AN OUTPOURING OF GENEROSITY

Yesterday we received two offerings at Willow Creek - the regular one about 20 minutes into the service, and a second offering at the end. One hundred per cent of the second offering will go directly to the under-resourced in Africa and Latin America - food and clean water for the poor. This offering was the culmination of a three week campaign we call Celebration of Hope, and it was collected in plastic water buckets to remind our community of the water projects we are funding and the lengths hundreds of millions of people go to just to get water every day.

I'm filled with joy today at the generosity of our people in this tough economic time. We won't announce the offering total for another week or so, but the inside track tells me that people gave in unprecedented amounts. Our congregation is continuing to grow bigger hearts for God and for the needs of this broken world. Bill and Lynne Hybels, Heather Larson, and my husband Warren, along with many others, have provided superb inspiration and leadership to our people. And boy, were they ready to be challenged. I urge churches everywhere not to assume that in this difficult economy, people won't give with abandon. What a work of the Spirit we witnessed - feels like a modern day miracle. So many folks are longing to do something to make a difference - 18,000 of us packed meals for children in Zimbabwe! We all still have room to sacrifice for the poorest of the poor.

I know our church still has a long way to go, but on this day, I could not be prouder of the hearts of our people. Together we are making a dent, spreading the love of God to those who need it most. It's such a thrill to be a part of something that matters so much.

Published 04 May 2009 05:42 PM by Nancy Beach