Jim and Joanne Spainhower are two of the most devoted and generous people in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
Having started their ministry by serving congregations in Marshall and St. Louis, MO, they left their “faithprints” in institutions of higher learning, such as the Ozark School of Religion and the Division of Higher Education (now Higher Education and Leadership Ministries) where Jim served as president.
Both Joanne and Jim have led from the lens of faith as they reached out to their circle of influence, which extended to the political arena where Jim served the people of Missouri as a state representative and state treasurer. He conducted an unsuccessful bid for Governor in 1980.
The Spainhowers both grew up in homes of faith, Joanne in Oklahoma and Jim in Missouri, which formed the people that they have become. When they were married and formed their own home, they made the conscious decision to be tithers from the very beginning. For more than 60 years of marriage they have been blessed and have sought to be a blessing, even in those lean years when tithing was a challenge. Now in retirement, the Spainhowers reflect back over their years of ministry and say,
“Giving is a privilege not an obligation. The church and the people of faith have been the central focus of our life. We want to give back to the causes that we see making the difference.”
Hope Partnership and Disciples Church Extension Fund have recently received a generous gift from the Spainhowers. The couple has chosen to support an Extenders Fund in their name to undergird the planting of new churches and the transforming of established churches with Hope Partnership. And, they have lent their name and support to an Accessibility Loan Fund with Disciples Church Extension Fund. This gift will help fund low-interest loans for congregations seeking to make their facilities more accessible to all persons. The Spainhowers give because they have discovered,
“It seems the more you give away, the more comes back.”
Visit www.hopepmt.org/give for more information about supporting the work of Hope Partnership.
