David and Barbara Green’s Giving Pledge Letter
December 7, 2010

Coming from a family of preachers, the idea of giving back has been part of my life as long as I can remember. My parents and their parents before them were what some would consider poor, but they gave back whenever they could whether through small contributions of money, or through acts of kindness. God has blessed me with a wonderful family, a successful business and outstanding employees. I do not take these blessings lightly. I am honored to join this remarkable idea called The Giving Pledge.

When Hobby Lobby was created in the early 1970s, I was committed to use profits to help ministry work. I knew from an early age that ministry work, at least in the sense of preaching from a pulpit, was not my calling. But I also knew that God gifted me with a mind for understanding business, and that gift would allow me to carry out His work through contributions to great missions throughout the world. We honor the Lord in all we do by operating the company in a manner consistent with Biblical principles. From helping orphanages in faraway lands to helping ministries in America, Hobby Lobby has always been a tool for the Lord’s work.

For me and my family, charity equals ministry, which equals the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians says, “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work…You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.”

Like my parents and their parents before them, you don’t have to be wealthy to give. You can give your time, your talents and your passion. We congratulate those who have taken on this wonderful pledge.