A Model of Generosity
Dori Zerbe Cornelsen
At Mennonite Foundation of Canada we are mourning the untimely loss of our colleague and good friend, Edwin Friesen who passed away on October 23, 2008. Edwin worked with MFC for 13 years as a stewardship consultant, giving shape to that role within the organization. While he was based in the Winnipeg office, Edwin worked with clients and congregations throughout Manitoba and Saskatchewan, nurturing relationships wherever he was.
I had the special privilege of having Edwin as a mentor in this first year of my work with MFC. Edwin was a patient teacher who led by example. In his life and work, Edwin demonstrated the kind of generosity that he encouraged in the donors and congregations with whom he worked. Here are a few ways I experienced that generosity.
First, Edwin was generous with his time. In this past year, he made himself available to respond to my seemingly endless questions about what it meant to be a stewardship consultant with MFC. I’m sure there were times when he could have used fewer interruptions in his day but he was always gracious when I showed up at his door. It was also apparent that Edwin spent quality time with clients and donors, sometimes bending his own schedule to make in-person meetings possible. Edwin valued each individual, couple or group he met and worked diligently to assist them with whatever issues they raised, investing his time with them.
Second, Edwin was generous with his insights. He was passionate about ongoing learning and discovery especially when it came to connecting faith and everyday life. Edwin was not afraid to test his ideas and often engaged us in lively discussion at coffee time. Because of his ability to put his thoughts into writing, MFC asked Edwin to take on several writing projects exploring the spiritual significance of money in our daily lives. Edwin put his efforts and heart into resources such as God, Money and Me and First Things First. MFC will continue to benefit for years to come from his willingness to share what he had learned through study and discernment.
Third, Edwin was generous with his respect. It is an understatement to say that Edwin did not claim to be an expert, even with all of the experience he brought to his work at MFC. He was always genuinely collaborative and sought out the wisdom of others with whom he worked. Very early in my tenure with MFC Edwin invited me to be a co-presenter with him for a class at Steinbach Bible College. He was clear that he expected me to help shape the presentation, even though I still had so much to learn. His confidence in me was humbling.
Who are the people you can name that have modeled generosity for you? The stories of people that we remember and repeat are the stories that help shape us. While it has been difficult to say goodbye to Edwin, he leaves behind an incredible legacy of generosity that we will cherish.