Dear Presenter,
Thank you for your willingness to share the offering appeals with your local congregation. It is a wonderful and gratifying responsibility. How you present these readings will determine how effective they are. Here are some suggestions to consider before you share:
Pray: Pray for the power of the Holy Spirit. Pray that God will use your words to speak to the hearts of the congregation.
Practice: Read over the appeal at least three times to familiarize yourself with it. Read slowly and clearly. Underline or highlight keywords to emphasize during the reading. Strive to share these readings with excellence.
Prepare: Sometimes materials for special days are sent to your local church to distribute or present along with the appeal. Determine how they can be used most effectively.
Personalize: If you have a personal experience that you think will add strength to the appeal, please share it. People connect with others through stories.
Present with Passion: A presentation can include all of the above elements, but without passion, it may not stir the hearts of the hearers. Ask God to fill your heart with His Spirit so that you can present the appeal with spirit and truth.
May God richly bless you and speak through you as we take this journey together in 2025.
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Offering Appeal | May 3, 2025 | Local Church Budget
Melvin Santos, the offertory reading author, shared that while shopping at Lowe’s hardware store one day, he saw a bird trapped inside the store that probably had entered through the outdoor garden section. Its wing seemed injured; it couldn’t fly and was too weak, perhaps from days of not being able to eat. If left alone, this bird would die. He found a discarded box and went over to get the bird. He took that bird home, placed it in a makeshift birdcage and gave it water and food. The next day the bird was more alert and flapping its wings. He then took it outside and opened the cage door. The bird slowly walked out and flew to the nearest tree. It felt great to be able to help one of God’s little creatures live another day!
Jesus’ words in Luke 12:24, NKJV, state, “Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds?” Jesus wants us to trust that God the Father cares so much for us.
God has placed the church to care for the brokenhearted, to help the downtrodden, to proclaim liberty to the captives and to share the love of Jesus through the various ministries it has set up.
As we return our tithes and give our offerings for the local church budget, let us continue to be a point person God can use to support His ministries.
Let’s pray…
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Offering Appeal | May 10, 2025 | Disaster and Famine Relief
This Sabbath, our church joins many others in collecting a special offering to support ongoing disaster relief efforts. Funds collected today support our two Adventist humanitarian organizations, Adventist Community Services (ACS) and Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA). Each serves in different geographical areas.
ACS responds to disasters of all kinds across the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists, which includes the United States, Canada, Bermuda, Guam and Micronesia.
As we approach Christ’s return, the Bible tells us that crisis events will increase. Emergency management records have tracked disasters for more than 50 years and confirm tornadoes are touching down with greater impact, hurricanes are moving at greater speeds, and violent killings in the form of mass shootings are increasing with alarming frequency.
ACS stands ready to serve those affected by these and other tragedies. ACS volunteers:
• Open collection centers to receive and sort donations, sending them to areas of greatest need.
• Provide emotional and spiritual care to the distraught.
• Deliver essential supplies to areas hardest hit by a disaster.
1 John 3:18, NIV, tells us to love “with actions and in truth.”
Today, as you return your tithes, we also ask that you give liberally of your offerings, and we thank you for joining the team that extends a hand of mercy to people in crisis. Together, we are serving communities in Christ’s name.
Let’s pray…
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Offering Appeal | May 17, 2025 | Local Church Budget
Melvin Santos, the offertory reading author, shared that when his kids were of age to work, it warmed his heart to see them buying gifts for each other for special occasions such as birthdays and Christmas or even for no occasion at all. They received great joy in seeing their siblings’ reactions when opening the gifts.
Giving results from two motives—either unselfish love or for personal reward. The gifts exchanged between couples may serve as an example of unselfish devotion. On the other hand, some give gifts out of pressure or obligation.
According to 2 Corinthians 9:7, NKJV, “God loves a cheerful giver.” Author Ellen G. White adds that God also looks at our motivation for giving. In her book, The Desire of Ages, White shares, “The offering from the heart that loves, God delights to honor, giving it highest efficiency in service for Him. If we have given our hearts to Jesus, we also shall bring our gifts to Him. Our gold and silver, our most precious earthly possessions, our highest mental and spiritual endowments, will be freely devoted to Him who loved us, and gave Himself for us” p. 65.
Today, as we return our tithes and give our offerings, let us reflect our love for God. Today’s offering supports our local church budget.
Let’s pray…
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Offering Appeal | May 24, 2025 | Texas Vision
The COVID-19 pandemic caused thousands of deaths around the world and made people rethink their purpose in life. We’ve all been affected by this. Recent wars displaced millions from their homes and resulted in major cultural, political and population shifts. These crises created openness in spiritual things. People are searching for meaning and peace. They’re hungry to make sense out of all the chaos in the world.
Churches in our conference can be that haven and point of contact for people to hear about Jesus. Offerings collected monthly for Texas Vision give opportunities to plant seeds of hope and love.
Now is the time to invest in God’s work. Why not ask God for bigger requests so He can bless us abundantly? We don’t need to wait until we have more to give more. We can flex our faith in God now.
Author Ellen G. White shares in That I May Know Him, “The time has come when we are to expect large blessings from the Lord. We must rise to a higher standard on the subject of faith. We have too little faith. The Word of God is our endorsement. We must take it, simply believing every word. With this assurance we may claim large things, and according to our faith it will be unto us,” p. 226.
Today, let’s lay everything at the altar and give our all to God, returning our tithes and giving our funds for the Texas Vision conference offering to plant seeds for God’s Kingdom.
Let’s pray…
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Offering Appeal | May 31, 2025 | Local Church Budget
When God liberated the Israelites from Egypt, He instructed them to dedicate a tithe of their belongings to the sanctuary’s service. This was a distinct contribution designated for a specific purpose.
The tithe was reserved for supporting those who served in the sanctuary. It was to be collected from the increase of all growth, and together with gifts and offerings, it furnished resources to sustain the gospel’s ministry at that time.
Today, God expects no less from us. His blessings to us are not diminished, but rather, greater than they were for the Israelites. His kingdom continues to need funds and resources.
The tithe is set aside for those who are directly involved in gospel ministries, such as ministers, teachers, missionaries and Bible workers. Offerings, on the other hand, are used for the operational cost of the church and various ministries.
The Great Commission to “Go and make disciples” and tell people about the love of God must be carried forward. God has made substantial provision for this task through tithes and offerings. He intends for the gospel ministry to be fully funded. He considers the tithe as His own, and it should always be viewed as a sacred reserve.
Today, let’s fulfill the Great Commission to “Go and make disciples” by returning God’s money with our tithes and by giving our offerings to support the local church budget.
Let’s pray…
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NAD Stewardship Ministries
Our mission is “to reach the North American Division and the world with the distinctive, Christ-centered Seventh-day Adventist message of hope and wholeness.” Stewardship Ministries is dedicated to helping members catch this vision.
Systematic giving is part of being a faithful steward. When we return tithe, we are recognizing that God owns everything. Giving offerings expresses our gratitude for what God has done for us. God loves a cheerful giver, and He has chosen this method to support those who preach the gospel as they reach the world with His message.
You will find an extensive selection of videos emphasizing various offerings by visiting our website at nadstewardship.org/videos. You can use them in conjunction with the offering appeals or in place of them. They average between a minute-and-a-half and two minutes in length.
Faithful stewardship is a matter of the heart. We don’t give to receive love and blessings from God. We give because we have already received God’s love and blessings. We give because our hearts and lives are full of the joy of the Lord. We give because we want to live out God’s character of abundant generosity—especially as exhibited through the ultimate gift: the life of His Son. Giving is a natural response for recipients of God’s goodness.
God’s blessings to you as you help others experience the joy of faithful stewardship.
Michael Anthony Harpe, director
Stewardship Ministries
North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists
About the Author
Melvin Santos serves as the vice president for Administration and Stewardship director for the Kansas-Nebraska Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. He is also the author and presenter of the Discipleship Master Plan: A Disciple-making Strategy for Churches and Conferences. At a young age, he was greatly influenced by the teachings of Mel Rees, a former General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Stewardship director.
Santos is passionate about establishing discipleship-driven churches and maximizing every member’s ministry potential and effectiveness as a lay minister. He also enjoys mentoring and training pastors and church leaders around the country.
He firmly believes that a successful disciple-maker also needs to be a committed steward. In his leisure time, he enjoys being a digital creator and influencer, traveling, gardening, exploring different countries and learning new languages.
He currently lives in Kansas with his wife, Juliet Santos, who is a board-certified family practice nurse practitioner and the co-founder and co-speaker of the Discipleship Master Plan Institute. They are proud parents of three wonderful adult children (and two sons-in-law): Elizabeth (Paul), Lauren (Brad) and their youngest son, Michael.
Calendar of Offerings – NAD 2025
Special Offerings
January 11 Religious Liberty
February 8 Adventist Television Ministries Evangelism
March 8 Adventist World Radio
April 12 Hope Channel International, Inc.
May 10 Disaster and Famine Relief
June 14 Women’s Ministries
July 12 GC Session Offering: Digital Strategy for Mission
August 9 Christian Record Services
September 13 World Budget (Emphasis: Radio Ministries)
November 8 World Budget (Emphasis: Annual Sacrifice)
December 13 Adventist Community Services
Thirteenth-Sabbath Offerings for 2025
First Quarter Northern Asia-Pacific Division (NSD)
Second Quarter Southern Asia-Pacific Division (SSD)
Third Quarter Southern Africa-Indian Ocean Division (SID)
Fourth Quarter South American Division (SAD)
Summary of Offerings, including number of weeks.
Local Church Budget 27
Texas Vision (Conference Offering) 12
Union Designated 2
North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists 5
World Budget 6
