Giving to the community
Our church is so weird. If you don’t attend Evergreen, you should know that. If you do, well, you do.
We just moved in to a new building and had our grand opening this Sunday, Mother’s Day. It was fantastic. There were the regulars we see each week, visitors, new friends and old friends we hadn’t seen in a long time. It was like a family reunion that included strangers and lacked spoiled potato salad. Everybody laughed, a lot of people cried, we sang, had a sermon, took an offering and all the kids were returned to their appropriate parents at the end of the service. That’s all pretty normal for a church service.
The weird part was, everybody left with an additional $10 in their pocket. Our church gave every person who came $10 with the stipulation that they use this money to bring a little bit of light and joy into the life of someone who needs it. It’s an example of what we want our church building to be in this community, an oasis. And, I think it’s a really cool example of what God desires for those of us who are followers of Christ. I think a huge purpose God had in leaving us on the planet is so we can bring light and joy into the lives of the people around us. They need it. Don’t you?
My kids (7 year old twins) each took a $10 packet. My son decided to buy cake for every child in his class, along with his teachers, the principal, the administrative assistant, etc. When he told them why they were getting cake, the kids cheered and the adults were struck silent. One lady called her husband to tell him what just happened. “Is this to get us to come to your church? Because, we’re not really church types,” was another response. I said, “Nope. You don’t have to be a church-type person to have the cake, just a cake-type person…and one who wants a little joy in her day.” She got all misty and I had to leave.
You know, it takes very little to bring joy and light to those who are trudging through the darkness of their days. But sometimes, even a little seems like a lot. I’ve been in a tough place in my faith lately. My term is, “God and I are in a fight.” Now, when you’re arguing with the Creator of the Universe, you pretty much know you’re going to lose. But, spiritually speaking, I’m really struggling right now. I don’t feel like I have much to give to anyone. And yet, in the past 3 days, God has given me the chance to bring a little light and joy into 3 other people’s lives. I didn’t have to preach to them or get them “converted.” I didn’t have to debate theology or answer every question in the universe. I just had to hold their hand through a tough time, listen to their pain, make them laugh at culturally inappropriate times. You know the drill. I needed to be a friend to them. That was all I had at that point…and it was enough.
Since we lost a month of Sundays as we moved into our building, our giving is way down and every line of the budget has red ink. Even giving that little bit, $10 each, was more than we felt like we could do. But, it was important, and we found a way, and so far the results have been magnificent. So, what are you going to do? If you were there and were given the $10, would you share with us what you’ve done with it? If you weren’t, how about letting us know where you were an oasis? Where have you been able to bring a little bit of hope, light, joy or love to someone who really needed it?
Sharing your story will do that for our community. It would be a great place to start.
- Written by Alicia Hemphill
May 15th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
I’m struck by the fact that someone thought this was a ploy to get them into our church. How sad that we are, as a whole, that cynical. And that churches do that sort of thing. That’s one of my favorite things about Evergreen - we do understand that we’re not the only church in the world. We care that people connect with God - at our church, at another church, at a coffeehouse, it doesn’t matter.
May 15th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Yeah, the fear that this was an evangelism ploy made me sad, too. Actually, I had to fight the urge to drop to my knees and beg her forgiveness for all the times the “Church” had treated her like she was a piece of meat or a potential notch on their Bible. But, she was freaked out by a piece of cake. I thought tears and begging forgiveness would have sent her over the edge.
May 20th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
Okay, here is what I did with my $10… I left it on the roof of my car. I wanted to see how long it would sit there before someone took it. It only took 3 days.
The first day, I left it on the roof of my car at work. When I left at 5pm, the bottle had been moved, but the prayer and money were left in tact, with the rubber band in place.
The second day, I tried this again at work… no dice. It was in the same spot.
The third day, I had to go to Kroger. I left the bottle in the same place that I had been and went to buy my produce and some black beans. When I came out of the store about 20 minutes later, the bottle was on the car, but the prayer, money, and rubber band were gone.
I’m hoping that someone who really needed it took it. I am assuming that since the prayer was gone, as well as the money, that this is what God wanted me to do with it.