The Questions:
1. Brief Bio and current ministry
2. When did you start tithing?
3. What is your personal giving policy?
4. Share a story that inspires you...
From Verna Ratzlaff
1. brief bio: currently "wife of or First Lady to" the President of a western Canadian Charitable Foundation since Sept. 4 - traveling to conferences and helping him connect the dots on relationships with networking organizations, individuals, etc. Prior to this Bruce had a 30 year career in the insurance/financial sector which concluded at the end of 2010. My title was also "First Lady" to compliment his President titles.
2. how did we know we were following God - my part was easy because I get to go along for the ride... but for Bruce it was an amazing collection of getting light for the next step. I am glad to share it and being in transition we are still taking one step at a time. It is very weird to be "working because we want to rather than because we have to." It's fulfilling to serve together through our home and career.
3. I began tithing when I started babysitting around 12 or 13. My dad was treasurer at church so I learned this from an early age - when I became a Christian at age 15 - it became pure pleasure to do this first off every bit of income I received.
4. Our personal giving policy - we tithe 10% of our gross employment income to the church we attend. in addition we give a set amount to every person who asks personally - I keep a $20 bill in my desk by the front door to give to street canvassers. I believe this gives us an opportunity to share our faith when we are asked in our neighborhood as well as to pray for the canvassers and their families. I practice my ability to say "no" to phone solicitations most of the time. In addition, we support several mission organizations and individuals and we sponsor two little girls through World Vision - one in Bangladesh and one in Niger. During our 20 months with no paycheck - we just decided to give a set amount anyways even though we had already technically tithed the money we had saved up and were living on.
5. inspiring story... I have two stories that have come to the top and I'm praying for guidance on which one to share.
a) early in our marriage we heard Don Richardson speak and promote his book "Peace Child" - at that time I had such a longing to buy the book as I love reading and I loved the message he shared but I genuinely didn't have the money to buy it. Something in Don Richardson's heart (God) probably prompted him to give it to me without me asking or embarrassing me because I didn't have any money at the time. This book had a powerful impact on me as I learned how God had embedded the link to his salvation message in the Indonesian people's culture. It forever changed me.
The next story is on the opposite end of the spectrum.
b) a few years ago I visited New York while Bruce was attending a conference of World Business Leaders. I had saved up $1500 to spend at Tiffany's. I was very excited about all the new experiences I was enjoying including shopping at Tiffany's and finding many lovely things. I was unable to spend the money tho' and was disappointed to leave the store empty-handed. I understood why soon after we arrived home. God wanted to use that money for something else. We learned that my m.i.l. had received her place in a Senior's Care facility and needed furniture that would fit in her new location. The things she needed added up to $1500. I still haven't bought anything at Tiffany's in New York although I visited a second time and I have received a gift purchased at Tiffany's in Arizona. My life is rich because I am listening to God and doing what I think He is directing me to do.
