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BIO FOR BRIAN KLUTH

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PASTOR BRIAN KLUTH is an inspirational speaker,

bestselling generosity author, and TV/Radio/Media guest. 

• Brian is a popular inspirational speaker on generosity and legacy living and giving for large churches, pastor/leadership conferences, colleges, seminaries, and generosity/charity/fundraising events across the country and around the world (he has spoken on every continent and traveled to more than 50 countries).

• He is the bestselling author of the 30 & 40 Day www.GenerousLife.org devotionals, books, and materials that have nearly 1 million copies in print, have been used by more than 3000 churches, and have been translated into more than 40 languages for use on every continent in the world.

• Founder of the www.GenerosityPledge.org Movement and the www.MAXIMUMgenerosity.org website and FREE eNewsletter for 22,000+ pastors, church leaders, and Christians across America and in over 150 countries. 

• Radio speaker and author for the www.GiveWithJoy.org generosity stories heard on more than 200 radio stations.  Thousands of radio listeners have subscribed to his 40 Day www.GiveWithJoy.org FREE eDevotional with daily audio teaching, Bible readings, cartoons, and articles.

• Founder and publisher of the www.STATEofthePLATE.info research on church and Christian giving that is conducted in cooperation with Christianity Today, ECFA, and ECCU.  In 2013, they released the national report: "New Insights Into the Largest Givers to Religion in America: 20 Truths About Tithers." This was the largest study (over 4400 participants) ever done on people that donate 10% or more to Christian and charitable causes.

• In media circles, Brian is known as "America's Giving Guy" and his work has been highlighted by USA Today (front page), Washington Times (front page), Wall Street Journal, Chronicle of Philanthropy, Kiplinger's Personal MONEY magazine, CNN, CBN, FOX, NBC, CBS, ABC, ECFA, Prime Time America Radio, NPR-National Public Radio, AP-Associated Press Radio, and hundreds of radio stations and newspapers. 

• His ministry travels have taken him to more than 50 countries around the world. 

• Attended Stratton College (AAS in Business Administration), University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Trinity University (BA in Communications).  He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity degree by Trinity College & Seminary for his 20 years of service promoting greater generosity across the globe. 

• Speaker for ECFA's "Wise Giving Q&A Video Series" - 29 short video biblical and practical answers (1-2 minutes long) to commonly asked questions about Christian and charitable giving.

• Brian became the co-founder and Bible teacher for one of America's largest ministries to single and single-again Christians that reached hundreds each week and thousands more through Christ-centered online video and teaching handouts for single adults. 

• In 2013 Brian remarried a Christian widow, Mary Ellen Covino, and they are parents to their 4 teen and college-age children. 

• After Brian's wife of 28 years, Sandi, passed away after an 8 year cancer journey, his family and friends launched and funded the SANDI HOUSE ministry at a Christian school in Uganda.  The SANDI HOUSE is in honor of Sandi's life, legacy and love and provides a Christian education, dormitory living, clothing, food, medical attention, and loving care for 88 needy girls and orphans.

• Brian and Mary Ellen live with in Denver, CO and have four children that are young adults.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Brian was the SENIOR PASTOR at the First Evangelical Free Church of Colorado Springs from 1999-2009.  In the fall of 2009 the church commissioned Brian to a newly created full-time staff position as a GENEROSITY MINISTER-AT-LARGE to the body of Christ across the country and around the world.  This new role allows Brian to serve throughout the USA and around the globe through writing, guest speaking, creation of online and video materials, national research, and media interviews.

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT BRIAN'S MINISTRY

• He is the only known person in the world to ever be officially called and public commissioned to be a Generosity Minister-at-Large to Christians, churches, denominations, and the mainstream and Christian media across the globe.

• His generosity ministry, materials, and media exposure is reaching Christians of all denominations, every state in America, and millions of people in over 150 countries.

• He was commissioned as a "$1/year employee of his church" but he intentionally chose to limits his family's income from publishing and speaking to 5 figures so that he can invest or give 6 figures per year to advance generosity in the world and to give to worthy organizations and ministries.

• He was the recipient of the "General William Booth" annual philanthropy award by the Salvation Army in Australia.  Normally this award is given to multi-millionaire donors that generously support the work of the Salvation Army.  Brian was the first non-Australian and non-donor to ever receive this award.  This honor was bestowed on him because his www.GenerousLife.org devotionals have been used in hundreds of churches and the average giving increased in participating churches of 35% -- resulting in millions of additional dollars for church and humanitarian ministry.

BESTSELLING AUTHOR

• 40 Day Journey to a More Generous Life Bible devotional, audio teaching CD, and videos.  This devotional has 500,000 copies in print, has been distributed by nearly 2000 churches to every family in their congregation, and is being translated into over 40 foreign languages for worldwide distribution.

• 7 Keys to Open-Handed Living in a Tight-Fisted World 30-Day devotional, audio teaching CD, and videos.

• Because I Love You CHRISTIAN LEGACY ORGANIZER Manual and Seminar DVD

• Experience God As Your Provider book and audio teaching CD - Moody Publishers

• The STATE of the PLATE - Annual Research Studies on Church Giving

• Pray for Our Nation & Families - 31 Day Prayer Guide - Publisher and co-contributor

• Revolution in Generosity - Chapter contributor

• Out of the Woods: Guide to Funding Camp and Conference Ministries

FOUNDED

• www.MAXIMUMgenerosity.org - Generosity materials for churches

• The STATE of the PLATE - Annual Research Studies on Church Giving.  This annual research is done in partnership with Christianity Today, ECFA, and ECCU.

• www.GiveWithJoy.org - Radio program providing 60 second generosity stories and a free 40 Day eDevotional to Christian radio stations and their listeners

• ECFA's "WISE Giving Q&A Video Series" - 1 to 2 minute video clips answering commonly asked questions about Charitable and Christian giving.

MEDIA GUEST & COMMENTATOR

• In media circles, Brian is known as "America's Giving Guy" and his work has been highlighted by USA Today (front page), Washington Times (front page), Wall Street Journal, Reuters, Chronicle of Philanthropy, Kiplinger's Personal MONEY magazine, Chicago Tribune, New York Post, The Non-Profit Times, CNN, CBN, FOX, NBC, CBS, TTT, ABC, ECFA, Prime Time America Radio, NPR-National Public Radio, AP-Associated Press Radio, and hundreds of radio stations and newspapers.

INTERVIEWED FOR STORIES or WROTE ARTICLES

• FEATURED on D. James Kennedy TV program,  WORLD magazine and Church Executive magazine.

• Articles or quotes in: Kiplinger's MONEY magazine, Chronicle of Philanthropy, Positive Parenting, Church Executive, Christianity Today, NACBA Ledger, Religious Product News, Christian Leadership Alliance magazine, Christian Post, Christian Camp and Conference Center Magazine, Assist News Service, CrossWalk.com,  GenerousGiving.org, SermonCentral.com,  TheGoodSteward.com, StewardshipForum.org (England),   ChurchCentral.com,   SermonCentral.com,  ChurchStaffing.com,   StewardshipofLife.org,  MondayMorningInsight.com, ChurchWorldDirect.com, and Preaching.com.

GUEST SPEAKER

• PLENARY CONFERENCE SPEAKER & PRESENTER: Biola University, ECFA Plenary Speaker in 16 Cities, Moody's Pastors' Conference Plenary Speaker, Promise Keeper arena events,  Bethel University, Geneva College, Trinity College & Seminary Commencement Speaker, Christian Leadership Alliance, Willow Creek Association conference, Rick Warren Saddleback conference, Generous Giving conference, Community Bible Studies International Conference, Crown Financial Ministries, Christian Stewardship Association, National Association of Evangelicals, National Religious Broadcasters, many national and regional denominational conferences, and many other groups.

• Frequent guest speaker at leading churches around the country and overseas.

• Speaker for the www.GiveWithJoy.org nationwide radio program heard on over 200 radio stations and free online 40 Day eDevotional to inspire people to greater levels of generosity and giving.

• KEYNOTE OR SEMINAR SPEAKER for city, area, regional, national, international, and denominational "Leadership Summit on Church Giving" for thousands of pastors and church leaders from more than 50 denominations.

  PAST LEADERSHIP ROLES

• Past national president of the Christian Stewardship Association (CSA).  While Brian was the CSA president CSA grew to serving 23,000 people at 10,000 ministries with products, website resources, city seminars, national conferences, institute courses, and the "Stewardship Matters" magazine.

• Former Board Member of the National Association of Evangelicals, former board member and chairman of Headwaters Christian Youth Ministries, former elder and Chairman of Harvest Community Church, and former board member of Fort Wilderness Christian Camp and Conference Center.

• Stewardship think tank participant with Lilly Endowment denominational leaders from the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, United Methodists, Southern Baptists, and Assemblies of God.

• Brian also served as a development officer at Bethel College & Seminary (now Bethel University in the St. Paul, MN area) for their field house campaign, in leadership positions at Fort Wilderness Ministries, and with a national Fundraising Management Consulting Firm.

EDUCATION

• Received a full scholarship to Stratton College and received an AAS degree in Business Administration in 1975. 

• Attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison (1975 and 1976) and Trinity International University (1990) and received a BA degree in Communications. 

• Attended and received a certification from Asbury Seminary's Beeson Institute for Advanced Pastoral and Leadership Studies (2001-2002). 

• Awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from the Evangelical Free Church of India's Trinity College and Seminary (2008).

  AWARDS

• Recipient of the "General William Booth" annual philanthropy award by the Salvation Army in Australia.

• Brian was inducted into "WHO'S WHO" Hall of Fame for his worldwide generosity work.

• Awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity degree by Trinity College & Seminary at the 2008 graduation commencement services for his 20+ years of service promoting greater generosity across the globe.

• Awarded the National Stewardship Educator of the Year Award iat the annual conference of the Christian Stewardship Association.

• Awarded a full college scholarship to Stratton College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

  PERSONAL & FAMILY

• Brian had a wonderful marriage to Sandi for 28 years before the LORD took her home following eight year cancer journey in 2010. He has an adopted son, Joshua, who was born in 1992.  In 2013, Brian worked with family and friends to build an 88-bed www.SandiHouse.org dormitory at a Christian School in Uganda, Africa to minister to needy girls and orphans in memory of his wife.

• He has an adopted daughter from India, Bethany, who was born in 1995,  He has a natural born son, Jeremy, born in 1996.

• In 2013 Brian remarried a Christian widow, Mary Ellen Covino, and they are parents to their 4 teen and college-age children. 

• Brian grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and graduated from Bay View High School in 1973.  His father, Frederick Kluth, was a Battalion & Deputy Chief on the Milwaukee Fire Department and his mother, Delores Etringer Kluth was a homemaker.   His older brother, Ronald Kluth, was a fireman and now coaches girls basketball.  His older sister, Paula Davies, is an RN.  His younger brother, David Kluth, is an archaeologist with the federal government.

• Christian conversion: Through the Christian testimony and prayers of his friends, Bill and Nancy Wright, Brian experienced a dramatic life-altering eternity-changing Christian conversion experience when he was 21 years old in the fall of 1976 while he was attending school at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

References and Endorsements