PASSIONARIES

How did helping one child in Arizona grow into the Make-A-Wish Foundation, changing thousands of children’s lives around the world? How did an NFL executive’s inspiration become the Ronald McDonald House Charities? How did Paul Newman turn a joke into Newman’s Own, donating 100 percent of all profits to charity? In each case, it started with an individual with a vision.

Something in the human spirit drives us to make a difference while we’re here. Call it a  drive for  fulfillment, an inner sense of calling, or just the good stewardship of our time and talents—but that nagging suspicion that we’re here for more than just our own comfort and maintenance is an itch that only gets scratched when we take the burdens of others onto our own shoulders in selfless love. We want to leave some kind of a legacy, to leave a mark that says we were once here and did something that made a difference to the world. This is a kind of passion—one that is blessed when tuned in service of God’s will and kingdom. This is our goal at First Pres.

What does it look like in practical terms? We have seen great generations turn America into the greatest, most charitable country in history. In 2003 there were 66,000 private foundations controlling $476 billion, and 825,000 registered charities in the US valued at $1.76 trillion. Those who call the US the “greed capital of the world” are not being fair. We have over 7500 rotary groups with 400,000 members, Peace Corps in 185 countries, 6.5 million PTA members, Shriners, Junior League, Chambers of Commerce, Lions, YMCAs—not to mention the schools, parks, libraries, hospitals, museums,and community centers that are maintained by the benevolent support of passionate givers. Baby-boomers are redefining the meaning of retirement through encore careers and giving back . For many, the Golden Years are being re-envisioned as mission years—a time in life to maximize one’s service.

The Church has been there all along, because it is already our pattern and has been since the beginning, for we do not see our lives and fortunes as our own, but as gifts from God to whom we must answer for their allocation.

All Christians should strive to grow into Passionaries, for this is the pattern of following Christ, whose passion proves the endless love of God for all people. †

Passionary: \’pa-she-ner-ē\
1. one inspired passionately through vision and compassion to change the world for the better: visionary in action on a mission. 
2. society’s agent of change: pioneer of benevolent innovation giving forward and causing positive ripples.  3. a social entrepreneur emboldened to make a difference, volunteering above and beyond responsibilities to family and work: inspirational difference-maker.