Giving is a blessing, and Eric and Sandra Manro have always been as generous as possible. But four years ago, their giving paradigm began to shift from what they thought to what they believe God thinks.
Eric inherited his father’s business, All American Muffler, when he was 26, and has owned it for the past 20 years. With his wife Sandra and their two sons, now 19 and 17 years old, it’s a family business.
As small business owners, the Manro’s never know how profitable the business is until the year ends.
“We always gave a little bit outside of tithe and offerings,” Sandra says. But with two sons in Adventist school, there wasn’t much left over.
Their giving paradigm began to shift on a Sabbath morning. A church member shared something he was doing to help fund their church-sponsored mission trip. “He had set aside the net income from his business on the last Friday of the month. Eric began doing that,” Sandra explains.
And business on that day began to grow. “God just kept blessing,” Eric says. “There is a fear if we give more we will have less, but that is not true. If you are giving from a generous heart, He is going to bless you.”
Reading in Proverbs
At the 2008 Soquel camp meeting, Eric suggested they double their evangelism offering pledge. “We had two teenage sons who were about to enter academy,” Sandra says. “I prayed and surrendered to the Lord. ‘Go for it, but I don’t see how this is going to happen,’’’ she said.
Ten months later, the school bills were paid and their evangelism offering pledge was completed early. “We knew God was doing something,” says Sandra, who was also dealing with a life-threatening health issue.
Reading in Proverbs, Eric discovered promises about honoring God with your wealth and the first fruits of all your crops (3:9-11). “The promise [to me] in that text was I would have plenty to pay my bills,” Eric says. He told Sandra that he wanted to give God the sales from the first business day of the month — the gross earnings.
“That translates into 100 percent of sales,” Eric explains. Sandra was troubled. Employee pay, parts, supplies and overhead were included in the gross. “Well, whatever,” she thought. “I still have my paycheck, so we would have groceries.”
God’s Day
When “God’s Day” started, customers grew dramatically. “How can we give this much away on faith before the end of the year?” Sandra thought. There was no need to worry — 2010 was their most prosperous year ever. By November 2011, income was 25 percent higher than the previous year.
“Our giving has increased 100 percent,” Eric reports. It’s a simple arrangement. God provides the blessings and then presents the giving opportunities. The latest one is playground equipment for a growing church. “This has really broken the selfishness in my heart. Now, it’s just fun!” Sandra adds.
Others have been watching — their sons, employees, vendors, and nearby business owners. When the owner of a Shell station asked Eric how he was increasing his customer base, Eric told him about God’s Day. “He’s a Christian and is doing a God’s Day. And he is prospering,” Eric shares.
“It is a thrilling, joyous and humbling experience,” Eric says. “The climax for me is that Jesus has given me a testimony to share with others, especially business owners.”
Source: Oswald, Caron. “God’s Day Brings Business Blessings.” Pacific Union Recorder, Vol. 1, (2012).