The second offering

⁷ Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸ And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency^[e] in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:7-8

When Shepherd of the Valley travelers worship with our partners in Tungamalenga and Makifu Parishes, we’ve learned to ask a question before the service begins. “How many offerings today?”

In Tanzanian worship, the offering of tithes and gifts is processional, with each member bringing their gift to the front of the sanctuary, to the accompaniment of celebratory singing and dancing.  The first offering represents one’s regular commitment to the work of the church. It is used to support pastors’ salaries and the general ongoing expenses of the congregation. A portion of the offering is passed along to the diocese to support the work of the church at large.

The second offering is often called the sacrifice. It might be taken to cover the cost of serving Holy Communion, or it might be for a particular family’s time of great need or for a parish project like the construction of a new chapel in a neighboring village.

Ahadi means "pledge" or "promise."  Shukurani means "thanks."

Sometimes the second offering is initiated by a congregation member as a “thank” offering for some unexpected good in their life. A parent might present a thank offering upon the healing of a sick child, for instance. The congregation is then invited to affirm that individual’s gift by reaching deep into their pockets for their own second gift. When we visit, parents of students receiving scholarships often bring a thank offering in our honor.

Some second offerings are seasonal, like the harvest offering. Farmers bring heavy bags of maize or rice, stalks of sugar cane, baskets of eggs, a chicken, a goat. These items are brought to the altar and the family receives a blessing. The congregation may auction these items or ship them to market, with the proceeds used to support parish construction projects.

The concept of a second offering is foreign to our American church. We would be very surprised if someone in the assembly suddenly stood to request an additional offering. So when our travelers ask, "How many offerings today?" the question comes from our wish to be good guests, prepared to participate fully in Tanzanian worship. We pull the currency from our purses and wallets, tucking it into pockets easily accessible. We see our Tanzanian brothers and sisters giving -- sacrificing -- with such joy and good cheer, and we want to be part of that, too.

You might see some parallels between the Tanzanian second offering and SOTV's Capital Campaign that just kicked off this January. SOTV is asking members to give above and beyond our regular weekly offerings, and to pledge an amount to give over a five year period to help the church pay off debt, improve the facility, and increase benevolent giving (including a gift to Tanzania Partnership).

We have much to learn from our Tanzanian friends. When we give more of ourselves than we are used to, it may indeed feel like a sacrifice. Like our partners, let's do it with joy and good cheer. God does provide, and we are forever grateful.