THF_2025ImpactReport_Digital - Flipbook - Page 27
Board Member Highlight
Jeff Johnson
I am blessed to have had a 37-year career at Tyndale House Publishers, starting
out working in the warehouse to serving as its president, with several other
roles along the way. Throughout that journey, I was privileged to be able to
see the impacts of Christian publishing and the generous giving of financial
resources on the expansion of God’s Kingdom. Besides having a wonderful
career at Tyndale, I was blessed to meet my wonderful wife, Carole, there, and
the Lord has blessed us with two wonderful children, Madeline and Mason.
Thus, each of us can choose to be generous each day by sharing God’s love and
grace with others.
What makes generosity hard sometimes?
When we are focused on our own wants, needs, and desires versus those around
us. When we find ourselves being envious versus being content with what we
do have. When we are filled with fear that we don’t have enough versus having
a thankful heart for what we do have.
What comes to mind when you hear the word generous?
One thing has generosity taught me is . . .
First, I think of the generous God that loves me so much that he sent his Son
to die for my sins so that he could adopt me and have me become co-heirs with
Christ. He has given me the Holy Spirit to dwell within me and has provided me
with his Word through the Bible to guide me through my life. He created a world
filled with beauty and resources to provide for all my needs. Then I think, “How
can I not be generous when I have such a generous God who loves me no matter
what I do?”
No matter a person’s circumstances, can everyone be generous?
When I was a college student putting myself through school, there were many
weeks where I only had a few dollars to get me through the week. During that
time, the Lord taught me wonderful lessons: I could still be generous with a smile
and a warm hello to everyone I met, I could be generous with kindness and love
to those around me, and I could be generous with my time serving others.
That there is great joy in being generous. I remember sitting at our desk after our
first full year of marriage, and after adding up all that we were able to give away
monetarily, I was filled with such joy and shed tears of joy in how God allowed my
wife and me to be such a blessing to others.
What surprises me most about generosity?
How easy generosity can be when the Holy Spirit helps grow it within you,
and on the other hand, it takes discipline especially when you feel that you do
not have enough, whether it be time, talent, or treasure.
What key traits are needed to keep a spirit of generosity?
I believe it requires a thankful heart, a gracious heart, a servant’s heart,
and a spirit of humility.
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