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Generosity is often something we practice on our own. We identify a need, support a ministry, or give to a cause we care about. But what happens when we invite others to join us?

Giving circles offer a way to make generosity more collaborative, relational, and joyful. When believers come together with a shared purpose, their collective giving can make a meaningful difference—not only in the lives of those receiving support but also in the hearts of those giving.

Lacie Stevens, Senior Partner at Generous Giving, has seen this firsthand. After spending more than two decades as a financial advisor, her perspective on stewardship changed dramatically when she attended her first Generous Giving conference in 2007. Today, she helps others discover the joy of generosity through shared experiences and meaningful connections.

Her message is simple: Generosity doesn't have to be something we practice alone.

A giving circle is a group of people who intentionally come together to pool their resources, pray about needs, and decide how they can support individuals, organizations, or ministries.

The concept is straightforward, but its impact can extend far beyond the financial gifts themselves.

Lacie explains that giving becomes more personal and life-giving when it's experienced in community. Rather than making giving decisions in isolation, participants have an opportunity to learn from one another, discover needs they might otherwise overlook, and encourage each other to respond.

In a culture where many people feel disconnected, giving circles create opportunities for authentic relationships centered on a shared desire to serve others.

They also remind us that generosity is about more than transferring resources. It's an opportunity for spiritual growth.

When we talk openly about needs, pray together, and encourage one another to act, we begin to see generosity as something we're invited to participate in rather than simply another financial obligation. And sometimes, the encouragement of others helps us act on an opportunity we might otherwise hesitate to pursue.

Although giving circles may be growing in popularity, the heart behind them is hardly new.

In Acts 2 and 4, we see a remarkable picture of generosity within the early church. Believers shared their possessions, cared for one another's needs, and demonstrated a unity that reflected their common faith in Christ. Acts 4:32 describes the community this way:

"Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common."

Their generosity was an expression of their shared life in Christ. They recognized that what they possessed could be used to care for one another.

Modern giving circles may operate differently, but they reflect a similar desire to use God's resources for the good of others. And the beauty of this approach is that it isn't reserved for people with extraordinary wealth.

One of the biggest misconceptions about collaborative giving is that it requires substantial financial resources. In reality, a giving circle might consist of a few families, a Bible study group, or several friends who contribute modest amounts toward a shared purpose.

The individual gifts may be small, but their combined impact can be meaningful. Of course, some giving circles have grown into much larger efforts.

Lacie recalls a group of four women in Fort Lauderdale who were inspired to start a giving circle after attending a

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You moved. Your old friends are three states away. Your calendar's full, but your phone's pretty quiet. How to meet new people as an adult—and actually build friendships that last? FamilyLife president Luke Middendorf and his wife Kristina join Dave and Ann Wilson on FamilyLife Today to get real about starting over, awkward invitations, and the difference between having acquaintances and having people who know you.

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For many Christians, conversations about money often center on one question: “How much should I give?” Faithful stewardship, however, goes further. It includes every resource God has entrusted to us—and how we put those resources to work. On the next Faith & Finance Live, Rob West and Aimee Minnich explore some important questions we may be overlooking. Then, it’s on to calls. That’s Faith & Finance Live, biblical wisdom for your financial journey. That’s weekdays at 4pm Eastern/3pm Central on Moody Radio.

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When Christians think about faithful stewardship, generosity often comes to mind first. We ask how much we should give, where our gifts should go, and how we can use our resources to bless others. But what about the money we don't give away?

Faithful stewardship extends beyond charitable donations. It includes our savings, investments, businesses, and everything else God has entrusted to our care. And that raises an important question: How can we use all of our resources, not just what we give, to advance God's purposes?

Aimee Minnich, Co-Founder, Chief Impact Officer, and General Counsel of the Impact Foundation, helps Christians explore that question by aligning their investments with their faith to promote human flourishing.

Traditionally, Christians have approached generosity by asking three questions: What should I give? How should I give? And where should I give?

Minnich believes there's a fourth question worth considering: What would God have me do with everything I own before I give it away?

If we believe that God owns everything and that we're simply stewards of His resources, then our responsibility extends to every financial decision we make. This doesn't diminish the importance of charitable giving. Generosity remains an essential expression of God's grace at work in our lives. But giving is part of a much larger stewardship responsibility.

Our savings, investments, and businesses are also opportunities to honor God. Rather than separating the money we give from the money we keep, we can begin viewing everything He's entrusted to us through the same lens of faithfulness.

Businesses are often evaluated primarily by their ability to generate profits, create jobs, and provide goods and services. While those are important contributions, Minnich encourages Christians to recognize that business can accomplish something even greater.

Consider the opportunities businesses create for employees to use their God-given abilities, for customers to receive valuable services, and for communities to experience economic stability.

When a company treats its employees with dignity, serves customers with integrity, and develops products that genuinely improve people's lives, its daily operations can reflect biblical principles.

In other words, a business doesn't have to wait until it distributes its profits to make a meaningful difference. The work itself can become an expression of loving our neighbors. This perspective also helps us understand why charitable giving and investing should be viewed as complementary approaches rather than competing priorities.

Charity is essential, especially when people face immediate needs. When someone is hungry, providing a meal can be a direct expression of Christlike compassion. During disasters, famines, and other crises, charitable assistance can save lives. But lasting economic transformation may require something more.

Minnich recalls visiting a small village in southern Ethiopia near the Kenyan border. Famine, drought, and political instability had left residents struggling to survive. Emergency assistance provided food that literally saved lives. Yet as time passed, the community also needed opportunities for employment, training, and economic independence. That's where business can play an important role.

By creating sustainable jobs and equipping people with valuable skills, businesses can help communities build toward long-term flourishing. Charity responds to urgent needs, while investment can help develop lasting opportunities. Both have an important place in faithful stewardship.

If businesses can contribute to human flourishing, then the investments we make in those busine

Our God can calm storms, create storms, part the waters of the Red Sea. He can make time literally stand still, He can raise the dead, and cause the deaf to hear. So what is it that you need today? Glad you’re along for A NEW BEGINNING as Pastor Greg Laurie helps us see nothing is impossible for the Lord. And He invites us to come to Him in prayer. He bids us to “ask, seek, and knock.” And when our petitions intersect with His willingness, big things can happen!

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