We Are Vineyard The Joy of Generosity - For You, Not From You with Kirsten Schwartz
Oct 29, 2025
Kirsten Schwartz, Director of Church Partnerships at Generous Giving, shares insights drawn from her journey in urban planning and faith. She discusses how personal tragedy shaped her path toward church leadership, highlighting the importance of a culture of generosity. Kirsten reveals a groundbreaking approach to fundraising that emphasizes joy and personal growth over traditional campaigns. She also shares her strategies for empowering churches and the transformative impact of the Journey of Generosity retreats on congregational giving and stewardship.
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Global Military Upbringing Shaped Faith
- Kirsten grew up in a military family, born in Japan and raised in Europe before moving to the U.S. at 13 which shaped her worldview and faith formation.
- Her upbringing included heavy church involvement, missions, and an early immersion in Scripture that influenced her later ministry.
Disaster Recovery Led To Ministry Experience
- Kirsten worked in urban redevelopment and disaster recovery, spending about a decade in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.
- She led a 20s/30s ministry there while rebuilding the city, which developed her leadership and community skills.
Personal Loss Redirected Her Career
- Kirsten and her husband lost their infant son Caleb early in their marriage which prompted grief counseling and life re-evaluation.
- That tragedy led mentors to encourage her to join church staff for relational stability, ultimately changing her career path.