Ok, really it is too late to have the fun I am talking about. But would you allow me to share with you about some fun I recently had? So here is the set up question for the fun. If you had an extra $4000 and you had to spend it on International Missions, how would you do it? This past Christmas Eve our church family and friends gave an offering of just under $4,000. Because we are so blessed with generous giving, we were able to announce that all of that night’s offering would go to International Missions. Southern Baptist has a mission division called “SEND: Relief”. It is a way to respond to those who have devastating needs caused by natural disasters or man-made disasters. You can learn more about them at SendRelief.org. So here is where the fun comes in.
What could you buy with $4000? We went shopping in their catalog and with thankful hearts chose 4 major projects to sponsor. The first one fits the old saying “He bought the farm!” We were able to sponsor a family with all they need to get a farm up and running in order to feed their family and provide an ongoing source of income. The farm included things like fish for a fish pond, a cow, goats, ducks and chickens. How I wish we could know the finished product of this gift!
Second, we bought a house. Don’t you wish you could be a home in Charleston for $2,000? We can’t do it here, but we can in many parts of the world. A family who lost their home during earthquakes will now have a concrete home sent with love from people they will never know from a place they have never heard of.
Third, we were able to sponsor a two day dental clinic. What we do routinely is a luxury in many parts of the world. I have been on mission trips were we had dentist as part of the team. Those teams work non-stop providing emergency relief to people that are willing to stand in lines for hours. They don’t ask them to open their mouths and say “ahhhh”. They ask them to open their mouths and say “ahhhalujah!”
The last major purchase was to sponsor an ESL (English Second Language) course for refugees. I read an estimate that there are 40 Million refugees and that 40% of them are children. I pray for God’s almighty hand to use this mission to change lives that will change more lives that will change the world.
We had a little money left over so we purchased some mosquito nets. I had a friend who contracted Dengue fever from a mission trip. He can tell you how important a mosquito net is in some areas of the world.
It really was fun to shop this way. It is like you cannot miss. Anything we would send would help provide relief one way or another. Thank you for being generous givers. Your tithes are supporting the local missions and ministry through James Island Baptist. But your offerings allow us to do so many things outside our own areas of mission and ministry.
Looking forward to see you real soon!
Pastor Tom
