The International Stewardship Reference Library
30+ Themed Art Galleries
Historic Artifact Collections
Stewardship Ministry Archives
30+ Themed Art Galleries
Historic Artifact Collections
Stewardship Ministry Archives
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"As long as Christians remain curious about discipleship’s connection to Biblical stewardship, they should turn to fully experience this unique Kingdom Generosity Collection to see how stewardship was practiced and what generosity meant. This reference collection is the most comprehensive Christian resource to inspire more committed Biblical stewardship practice in ministry leadership for increased generosity in the Christian world today, and tomorrow.''
(From a year 2000 speech by the late Dr Kenneth Kantzer, Founder of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and 2nd editor of Christianity Today magazine)
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What Is The Kingdom Generosity Collection (KGC)?
Historic texts often reveal a fascinating past to those with the patience and skill to uncover their stories. Through written and recorded works and objects, we can often become inspired by a more comprehensive vision from a previous time. We can also gain keen insight into our own present time and circumstances.
The Kingdom Generosity Collection provides the world’s largest, centrally organized reference resources on Christian stewardship and generosity education materials for students, scholars, and leaders in church and parachurch ministries. Historic materials cover stewardship themes across disciplines such as theology, sociology, business & finance, history, leadership and management, and ethnic cultural studies.
Scott M. Preissler, PhD has for over the past 25 years, compiled the largest subject matter reference library on biblical stewardship and generosity. This private library is non-lending in nature to preserve its one-of-a-kind holdings. There are 9 types of holdings in this special collection library and archive:
Dr Preissler has long held a passionate appreciation for writings and recordings on the subject of Biblical stewardship.
"What better way to understand the eternal insights awaiting the people of God than through studying stewardship literature
and materials past and present. Stewardship promises and principles are guaranteed by God and available to all His children.
I carry a passionate sense of calling to introduce emerging leaders to the possibilities which practicing biblical stewardship
anew holds for our 21st century culture."
Dr Preissler wrote the first academic, professional study to classify Steward Leadership as a theological and humanities literature base to aid the study of Christian nonprofit leadership. This reference collection began modestly in 1990 with the simple assembling of 145 books on the subject, which Scott compiled for his use for study reference. He has purchased and been given items for this special collection from a variety of international locations and sources.
The KGC collection is growing, rather than static. New acquisitions are being acquired, catalogued, and illustrated each month. A major portion of this special collection will eventually be digitized and made available across the world via monitored internet usage. One research project fully underway is to develop the world's largest on-line, annotated stewardship and generosity bibliography. Another project will be to digitally photograph and tag art and artifacts with digital device recognition codes. Special archives are currently being inventoried for their holdings and new acquisitions to date. This knowledge source could eventually equip evangelical leaders around the world.
This special collection also includes a large gathering of historic personal leadership papers, pictures and memoirs from Dr Preissler as he was promoted through the ranks during his leadership years at the Christian Stewardship Association and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
A special goal of this international reference collection will be to archive historic memoirs and documents / records of stewardship leaders. These holdings are now special additions to this archive depository. A number of historic memoirs have already been committed. It was always the intention of Dr Preissler to emphasize the importance of developing personal maturity in biblical stewardship as a central part of each leader's discipleship and calling into Christian service.
Dr Preissler deeply believes in the promise of renewed kingdom generosity for the ministry life of every emerging Christian leader. The Collection is today a wonderful resource for student scholars, faculty, and leaders worldwide, who quest for a deeper understanding of Christian stewardship and generosity. Upon further development, this Collection will continue to expand as an international, primary knowledge-bank and source of internet-driven stewardship resources for scholars. The Collection is on loan to The National Center for Stewardship & Generosity for development and education purposes for those interested expanding their knowledge and application in Christian stewardship and generosity.
Historic texts often reveal a fascinating past to those with the patience and skill to uncover their stories. Through written and recorded works and objects, we can often become inspired by a more comprehensive vision from a previous time. We can also gain keen insight into our own present time and circumstances.
The Kingdom Generosity Collection provides the world’s largest, centrally organized reference resources on Christian stewardship and generosity education materials for students, scholars, and leaders in church and parachurch ministries. Historic materials cover stewardship themes across disciplines such as theology, sociology, business & finance, history, leadership and management, and ethnic cultural studies.
Scott M. Preissler, PhD has for over the past 25 years, compiled the largest subject matter reference library on biblical stewardship and generosity. This private library is non-lending in nature to preserve its one-of-a-kind holdings. There are 9 types of holdings in this special collection library and archive:
- Books: Approximately 2,900 books.
- Recorded Media: 2,000 cassettes, 200+ videos, and the complete collection of 22 original full length 16mm and other types of stewardship films.
- Historic Christian giving artifacts: 2,000+ offering/alms plates, baskets and collection devices. Collection includes brass, wood, pewter, cloth, leather, copper, and other constructed materials. Early 1700’s to present. Some items are more historic and date further back.
- Materials from the 1870 - 1933 Hope, Faith, and Charity” global era.
- Art, Paper Ephemera, Pamphlets and Monographs: Over 3,500 historic stewardship pamphlets and journals. Extremely rare original stewardship manuscripts, and letters. Approximately 900 historic framed stewardship paintings, etchings and engravings dating to the early 1500's.
- Over 2,500 Photographs: pictures, etchings, & glass lantern picture plates. Largest collection of historic photographs of English Tithe Barns.
- New Testament Original Greek & Roman coins: referenced in Biblical stewardship writings.
- Special collections: referencing important eras, movements, historic themes and times. The historic archives of The Christian Stewardship Association (1963 – 2007), Royal Treasure (1995 – 2009) women’s stewardship ministry, and Stewardship ministries of the Southern Baptist convention, to name a few. The KGC has recently preserved the largest cache of documents from famous steward Thomas Kane (aka A Layman) in the world.
- These items and more make up this one of a kind reference and study central repository on subjects of historic and present Christian giving and generosity. There is no other centralized collection in the world.
Dr Preissler has long held a passionate appreciation for writings and recordings on the subject of Biblical stewardship.
"What better way to understand the eternal insights awaiting the people of God than through studying stewardship literature
and materials past and present. Stewardship promises and principles are guaranteed by God and available to all His children.
I carry a passionate sense of calling to introduce emerging leaders to the possibilities which practicing biblical stewardship
anew holds for our 21st century culture."
Dr Preissler wrote the first academic, professional study to classify Steward Leadership as a theological and humanities literature base to aid the study of Christian nonprofit leadership. This reference collection began modestly in 1990 with the simple assembling of 145 books on the subject, which Scott compiled for his use for study reference. He has purchased and been given items for this special collection from a variety of international locations and sources.
The KGC collection is growing, rather than static. New acquisitions are being acquired, catalogued, and illustrated each month. A major portion of this special collection will eventually be digitized and made available across the world via monitored internet usage. One research project fully underway is to develop the world's largest on-line, annotated stewardship and generosity bibliography. Another project will be to digitally photograph and tag art and artifacts with digital device recognition codes. Special archives are currently being inventoried for their holdings and new acquisitions to date. This knowledge source could eventually equip evangelical leaders around the world.
This special collection also includes a large gathering of historic personal leadership papers, pictures and memoirs from Dr Preissler as he was promoted through the ranks during his leadership years at the Christian Stewardship Association and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
A special goal of this international reference collection will be to archive historic memoirs and documents / records of stewardship leaders. These holdings are now special additions to this archive depository. A number of historic memoirs have already been committed. It was always the intention of Dr Preissler to emphasize the importance of developing personal maturity in biblical stewardship as a central part of each leader's discipleship and calling into Christian service.
Dr Preissler deeply believes in the promise of renewed kingdom generosity for the ministry life of every emerging Christian leader. The Collection is today a wonderful resource for student scholars, faculty, and leaders worldwide, who quest for a deeper understanding of Christian stewardship and generosity. Upon further development, this Collection will continue to expand as an international, primary knowledge-bank and source of internet-driven stewardship resources for scholars. The Collection is on loan to The National Center for Stewardship & Generosity for development and education purposes for those interested expanding their knowledge and application in Christian stewardship and generosity.