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  Welcome to the inaugural post in my new blog series, “Never Have I Ever,” where I look back over my 21 remarkable years as pastor of Radiant Fellowship in Waupaca, Wisconsin. I am thinking there will be about 5 entries in this series. There’s been laughter, growth, some surprises—and plenty of lessons learned along the way. To kick things off, I’m diving into something churches talk about often.   Specifically: Never have I ever shaken down our individual partners for their giving. First, a quick note on terminology here. We don’t use the word “member” at Radiant Fellowship which is the church I pastor that is made of amazing people. For us the term "member" sounds a little too elitist for us. We’re all partners in ministry, journeying together in faith and service. Now, about that “shakedown” thing. Early in my ministry before becoming a lead pastor I experienced in a church where the issue of giving was quite confrontational. If your check didn’t hit some arbitrary mark (...