I have been reading an interesting book that chronicles female journalists, photographers, and news correspondents during World War II. The author has done an excellent job researching the life stories of women who dedicated their passion to tell the “other” stories of war – the stories about how war affected daily life.

As each chapter unfolds in Catherine Gourley’s book War, Women and the News, the accomplishments of these women demonstrate the strength of women during an extremely difficult time in history. While not from a spiritual perspective, the contents of Gourley’s volume can be used as illustrations of human determination and strength of character.

In no way setting aside the difficulty of military operations in other parts of the world, there is a war raging on our own soil – the economic war in which we find ourselves. What are the consequences of this war? Are our lives being affected? Of course, the answer is a resounding Yes! There is virtually no area of our lives that has not been touched (and perhaps devastated) by the current economic downturn. What began as a downturn is now moving across our nation like a plague leaving no one unscathed.

Before you stop reading this and say, is this a political article? Absolutely not! As I read this history of women’s involvement in telling the story about war, I couldn’t help but make spiritual applications. The photographs in the book vividly depict the determination of the victims of war to survive and protect their families. As we “tighten our belts” because of financial stress, we must consider not only how our families and friends are being affected but what faces our churches and convention during this time.

As family incomes drop or fall victim to layoffs, what a family gives to their churches change. If a family remains faithful in giving a tithe of income, that may very well be cut in half if one parent has lost his/her job. Giving to mission offerings may be deleted as family budgets are restructured. When tithes and offerings diminish, a church’s ministries may be curtailed until a time when more money comes in. In Southern Baptist life, churches determine what percentage of their income will be channeled through the Coop4rative Program (the giving system established in 1925 to fund state, national and overseas mission efforts).

If a church decides to give 10% through the Cooperative Program and its local receipts has decreased by 22%, it is obvious that funds sent through the state convention will be significantly less. When diminished funds arrive at the state convention, a certain percentage is sent on for mission board efforts around the world. The portion that remains within the state must then be stretched for the greatest evangelistic impact.

Making do became a watchword phrase during World War II. A parallel could be drawn by comparing parents’ search for sustenance to our continued search for ways to tell people about Jesus and His Father’s love for the world. It is a well-known fact that persons are more receptive to the gospel during times of stress and difficulty. That we have to curtail outreach ministries and postpone planting new churches is really not acceptable in the face of our war against spiritual darkness. Just as citizens all over the world made determined efforts to survive and preserve their life, we must commit to do the same in the face of severe financial reversals.

So, what can be done? The Red Cross distributed food sent by the United States and lives were saved from starvation. Can we not make a renewed commitment to help save people from spiritual starvation? As individuals, we can make sacrifices to be faithful in giving our tithes and offerings (perhaps even tithing on what we used to earn?). We can continue to be missions advocates and be vocal in our churches about what they give through the Cooperative Program (perhaps giving the same percentage even though the church income is less?). When our churches continue to give through this missions channel, the ministries established in our state will be strengthened and expanded despite the financial condition.

Just as the female correspondents prior to World War II prepared the way for their sisters coming along later, we, too, have a legacy from those before us who had a missions vision for reaching our state, nations, and world for Christ. It is up to us to commit ourselves to tell the story of how everyday life can be lived when Jesus lives within! Often the PLAIN truth is hard to digest. There really is nothing FANCY about the concept of giving, except that God keeps His promises to bless the faithful giver – the individual, the church, the larger group.