Jeremy & Erin's Story - Generosity

I've served in churches for the past 13 years. I was very generous with my time. However, I always made excuses to be stingy with my money. Truthfully, I justified it as "I give more than 10% of my time, that's 10% of my first and best." We humans are good at rationalization.

A big problem I've always had is being late on bills. If I was behind on bills, surely you can't expect me to have even LESS money?!

My wife wanted to tithe from day one of our marriage in 2016, but I resisted. Then 2021 came.

In November of 2021, Pastor Drew gave us all the "90 day challenge" for tithing. Tithe for 90 days and if we feel that God isn't at work in our lives simply email them and 100% would be given back, no questions asked.  My prior pastor had given that challenge but I always had an excuse. Bills, debts, entertainment fund, whatever. I refused to put God first financially. For some reason though, this time I listened.

Immediately after the challenge started, the following Friday, we tithed 10% before anything else. I still had my doubts and fears, even to the point of "pre-drafting" the email asking for my money back. Oh ye of little faith. But despite my misgivings we still kept at it.

Very shortly after we started tithing, my financial state changed! I was making more money, and able to more easily tithe. Things were going great. How easy it is to continue when things are going well!

In February of 2022, we found out Erin was pregnant. We went for an early ultrasound and were told absolutely there was a baby growing in there. We were ecstatic! Yet another blessing on our lives. On April 8th, we announced it publicly online, but on Good Friday, we found out that our child was not growing. Erin had had what is called a "missed miscarriage". We were in despair. We were praying for a miracle, begging God. We had been faithful! But it was not to be. It most definitely was not a good Friday for the Presutti family.

We didn't want to be at Church, we didn't want to even pray or talk to God. Aaron Lax came to my house for something unrelated shortly afterwards and just sat with us, let us cry, and prayed with us. There were moments we felt as if God had left us. But throughout all of that, we made sure to tithe every week even though we were staying home. We eventually came back to Church and though it took a while, we started praying again, talking to God again. We still don't know why what happened happened, but we chose to trust that God knows what He is doing.

One thing that helped convince me that despite my despair there were also blessings is this: since we started tithing, we have missed zero bills. Not a single bill late. Not one. We paid off several debts and are still doing so. We also are sponsoring one child with Compassion International and one child for Missions of Hope International. Every Friday, the first thing we do is tithe.
Recently, Erin and I were talking and in the rest of 2023, we are taking it one step further. We are "tithing on our tithe" so to speak, by tithing 11%. Essentially 10% of 10%. We will continue doing so unless and until we feel God calling us otherwise.

We are choosing to be faithful in little things, so that we can be entrusted to be faithful in big things. It's a leap of faith, but one I do not regret.