Why we added a donation button...

One of the most beautiful memories of my career occurred while I was pastor at Edgewood United Church, UCC, in East Lansing, Michigan. Edgewood is full of remarkable people, who inspired me throughout my five years there, and continue to inspire me today. And so, when we learned that the heating system in the church had to be overhauled, I tried not to give into fear. But when it turned out that the bill would be around $400,000, I had a hard time controlling my worry.

We spoke of many different options, prayed together, and tried to trust in God’s provision, but my anxiety continued to grow. And then, one day, I received a phone call from a congregant, requesting a meeting later that day. I agreed and was shocked by what I heard when we sat down together. “We will give $200,000 to the church as a matching grant. We think the congregation can come up with the other $200,000.” And in response to this generosity, the church did raise the needed money over the next three months. It was an amazing outpouring of gifts, of goodness, of hope, of faith. The congregation reflected God’s love in one of the most powerful ways I have witnessed, by giving, and giving, and giving some more, so that the church could serve as a warm place, inviting all into the love of God.

The faithfulness of the God who provides, the generosity of God’s people who respond, and the unquenchable joy that comes when we give our gifts could never have been more obvious to me than it was that summer.

Another beautiful moment happened recently, in a church in Lusaka, located in one of the compounds. The congregation was getting ready for the offering, and the groups were divided into women, men, and youth (18-35 year olds). As the offering took place, the youth sang and danced up to the baskets, songs of praise pouring from their lips as they swayed forward, clapping and beaming. At the end, the money was counted, and the youth were only a little bit behind the women. Again, the young people rose, with songs on their lips, smiles on their mouths, and money in their hands, ready to give more, and more, and more, laughing as they tied the women in generosity.

The people in that congregation did not have a lot of money; many of the people in the compounds in Lusaka struggle to have enough to feed and shelter their families. But, I have seen women take out 20 kwatcha, and donate it to care for HIV orphans. I have seen youth pull out 50 kwatcha, and donate it to build their church. I have seen men offer what they have, to keep a young girl in school. The generosity of the people here in Zambia reminds me again and again: it is a blessing to give money - it is an act of joy and praise and faith in God.

And so, we are adding a donate button, because we really believe that giving is an opportunity. We ask you to prayerfully consider donating to our ministry, with a regular monthly gift, or a one-time gift, if that is what you can do right now. We want to invite you to be a part of something special and wonderful with us, to be partners with us in this ministry. It helps us enormously when you give, but we think it will also bless you. Because joy comes when we offer what we have, and watch God use it, in order to transform our world!

If you can't give, then please pray for us, and tell us that you are praying. Because your gifts, your words, your friendship means so much to us. And we thank you deeply for offering what you have to the ministry that is ours, together, through Jesus Christ our Lord.