Edgar Feddersen is credited for the story "One for you and one..." even though I (Earl Feddersen) did the actual writing. Jesus decided on Wednesday, February 25, to call my father home and tell him: "Well done, good and faithful servant." I suppose we all reminisce about loved ones after we lose them. But when you are a writer/preacher, some words just have to come out some place. I'll save some for Pappy's memorial service, but a few will be here on these pages.
My earliest memory of making an offering to my church is that a quarter (25¢) was a good offering to make to your church. I mean…it must have been because Pappy (or Mom) handed me one when the offering basket came around. Later, things must have changed, because all of a sudden they started handing us two quarters. I had two sisters.
Then came the rude awakening or the first real stewardship lesson. I started working for money around age 10. One Saturday night Pappy said, "Now that you have your own money, you should probably make your own church offering." I had more than 10 bucks! Shoot, I could afford a quarter or 50 cents, so I said, "Sure."
Then Pappy said, "Let me show you what your mother and I do." In very few minutes, I came to the life-changing understanding that a quarter wasn't a good church offering. It was what you gave to each of your kids on top of your tithe! When my father first gave me that quarter…and gave my older sister one at the same time…he was bringing home about $45 each week. Those two quarters raised his tithe to more than 11 percent. Ten percent of my first week's 10 dollars was…well, you know what it was. It still is!
It was a life-changing moment because ever since then, 10 percent of my lawn mowing, paper selling, hardware stocking, appliance repairing, lawnmower repairing, salesman's, pastor's and other incomes have gone into my offering envelopes. For a short time, more went into the hands and Sunday school envelopes of my sons. Now more goes to special offerings, capital campaigns, world mission, and other national ministries and charities.
It is hardly the only thing my father taught me, but it is one of the longest-lasting lessons. I still remember how surprised I was to learn that he and mom, as well as Judy, Ann and I, didn't each put one or two quarters into the offering plate every Sunday. Maybe that is why the lesson lasted.