March 31, 2006

MINNEAPOLIS – The goal of his new book, Ask, Thank, Tell, says author Charles Lane, is to perform a dramatic rescue of stewardship, freeing it from any connection whatsoever to "paying the bills." When the Bible talks about stewardship it almost always talks about the intimate connection between how a person handles financial matters and that person's relationship with God. Stewardship is an intensely spiritual matter that lies close to a disciple's relationship with Jesus.

The book is designed especially for use in congregational planning and study. Congregational stewardship leaders will come back to three foundational verbs – ask, thank, tell – over and over as they help individuals experience the joy of giving generously. Lane makes the convincing case that there is little in life today that can help a disciple grow in relationship with Jesus more than a solid intentional biblical stewardship.

Ask, Thank, Tell is a straightforward, easy-to-read stewardship guide that ought to be placed in the hands of every seminarian, pastor, and congregation leader. Lane gives biblically grounded practical advice that, if followed, would transform the church. The emphasis is on mission, not maintenance; discipleship, not membership and the giver's need to give, not the church's need to receive. The author advocates a biblically based primary relationship with Jesus Christ that includes open, basic, plain, and ongoing talk about money. – Jerry Hoffman, coordinator for "Stewardship in the 21st Century," A Luther Seminary Web-based Ministry.

‘Seize every opportunity to tell your story,' says author Charles Lane, as he encourages stewardship leaders to give many compelling ideas for helping people to grow in their relationship with Jesus through joyful stewardship. This book is especially useful for those who want guidelines for planning stewardship in their own context. Of special note is the warning in chapter 8: ‘It is easy to start thinking about what will work best for the [stewardship] leadership team. Resist this temptation. Focus instead on what will work best for the givers.' The section on Creating a Culture of Thanksgiving is worth the price of the book. – Ed Kruse, ELCA Director for Stewardship.

In this helpful new book, Ask, Thank, Tell, Charles Lane puts the center of stewardship ministry where it needs to be-on Jesus. Using the Bible as his foundation, Lane offers practical, easy-to-follow steps for congregational leaders who want to strengthen their church's stewardship ministry. I'll certainly be recommending this book to the congregations and leaders I coach. – Rochelle Melander, author of Our Lives Are Not Our Own: Saying Yes to God.

Charles R. "Chick" Lane currently serves as Director for Stewardship Key Leaders, a program of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Prior to that he served as pastor of three congregations and on the synod staff of the Northwest Minnesota Synod (ELCA).

Ask, Thank, Tell by Charles R. Lane, Format: Paperback, 128 pages, 5.5 x 8.5 inches, Item No: 0806652632, Publisher: Augsburg Fortress, Price: $11.99.

To order Ask, Thank, Tell please call Augsburg Fortress at 1-800-328-4648 or visit the Web site at http://www.fortresspress.com/.

Augsburg Fortress