This Generous Undertaking

A letter from Eric Hinderliter serving in Lithuania

Lent 2016

God is generous.  In his letter to the Christian church in Corinth the apostle Paul writes, “For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he is rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). Lenten discipline leads us to remember, in the words of the Heidelberg Catechism, how grateful we should be for our redemption.

We have recently received our designated mission giving report for the year 2015.  We have a lot of thank you notes to write!  For 2015 we received directed gifts from 18 congregations and 50 individuals.  Total gifts were a record for us in our 15 years as mission co-workers.  Thanks to all of you—and thanks be to God!

“God loves a cheerful giver” 2 Corinthians 9:7

We have been reflecting on this giving, wondering how such generosity may be possible.   A recent publication from the Presbyterian Board of Pensions (BOP) came to our attention as we thought about this giving.  Entitled “Encouraging Generosity in Difficult Times,” the pamphlet offers some good advice about generosity, about sound approaches to Christian stewardship in the early 21^st century. The advice is to talk about generosity, “starting with the most compelling truth of all: God is generous. God gives because God cannot help it.  It is who God is.” The pamphlet concludes that Christian stewardship, both in good times and in difficult times, requires that “in our joyous giving we enter the generous heart of God.”  Reflecting on 15 years as teachers here, we are amazed that we have been gifted with good health, meaningful work, prayerful guidance, and the financial support to stay this long.  God is indeed generous; he has been generous to Becky and me all these years of mission service; indeed for all our lives. Thanks for your sacrifice and commitment.

Two exchange students from Korea, Hyseu Kim and Danbee Choi, are taking economics with Eric

The BOP pamphlet urges us to make our thank you’s personal, passionate, and persistent.  This may not the best time to write about giving and money.  World stock markets have turned bearish; soon income tax season will arrive. Yet as faithful disciples we need to reflect on giving, on generosity as obedience to the gospel of Christ. In Corinthians Paul discusses collection of gifts for the saints back in Jerusalem, a task he calls “this generous undertaking” (2 Corinthians 8:7).  Paul mentions often how eager these early Christians were to give, even begging for the privilege of sharing in the ministry to the saints. Generosity brings spiritual benefits.  Your giving has made you part of Presbyterian World Mission’s witness to our students.  You are part of the story we tell. You share in their growth.  For most givers, people come first.  LCC International University is truly international.  Students come into our classes from around the world, not just from Lithuania. Your giving keeps us at our tasks, allowing us to be in daily contact with these students. We strive to be faithful in the world in a holistic, faithful and tangible way.

In addition to our personal support, Presbyterian churches also give directly to student scholarships. With gifts to the Ukrainian scholarship fund created by St. Mark Presbyterian Church, Bethesda, Md., and its associated friends the pressing financial needs of LCC students have been much easier to meet this academic year.  Two students received partial scholarships, and 40 other Ukrainian students were granted a 10 percent reduction in tuition in order to offset the massive Ukrainian currency devaluation.  The Ukrainian currency, the hryvnia, was the second most volatile currency in the world in 2015, according to the Cato Institute’s “Troubled Currencies Project.” Last year Ukraine’s economy was afflicted by an inflation rate of more than 24 percent and a GDP that shrank by an astonishing 12 percent. Here’s a note from one scholarship recipient, a student now in Becky’s accounting class, about what a scholarship means for him and his family:

Hello, my name is Erik. My family and I appreciate your willingness to give [me] a chance to receive a scholarship. This opportunity would significantly improve the financial position of our family, as my younger sister is going to graduate from school, so there are going to be many more expenses this year. Moreover, my sister is interested in entering LCC University as well, as this is a great place to receive education. Receiving the scholarship would increase her chances to come to Klaipeda and study here. It is not hard for my family to compare European and Ukrainian education, as my older sister has graduated from Ukrainian University; therefore my responses about LCC differentiate a lot from my sister’s about Ukrainian education.  Besides, our family is fully involved in church life and work. My mother is responsible for a women’s ministry and is a director of women’s rehab center. That is why [my] parents spend much time on the work that our church is involved in; however, it is hard to earn enough money to cover all the family’s expenses and at the same time to be a full-time church worker. In general, the economic situation in Ukraine is quite difficult. The prices on food, petrol and living are twice [what they were]. Our city is on the border with Poland, so the majority of local businesses are built on import. Now all import stops because of drastic depreciation of the UAH [the Ukrainian currency].

I hope that this information will help you to understand my family’s condition.

Sincerely yours,
Erik Dudik and parents Olexandr and Olha Dudik

So thanks again to all of you for your generous giving.  We ask that you continue your faithful support throughout 2016 with fervent prayers, frequent cards and letters, and generous giving to our sending and support accounts.  In addition you may wish to contribute gifts to help students at LCC University.  You can do that by sending your check to:  Presbyterian World Mission, P.O. Box 643700, Pittsburgh, PA  15264-3700 with the ECO account #E047992 noted on the memo line.

Paul ends his discussion of the collection for the saints in Jerusalem with these words: “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! (2 Corinthians (9:15). May the coming of Easter morning fill our hearts with gratitude for God’s gift to us.

Becky & Eric Hinderliter