Today we took our first step of faith in the 61:4 project to make an impact in our community for Christ and practice "In God We Trust". 56 envelopes were distributed with a challenge to minister to a need as God reveals them to us.
Here are the rules:
- You will not pocket the money.
- You won’t give the money to someone you know – family or friends.
- You will use the money locally.
- You will pray that God will show you where you can invest the money back into our community somewhere – if someone needs some groceries or a winter coat or a tank of gas – there are a 100 different ways. Use it for a need – don’t let someone buy a box of cigarettes with it. This is for a need.
- You will only mention the church if someone asks you about it.
- You will write down or record your story.
- Challenge – I invite you to double it and give it. See what God will do when we start living out “In God WE Trust.”
If you are visiting this site, you are either one who has been challenged to give to a need, or you have had a need provided. We encourage you to comment to this post with your story by using the link below or email 614project@gmail.com.
May God Bless...
12 comments:
First step...ok, I received a call yesterday from a woman with two kids at a local grocery store who had lost her purse and needed gas money to get home to Portland, Maine. This is typically something that I would respond to as a pastor, but Krista and I decided that it might be good to use our 614 card and help out this woman with our own money...but I wanted to get a feel for the situation before I decided. So we drove to the place where this woman was (I had her drive to a gas station across the street), and when I got there, she was young (20's) with two children, and just frazzled a little. So I let her use the money for gas (we ended up doubling the amount to $20) and I gave her the 614 card. I have NO idea what it will produce, but I was glad to bless someone on behalf of God.
-Pastor
I was at first a little daunted by the challenge. I thought to observe the food pantry in Rochester and look for a "person with need" there. I observed several leaving with bags of food, and all of them lit up a smokes, and most got into cars that looked ok. I wasn't struck by their need I guess so I waited and looked further.
I engaged in conversation with a new student of mine only to discover that at 16 he works full time to support himself, his girfriend, and they have a baby on the way. I thought here was someone that had need. Since I had just met him, I felt as though I didn't know him. I don't know if I broke the rules since he is a student of mine. I think imeadiatley I realized that the $20 wasn't the point. What real difference would that make? I told him I knew people that may have baby clothes and toys, and I would try to round some up for him. I asked him to let me know when the baby is born so perhaps I can help with something then as well. He expressed great appreciation. Which I said was due to me this was from God.
In the coversation that has followed we have discussed God and Faith and I gave him a Bible just like the one Pastor Rob gave me on my first visit to The Journey Church.
I was rewarded right away. In a very ironic twist (to me anyway) I discovered that he had been a teenager that was in lock up, and spent time at a Wilderness camp (for troubled teens). Turns out I worked as a counselor at the same camp 15 years before he was there. Seldom as a counselor do you ever have a chance to find out if you made a difference. Usually when I heard news it was bad, "John is in the hospital or Sue is locked up, or the one got murdered. I found out from him that I made a positive difference, and for 17 years since I worked there at camp a program I suggested and served in has been operating. It provided for the kids to be able to stay at camp with volunteer counselors instead of going to shelters if they had no home to visit during the times they were allowed to go home. Somehow to me it was obvious this was wrong, and all I did was shine a light on it and everyone seemed to see it as clearly as I did. There were many volunteers with a minute of my suggestion.
What a reward this has been for me. What a gift. Hard to believe God worked through me that long ago, and I didn't see where the light came from until now.
Thank you Lord,
Brent
Ok, so I went to work and told some co-workers about the church's challenge. One girl that goes to a baptist church in Ossipee thought the project was an awesome idea. I told her that if she knew of anyone in need to let me know as I was still seeking the "one". So a couple of days later, I was talking about how I just didn't know what the heck we were gonna do with this 20 dollars and she lit right up. "I don't know why I didn't think of this but..." She went on to tell me about an elderly couple that are friends with her elderly parents. They moved from Rochester to a mobile home in Ossipee. They have no money and many times Kim (my friend at work) has delivered groceries to them. So I decided to buy these people Easter dinner. So, that night, I am talking with Jen (a new church attendee) and she has been literally losing sleep over this "unresolved issue"....the 20 bucks. What was she gonna do with her money? She works in retail and she sees lots of people that seem needy, but they spend their change on cigarettes, beer or incidentals. So we decided to pool our money together to aid the same couple. So, Saturday night while Kay is at her semi-formal, Jen and I are going shopping. We are gonna purchase Easter dinner, a couple of Market Basket gift cards and a basket. We are going to make up the basket and bring it to the couple on Good Friday. Kay insisted she come along and Jen also wants to be there, so the three of us are going to take it to them in Ossipee Friday. I think that this project not only is a terrific outreach to the community, but it also reinforces the giving spirit in all of us. It makes me especially proud to have Kay pushing her involvment in this project. Although anyone that knows Kay, knows that she has a giving spirit and an open heart.
Donna Greene, Jen Paige-Hill (and Kay)
For past year I have noticed a man that frequented the sidewalks of my town with a sign that said "Need food for me and cat". Every time I saw him, I would wish that I could do something to help him; but I never stopped.
Once (a month or so ago) my mother asked him if he would be willing to work for money. Eagerly he said yes and she directed him to our huge mound of wood that needed to be stacked. The wood was frozen in the first huge storm that we had this winter. It was impossible to get the logs free of the ice and snow. Sadly, the man left with nothing.
During the service this challenge was presented, I kept thinking about that man.
Then we received the envelopes. I was really excited! I knew that I was going grocery shopping later that day and now I had no excuse not to help that man out. Still, it was supposed to be a family project, so I waited and consulted with my dad before my shopping trip. He whole-heartedly agreed. He even suggested that we give the man some of the extra soups and cat food we had on hand.
I enthusiastically wrote out two lists. One for my family and one for the man. I picked up pastas, and bread, some apples and other non-perishable food items. I then was thinking about how he probably didn't have hygiene items and proceeded to pick up some soap, shampoo, deodorant, dental and other bathroom supplies. I didn't even look at how much it cost, I just bought.
When I got home, I packed everything into two bags and immediately put them in the trunk of my car. My reasoning being, that every time I had seen this man, I had been "Late" or "Too Busy". I didn't want the excuse of not having time to go back home to interfere with doing what I needed to do.
That Thursday, I was supposed to be at work by 4pm. It is normally a 15-20 minute drive and It was 3:48 when I left the house. Needles to say, I was wicked late for work. I was stressed and cranky. As I approached the firehouse, I saw that man with his sign. Biting my lip for a moment, I immediately pulled over, thinking to myself, "This is worth being late for."
The man came over to me as I exited my car. "I hoped I would see you." I told him, opening my trunk and placing the removed bags on the ground. "I wanted to give these to you."
Eagerly, he peeked inside. "Apples!" He exclaimed, a grin crossing his face, as he looked into the other bag. "Is that Shampoo? I can't get that at the food pantry! Thank you!"
Smiling, I told him, "You're welcome." Climbed back into my car and proceeded to drive away.
Not even half an mile later, I realized I had forgotten something in my trunk. Pulling into a parking lot, I turned around and went back. "I forgot something!" I told the man when I had stopped my car and once more opening the trunk. "Here." I smiled, Pulling out a gallon of spring water.
"Thank you!" The man exclaimed again, "I was so thirsty!"
Saying goodbye again, I continue on my way to work. During the drive, I tried to think of a way to explain to my boss why I was nearly 20 minutes late. Before I knew it, I was pulling into the parking lot. Rushing to the back so that I could punch in, I was astonished to see that the clock read 4:05.
Hello everyone.
Well today I finaly gave that $10.00 away. My husband and I had no idea who we were going to give it to till one day I was at that Salvation Army soup kitchen and this man was talking to me about how him and his wife need money for their medications and things. He also said that their son was in a placement home because he had hit his mother who is handicapped in the face. He punched his mother and she is also having problems walking from him kicking her I do believe. I was like, WOW. He said that he gets his money on the first, he is on SSI and so isn't his wife, but they really needed help. I didn't have the money on me at that time. I went home and was going to go the next time(Friday) to the Salvation Army soup kitchen and my husband was home so I didn't make it there that day. Today, I had made a plan that I was going to go out, despite the cold and rainy day that it is, and go to the soup kitchen when my errands were done. I did just that. I walked over to Joe, the man that I was talking about after I saw that he was finally at his table and said "this is a gift for you". He said "really?" very surprised. I said "yes". It is a gift from God. They go to the Salvation Army Church so he shook his head and then I said I will talk to you after lunch. I went over after I had my lunch and began to tell him that it was from my Church that we were told to give this money away to someone that was in need. I did not disclse our Church's name and he said "Ok". He said that him and his wife had to go to Walmart after they left there to see how much her medications were going to actualy cost. I talked with him for a few minutes and said that I wanted him to have that more than anyone because he has a need for it. I was then being paged by my daughter to head over to my table. He said "Thank you" again to me and I said "have a good day and bye" and on my way I went. I know that I gave that money to a good couple. She has a physical disablity and has 5 kids, and he has more of a mental,emotional disablity. They are great people and they struggle a lot. I just felt in my heart that they were the ones that needed that more than anyone else that I could of encountered.
Thank you.
Hi Journey
After receiving the money from the church, I came home to pray about it. As I went to add my additional $10.00, I was impressed to make the total $25.00…so I did.
I have carried the envelope around awaiting my special opportunity when finally on Wednesday (April 4) it happened………
I had to run into Market Basket for a couple of items and went to the express check-out line. The gentleman ahead of me had all his items spread out and when I came to the counter, he very nicely pushed his items together, making room for mine, and put down a divider for me. I thanked him and continued to wait while the cashier packed all his items (not really paying attention to what was going on with him). After all his items were packaged, he spoke something to the cashier and she removed an item from one of his bags. I thought he perhaps had a question about the price she had charged him. She turned on her blinking light and waited for a supervisor. (I thought….of course, I got on the wrong line again) The girl in back of me was an employee just waiting to buy a bottle of water. So we both waited patiently.
As the supervisor approached, I noticed that the cashier now took another item out of his bag. The man apologized and proceeded to pay for the remaining items……
Then, my light went on and I realized that he hadn’t had enough money to pay for his entire order…thus eliminating what he could.
So I got the feeling “what are you waiting for” and reached into my pocketbook and pulled out the envelope..…thinking “oh please, Lord, don’t let him walk away too quickly. I touched his arm to get his attention and told him that I would like him to have this. He started to hesitate and then said something that took me totally by surprise. He said as he reached for the envelope….”I hope there’s a prayer in there”…..I was stunned for a moment and then replied…”Well there sorta is, the Lord is wanting to bless you. (wished I had said “yes, an answered prayer”) but still was taken back by his remark….(after all, who sees an envelope and thinks there may be a prayer inside……..this was a “God thing” for sure).
He looked inside and saw the money and, being a little embarrassed and overwhelmed at the same time, said, “I appreciate this but I want you to take it back and give it to someone else.” I told him I could not do that because I was waiting on the Lord to let me know whom to give it to and he told me he was the one. So I told him that it was his now and he was free to give it to someone else if he wanted to. He then said he would do just that…explaining that he had money, but just didn’t have it with him. I told him that was fine and reminded him about the items he was leaving behind. He said that he was all set and proceeded to leave.
• I had the feeling that he knew the Lord…..and was in need of some prayer….and was overcome by what had just happened and wasn’t quite sure how to react. I just know that whatever he does with the money….he has been and will be blessed. And if he gives it away, it will be a twice blessed seed. Praise the Lord. But no matter what, it was a double blessing….one for him and the other for me. As I drove home I realized that the amount ($25.00) was just what he had needed for the entire order...remember there are no coincidences....don't you just love it !! Thank you Lord!!
Hi Journey
After receiving the money from the church, I came home to pray about it. As I went to add my additional $10.00, I was impressed to make the total $25.00…so I did.
I have carried the envelope around awaiting my special opportunity when finally on Wednesday (April 4) it happened………
I had to run into Market Basket for a couple of items and went to the express check-out line. The gentleman ahead of me had all his items spread out and when I came to the counter, he very nicely pushed his items together, making room for mine, and put down a divider for me. I thanked him and continued to wait while the cashier packed all his items (not really paying attention to what was going on with him). After all his items were packaged, he spoke something to the cashier and she removed an item from one of his bags. I thought he perhaps had a question about the price she had charged him. She turned on her blinking light and waited for a supervisor. (I thought….of course, I got on the wrong line again) The girl in back of me was an employee just waiting to buy a bottle of water. So we both waited patiently.
As the supervisor approached, I noticed that the cashier now took another item out of his bag. The man apologized and proceeded to pay for the remaining items……
Then, my light went on and I realized that he hadn’t had enough money to pay for his entire order…thus eliminating what he could.
So I got the feeling “what are you waiting for” and reached into my pocketbook and pulled out the envelope..…thinking “oh please, Lord, don’t let him walk away too quickly. I touched his arm to get his attention and told him that I would like him to have this. He started to hesitate and then said something that took me totally by surprise. He said as he reached for the envelope….”I hope there’s a prayer in there”…..I was stunned for a moment and then replied…”Well there sorta is, the Lord is wanting to bless you. (wished I had said “yes, an answered prayer”) but still was taken back by his remark….(after all, who sees an envelope and thinks there may be a prayer inside……..this was a “God thing” for sure).
He looked inside and saw the money and, being a little embarrassed and overwhelmed at the same time, said, “I appreciate this but I want you to take it back and give it to someone else.” I told him I could not do that because I was waiting on the Lord to let me know whom to give it to and he told me he was the one. So I told him that it was his now and he was free to give it to someone else if he wanted to. He then said he would do just that…explaining that he had money, but just didn’t have it with him. I told him that was fine and reminded him about the items he was leaving behind. He said that he was all set and proceeded to leave.
• I had the feeling that he knew the Lord…..and was in need of some prayer….and was overcome by what had just happened and wasn’t quite sure how to react. I just know that whatever he does with the money….he has been and will be blessed. And if he gives it away, it will be a twice blessed seed. Praise the Lord. But no matter what, it was a double blessing….one for him and the other for me. As I drove home I realized that the amount ($25.00) was just what he had needed for the entire order…remember there are no coincidences……. Thank you Lord!!
I believe over the years each of us has seen a person sitting on the steps of a public building. He or she had that look of a lost soul. They may have even had an odor that permeated the air. Maybe we looked the other way so our eyes wouldn't meet. Or we might have been so bold as to say good morning, to a person who had not had a good morning in a very long time. Or you may have been one in a thousand who stopped to talk to a total stranger who really made you feel very uneasy. That person may have been rude to you and told you to take a hike. But you had made an effort perhaps one you would be sure never to make again. Or perhaps that person said good morning back and may have even smiled that you spoke to them. Or that person may have said say you wouldn't know if there is a place where I could get a hot meal. Just think God spoke to you and you spoke to that total stranger. And now God was giving you a chance to give your testominy of what Christ means to you not in words but with your seed money. I can't help but think What EVER YOU DO UNTO THE LEAST OF THESE YOU DO AS UNTO ME. As for me and my wife we will always carry SEED MONEY.
Ron Foster
Hello, I was given the money and ponderd over it all day Sunday after receiving it. I carried it with me everywhere, even to the gym knowing when I met the right person it would hit me like a ton of bricks. Well , i met a nice young man on Thursday morning and spent some time sitting and talking with him and then wham it hit me. He got the money. He then told me he is homeless, living at a shelter and would use it for personal items. He was very soft spoken and I have made a promise to myself to talk with him every week as he sits in the same spot every day to keep from the cold. I think I have made a new friend.
Debra Carnevale
I decided to send my envelope to a family I found in the newspaper. A mother of 8 just lost her husband. They are in Wakefield, NH. After reading about the husband I felt compelled. Writings about him said that he was for "The People." After that I knew it was meant to be. So I found their address and mailed the envelope with the money and card in it. I hope it reaches them and helps.
Jamie Lane
I drove out of my driveway this morning and for reasons I won't get into I took a right instead of a left as I normally do. After driving only a short distance I came upon a man who was hitch-hiking. I rarely pick up a hiker but my first instinct was to pull over. I wasn't thinking about the seed money at the moment,just a feeling to give him a lift. I was listening to a tape of a Word from the Lord and I just let it continue to play as we drove into town. We talked a little about the weather and I asked him where he lived. He told me that he was out of work and staying with a friend until he could get back on his feet.It was then that I felt "the nudge" of the Holy Spirit. As we pulled into the parking lot of the Brooks Drug that is now closed across the street from the fire station I reached into my pocket and pulled out 2 tens and the card as I told him" I have something for you". He sat motionless as I explained to him about my driving in a direction that I normally don't drive and that I felt it was not a co-incidence that our paths had crossed.I told him that I didn't want anything from him but that God wanted him to know that he cares about him and that God loves him. I handed him the card and the twenty dollars and by his stunned expression I knew that the Holy Spirit was touching him, Finally he put out his hand and grabbed my hand and shook it, thanking me and telling me how much he appreciated it. It was obvious that he was moved.As he exited the car I reminded him again that God loves him to which he replied," God loves you too, thankyou!" So the seed is planted and the Lord continues His assault of love and grace on the city of Rochester.
I do believe that with each of the 55 seeds that will be planted that this area will never be the same. It's more than the money. It's a living seed. It's the heart of our Father being expressed in a practical way and any one who reaches out their hand to receive that seed also receives part of " God's dream for them."
"Thankyou Lord for the privilege of planting"
I have been helping with a "Parenting Class" at the Strafford County Homeless Shelter. I decided to give my $20 to a young pregnant girl. She has a job and just fell on some hard times. This young lady was getting ready to move into an appartment and had been quite sick. She had mentioned that she was short on cash because she had to get medication and pay her deductable for the doctor's office call. I left my envelope with the director of the shelter and asked her to give it to this young lady after I had left.
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