To All You Faithful Followers of Jesus!
The words of Paul to the Corinthian Christians come to mind, as he wrote of the giving hearts of the Macedonians:
"For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will." (2 Cor 8:3).
For thus you have done.
In the first day of our Christmas Offering, Sunday December 15th, you gave, and gave, and gave. A gift came in last week for $10,000. The offering taken at church totaled $14,425. Then folk gave on PayPal at church totaling $2615. So all this totaled:
$27,040. That's DAY ONE!
Then people gave us notes in the offering saying there was a check in the mail and another said they planned to give after the first of the year. These totaled $3500.
This brings the first Sunday total (with promised giving) to $30,540.
Look at this!
You are INCREDIBLE!! YOU ARE AMAZING! What a testimony to the faithful heart of the people in this congregation to give back to Jesus in astounding, ongoing ways. Thank you for continuing to be the most amazing congregation ever to serve. It has been, and continues to be, my pleasure to be here.
You are touching lives with your love. I think of one 17-year-old really cool youth at Family Promise who asked his dad to let him stay at the Lighthouse to hang out with me while the family went to church. His dad said, "Yes!" This young man said, "He never says that!"
So, we hung out, talked about Jesus, Scripture, and following Him. He asked me to tell him the story of the three Hebrews in the fiery furnace! Then, he taught me and Abby Hawkins, also a host that night, how to play a video game he had. This young man asked to call her Grandma!
Now we ought to have us on a video as we sought to make the car we were controlling stay on the road. "Grandma," he would tell her, "that's the sidewalk!"
He asked me, "Do you want me to find a slower car?"
We all were laughing so much! I have not laughed that hard in the longest time. Such a bond was built. Such joy shared.
Jesus' love is touching lives because you give.
So, thank you. Thank you to each of you for your hearts, your generosity, your willingness to give, your joy in giving. What a demonstration of life this is.
I wanted to reach out to you all first -- thank you for giving. Thank you for your generosity. Thank you for your confidence that God is working to change lives.
I know we will receive more funds still. Several families had said they planned to give. So, I'm still praying for us to top $40,000, but even if we do not, already we have more than achieved such marvels. I'm praising and glorifying God. Thanks for joining me in that too!
Yours with such immeasurable joy --
Brian