Real Stories of Gospel Patrons: Ebony McKnight
The following was excerpted from 31 Gospel Patrons by John Rinehart. Each of the 31 patrons featured in the book was given opportunity to address several aspects of their journeys as thriving Kingdom stewards.
My name is Ebony. I was born and raised in Ohio. I relocated to California and work as an HR Consultant. One thing that people might be surprised to know about me is that I have a love for music to the point that I've written a couple of songs. I got to sing one of them at my cousin's wedding called “Love, Live & Learn from God.”
Illustration of Ebony McKnight
God's Generosity
I see God as generous through his word and my own experience. Philippians 4:19 says, “And God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” I have experienced that throughout my life. In every wonderful opportunity and life-changing hardship, God has sustained me and provided for all of my needs. It is not I, but God who sustains everything.
Giving
I first discovered the obedience of giving as a youth when I learned to tithe. As an adult I discovered the joy of giving based on Bible teachings. As Scripture reads, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35) It brings joy to my heart to be able to give to others to ensure that they are adequately cared for. Simply put, it makes me smile to make others smile. And God has blessed me with the resources to continue to do just that.
Dangers of Wealth
God desires that we use the wealth that he gives us to do his work, but if wealth is used selfishly, it can breed greed and feed our destructive tendencies. We hear about this in the news almost daily. Wealth can even cause us to stray away from faith. 1 Timothy 6:10 says, “For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” Another danger of wealth is pride. We can be quick to give ourselves credit for all the things we attain. So, for me, a significant practice is reflecting on all that God has given to me. I think about the many individuals he brought to invest time and resources to help me succeed personally, academically, and professionally. This propels me to be generous with my time to mentor and coach others so they, too, can grow into what God aspires them to be.
Treasuring Jesus
My first HR role after grad school was a tremendous opportunity with a well-known and reputable organization. I was thrilled about the role and the compensation package that came with it. The organization was also regarded for its rigorous HR leadership program. But one year into my work experience, my brother passed away unexpectedly. I quickly knew that all the money and success in the world could not take away the sadness that came with death. My grief caused me to draw closer to God and gave me the strength to care for my mom and my nephew, who were left behind. As my relationship with God grew deeper, he provided the peace and comfort I needed to get through it all, something wealth and success cannot do. I treasure Jesus more than wealth and success because he is the only one who has risen from death and therefore is able to comfort me during heartache and pain and teach me how to overcome.
I Wish I Knew
At 25, I wish I understood that everything, I mean everything, comes from God. I wish I had grasped that God blesses us to be a blessing to others. At such a young age, I was afraid that if I gave too much to someone that I would lack because God wouldn't take care of me. I now understand the power of generosity. I have learned by experience that God will take care of me and all he asks is that I trust him and give to others so they too can live abundantly.
My Routine
One daily routine that has been especially powerful for me is rest. I make a conscious effort to take a 1-hour mid-day nap every day. Napping every day keeps my day-to-day work and recreational activities balanced. My daily rest helps to restore the physical and mental energy and clarity needed to be effective throughout my day.
Giving Decisions
My giving decisions flow out of my life experiences. During my childhood, I was surrounded by mentors who helped me grow. I was also taught the importance of giving and tithing. Now as an adult, I find myself mentoring youth and sharing resources with the church community and non-profits that teach generosity. These all bring me a tremendous amount of joy.
My Mission
My purpose in life is to inspire courage. God created each of us to live out the desires, dreams, and passions that rest inside our hearts. Exploring and discovering what God intends for you can be both exciting and scary at times. The scary moments are opportunities to overcome fear and experience the goodness of God. When we can sense that God wants us to act, we find the courage to make life-changing decisions. I believe that God's specific mission for me is to help others identify their desires, dreams, and passions and to be in a fearless pursuit of achieving them.
3 Words
The three words I would choose to be remembered by are, “She lived fearlessly.”
Faith & Finance Perspective
Most of us who have been on a journey of stewardship for a while are familiar with the scriptural truths that motivate us toward deeper levels of generosity. We make our best efforts to honor Christ in stewarding what has been entrusted to us while acknowledging the struggles, setbacks, and temptations we face that can derail us.
But there’s nothing like the power of story to set us back on course when we lose our footing. Hearing others’ stories—and sharing our own—spurs us on by reminding us that we’re part of something much bigger than ourselves and our resources.
As you reflect on what Ebony McKnight shares above, consider how you would describe the same aspects of your own journey—especially the three words you would choose to be remembered by. Consider sharing your story with other (or “soon-to-be”) patrons who may need an encouraging word to nudge them forward.
“You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.”
- 2 Corinthians 3:2-3