Reverse Offering

On Sunday, October 18, 2009 our church participated in a "Reverse Offering" service.  It was our annual "Stewardship Sunday," where we usually focus on people giving to the church. But we wanted to emphasize that our church is called to give itself back to the world in ministry.

So when our members came to the front of the church to offer their commitment cards for the next year, as is our custom, we had an extra offering plate that we wanted emptied. We passed out 40 envelopes with $100 or $50 bills in them, totaling $2500, which came from a balance in our benevolence fund.

People were given an opportunity to use the money for their own personal needs if they so chose; alternatively, those who chose to take an envelope were encouraged to
share this gift with someone in the broader community who might be blessed by it.

It was a very moving service, and there were some tears and hugs being passed round that day. All of this giving was done anonymously. We included a response card so we could receive stories of how those funds were used.

We hope you enjoy reading these stories here, and see how the gift of giving can spread God's love.

I must say this was a challenge as I had no one in mind when I took the envelope. After talking to several individuals, a pastor and family members, hoping they knew of someone in need – batting zero here, I headed for Community Housing Services.

After relating my purpose for being there, they could not help me at that time. So after waiting a week for an answer, I returned to learn “Jean” my contact had given my request to an associate. Needless to say, I was disappointed. However, that morning I happened to see the notice placed by the CHS for donations for postage. I called Jean and she informed me she only had several stamps left. There was my answer. I doubled the amount given me, headed for the post office and delivered $202.40 worth of stamps. I pray that I did the right thing.

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We have a grandson who is in college studying to become a Youth Director in a fundamental, Christ centered Church. Now, this young man does not have a car and also he does not have much money. This is why we felt he could put this $50 to good use and eventually the return might prove to be much more than we could ever imagine.

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Thank you very much for funding the reverse offering. I matched the FBCL money and gave it to a friend who used it to pay for fuel oil for his disabled sister. She has been struggling to pay her bills and fuel oil was always a major cost, so she ran out a few times. Previously my friend was not willing to accept any money from me, but with the “reverse offering” he did accept it since it came from our church.

May God continue to bless you all

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My husband and I would like to thank you and your church very much for the “Reverse Offering” we received last week from our neighbor! It was much appreciated and unexpected, but will definitely be of help in this economy! Thank you so much.

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I did not take a “Reverse Offering” envelope, but inspired by the “Pay it Forward” concept, I wrote three checks: Two to needy MOPS families and one to a needy church member who moved away last year.

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This gift was much needed and greatly appreciated by a family to pay a utility bill. Thank you so much and may God bless First Baptist for caring!

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The gift was used to help a needy family this Thanksgiving.

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A close relative of mine could not afford to pay their heating bill. The $100 helped offset a mounting utility deficit.

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It is amazing the warm feeling you experience when you give anonymously to fill the need of a deserving person. The $100 from the Fellowship Fund was sent to the tuition account of a student, and $100 was used to pay an outstanding responsibility that they had at home. The peace of mind that this will bring will be an answer to prayer. Thank you for the opportunity to be an instrument of God’s grace.

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We took a $50 envelope, doubled it, and sent it to a missionary who works for Wycliffe Bible Translators.

He is the technician who developed portable “shoulderbag” equipment that can be carried into remote areas to facilitate translation of the “Jesus” film into tribal languages spoken by as few as 3,000 people. This is the preliminary and effective way of winning people to Christ while translation of the New Testament is underway in their native tongues.

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I added another $50, making it a $100 donation to the Youth Enrichment Fund at the Baptist Children’s Services. This fund enables the children to have a resource for money when they have individual

personal needs.

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The $50 was used to help support a lifelong friend’s daughter who is preparing to go to Nicaragua next week as a missionary. Her calling is to use her talents to minister to other missionaries and help them with their mission. We will keep you posted on her mission.

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We thank you for your help, and that God loves you and you love us. We are so glad because we got the gift from our First Baptist family. We used the money to buy meats, vegetables, noodles, orange juices and paper towels and others. God bless you and your families always! Numbers 6:24-26

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This gift went to a family of four who are struggling financially and cannot meet their monthly obligations. They have two small children and are trying to manage on one income. Thank you for helping them.

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I thank the church and members for the contribution of $50. I will keep the money for any emergency that I may have for my family. I thank God and pray that God will bless each and every one of you.

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With the $50 we received, we can now buy paper towels, trash bags and dish washing soap.

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I thank you for helping our family by providing the $50. We were so happy and we will use the money for our children when they need to buy clothes. I with you will be happy and God may bless you all in whatever you do. Thank you very much.

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The amount of $50 was given to help provide a meal for a family at Thanksgiving time.

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I would like to thank you for the $50 gift. It came when I really needed it. Thank you for remembering me.

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The gift of money was given to two family members who are on disability and have multiple medical conditions. One member is on dialysis. This money was spent for a gift certificate to their pharmacy. It will be used to help offset some of their prescription drug costs.

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The amount of $50 was given to a family member who is a Senior Citizen, living only on social security. They cannot find work, have medical expenses, and needed money for food. It came at a perfect time when it was desperately needed. The “Reverse Offering” was a wonderful idea and shows others just how God provides for us always.

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The money was passed on to a church family member who continually gives of their time, talents and fruits of their good judgment, frugality and simple hard work. Their contributions come without any shred of greed or concern for their personal advancement. Certain events find them stretched and recently in need of prayer and assistance. In this way we felt as if God discreetly opened a way for our church to give them “a hand up” to show our love and appreciation for their service to our Lord, Jesus Christ. Thank you. This was an excellent idea and in perfect time, we know in “His” timing.

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We participated in the “Reverse Offering” with a $50 envelope. A family member has made some judgment decisions and gotten into financial trouble. We all make mistakes (some foolish). We felt led to help them out. Thanks for a unique way to help those in trouble!

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I gave the gift to my friend. She has many years to go to school and trying to work. At the time, she didn’t know how to pay one of her bills.

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The Reverse Offering was given to a woman with one income to support five children.

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My husband took one of the envelopes on the Sunday in November that the gifts were handed out. We wanted to be able to help someone who truly needed assistance. When we opened the envelope a $100 bill was inside. We looked at many organizations that could use the money, but we wanted to make sure that it was received by someone who truly had a need. After considering many possibilities, and after many prayers, we still had not decided what to do with the gift.

One day in early December I was talking to a young woman who works for us, and I realized that we had someone we knew that had a very special need. This young woman has two children age two and four. She recently was forced to move out of her home due to family conflict. She moved with her children into an apartment with only a bed for furniture. We took the $100 from the church and added $100 to it and then set out to find furniture for her. We talked to several people we knew and told them what we were doing and other people offered their help. On Tuesday we will deliver to this young woman furniture for her living room, including a TV, a chest and other furniture for her bedroom, plus a kitchen table and many other household items. In addition we have collected clothing and toys for her children. We were even able to get a Christmas tree for her. The amazing thing is that we will also be able to give her $120 in cash to get other items she may need because most of the furniture was donated.

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Today I gave the $50 reverse offering to a woman I met through work. She has a physical disability. Through conversations with her I see she struggles to make ends meet financially in supporting her family. She told me her mother is very sick with cancer.

She was reluctant to accept charity at first. I told her it was a gift from God that we all need help at times. I suggested if she had the opportunity at some time she could “Pay it Forward” to someone else who needed a hand up. She was very grateful for the gift.

Thank you to my First Baptist Church family.

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After increasing the Reverse Offering by 50%, it was used for a family in need following a death in the family.

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My Reverse Offering was used to help a family in need.