“And everyone who was willing and whose heart moved him came and brought an offering to the Lord for the work on the Tent of Meeting.” Exodus 35:21
I am pleased to announce that at yesterday’s worship service, our church (The South Sound Church of Christ) collected two thousand dollars ($2,000) to help assist Patrice Abijibly (member of the Seattle Church of Christ) and his family fund a benevolent trip they will be making this summer to the Ivory Coast in West Africa. The Abijibly’s will be working with HOPE worldwide to provide food, clothing, and other monetary needs for those who are less fortunate in the country.
As a part of the service, Patrice shared and showed a video that explained the extreme level of poverty in homeland. In this heart-moving film, we saw the poor in a way that many of us had not them seen them before. We saw families who lived in one room shacks and even heard the stories of several children who could not even attend local schools because they had no money. In addition, we also listened to other children and adults discuss the challenges they faced each day because they or families members of theirs were infected with the HIV virus.
I am pleased to announce that at yesterday’s worship service, our church (The South Sound Church of Christ) collected two thousand dollars ($2,000) to help assist Patrice Abijibly (member of the Seattle Church of Christ) and his family fund a benevolent trip they will be making this summer to the Ivory Coast in West Africa. The Abijibly’s will be working with HOPE worldwide to provide food, clothing, and other monetary needs for those who are less fortunate in the country.
As a part of the service, Patrice shared and showed a video that explained the extreme level of poverty in homeland. In this heart-moving film, we saw the poor in a way that many of us had not them seen them before. We saw families who lived in one room shacks and even heard the stories of several children who could not even attend local schools because they had no money. In addition, we also listened to other children and adults discuss the challenges they faced each day because they or families members of theirs were infected with the HIV virus.
The great part of the video was that it also showed the impact that HOPE worldwide is making on the community. Through a host of different projects and programs, HOPE has been extremely influential in meeting the physical and emotional needs of the poor. One example in particular was the creation of a support group by that brought orphans together to talk about their lives and how to deal with the pain of the past in a positive way.
After the film ended, Patrice both encouraged and challenged us that as Americans and as disciples, we need to reach out and sacrifice for others because we can. Thankfully our church gave more than any of us could have expected. This was probably the most encouraging part of the two thousand dollars ($2,000) that we collected. On a normal HOPE benevolent Sunday, we usually average somewhere between four and seven hundred dollars ($400-$700). The two thousand dollars ($2,000) we gave was truly an “offering” not just to Patrice and HOPE, but “one to the Lord.”
In response to such giving, I am reminded of the amazing churches that we all a part of (South Sound Church of Christ & the Seattle Church of Christ). I want to share this story so that we focus more on the positive things going on around us instead of the negative. Too many times we talk about what needs to change (more studies, better discipling, stronger families, etc.) instead of remembering the blessings that God is doing all around us. There will always be things that we need to change in church but let’s not forget to smile at the great things that happen when our hearts our moved to sacrifice for him. The truth is, despite our all of our sin (from the past and present and future), we are in “a great and giving church” because we have “a great and giving God.” Let’s remember this as we live our lives as Disciples of Christ.
Marcus Wallace
South Sound Church of Christ Intern
June 2nd, 2008
After the film ended, Patrice both encouraged and challenged us that as Americans and as disciples, we need to reach out and sacrifice for others because we can. Thankfully our church gave more than any of us could have expected. This was probably the most encouraging part of the two thousand dollars ($2,000) that we collected. On a normal HOPE benevolent Sunday, we usually average somewhere between four and seven hundred dollars ($400-$700). The two thousand dollars ($2,000) we gave was truly an “offering” not just to Patrice and HOPE, but “one to the Lord.”
In response to such giving, I am reminded of the amazing churches that we all a part of (South Sound Church of Christ & the Seattle Church of Christ). I want to share this story so that we focus more on the positive things going on around us instead of the negative. Too many times we talk about what needs to change (more studies, better discipling, stronger families, etc.) instead of remembering the blessings that God is doing all around us. There will always be things that we need to change in church but let’s not forget to smile at the great things that happen when our hearts our moved to sacrifice for him. The truth is, despite our all of our sin (from the past and present and future), we are in “a great and giving church” because we have “a great and giving God.” Let’s remember this as we live our lives as Disciples of Christ.
Marcus Wallace
South Sound Church of Christ Intern
June 2nd, 2008
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