitates these experiences. Based on our team's experience across Latin America, Europe, and various US areas, we've consistently seen JOG participants become more engaged with Young Life through both financial giving and volunteer service.
“I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit during the JOG. I thought back over all that Jesus went through for me; his life, ministry, arrest, physical pain going to the Cross, crucifixion…and for the first time I saw it in the light of His generosity. I had never thought of it from that perspective before.” - YL staff in Middle East
“The concept of generosity is hard, to find time and space to ask God what I can do, how I can participate? What actions to take? I am thankful for this time and space to do that. It was a gift” - Kenneth Céspedes, Friend of YL, Costa Rica.
“We are always busy during the week, so this is a gift to have time to reflect on this. Generosity moved beyond just money for me today. My hope for today was to understand the importance of generosity and now I know I must do something about it.”
María José Vindas, Friend of YL, Costa Rica.
Are you interested in participating in a JOG? Would you like to bring a JOG experience to your local Young Life Area for your leaders or committee members? Are you looking to bring friends of faith together to talk about generosity? If you want to experience this firsthand, or use a JOG to bring your local network of friends of faith together, we’d love to help connect you to the resources needed.
Connect with our Global Field Development Team for more info: ewaller@sc.younglife.org
“Sharing of our faith is an act of generosity. Contact work is an act of generosity. Opening a home for Young Life Club is an act of generosity. A JOG is a chance to explore and expand the concept of generosity in a safe space.”
-Chad Watson, Young Life Staff, Global Field Development
Written by: Valerie Morris