When I was part of a house church, we had one instruction from God: every month give away half the offerings to folks outside our group. This meant that each of us had to go about our daily tasks with an ear open to needs of everyone we met. It was amazing what we “suddenly” began to hear needs of strangers everywhere. We began to see wonderful opportunities to intersect needs with the tangible love of God. Our Monthly Meetings were joyous gathering where we brought our conversations to the group to pray over all these needs—and discern where this month’s gifts were to go.
The first month we had only collected $10. What good could $10 do?!? Our Leading was to buy a swimming pass for a severely arthritic woman. To our amazement, the $10 pass was the touch that saved her life. As the story unfolded, she had come to the end of her rope. She had no money to swim—and that was her only respite from pain. She had decided to take her last swim and go home to end her life. In that moment the swimming pass came—from a stranger with a note that read something like this: God has brought your need to our attention and we are pleased to extend God’s love for you through this gift.”
Can’t help but wonder if some variation could expand the ministry of goodness in our churches….
Contributed by Jan Wood, North Seattle Friends
