Experience the Power of Giving 

On August 5, Hidden Valley Community Church did something most people haven’t seen in church before. We gave money away to more than 40 individuals, $1800 in total. But it didn’t stop there. We expected those who received the money to in turn give it to someone in need. We had a few rules for about how the money was to be used:

1. The money cannot be spent on yourself
2. You must use it to serve someone else!  What needs do you see in the world around you?  How can you use this to begin to help them?
3. Be in prayer about this!  Ask God “How do you want me to use what you have entrusted to me?”  Then look around.  
4. Email or write out how you used it, how it helped them and how it felt to do that.
5. Be creative!  
   

Here are a few of the amazing stories we heard back from those who gave the money away.

STORY 1:
I immediately knew I wanted to give that money away and I also vowed at the time to match it regardless of the amount inside. The amount inside was $60. There was an immediate person(s) that came to mind to give it to, but I decided to wait and pray and wait until lightening struck or something to make sure this is where I was being directed to leave the money. After a week, no lightning and the same family came to mind... A neighbor with a new baby and 3 other kids…home schooling and barely making it. I guess this wouldn't be a hard need to guess, but I dropped it off anyway. I waited to hear from her for two weeks and when no great story appeared by itself, I stopped by just to visit.  I didn't mention the money myself and just waited to see if it was an answered prayer or just my own stuff. She was a bit sheepish about the money and I think embarrassed to talk to me, but finally said that it was absolutely an answered prayer of hers. She said that they were literally down to their last cent almost and she had prayed the night before I stopped by...She said, "And in one day, God answered my prayer! You came with that money and what it did most for me was to make me realize that He will provide.  Even if you would have given us $3, it would have meant the same to me...it really strengthened by faith in a God would loves us and is providing for us.” That was the message I was expecting...I love it when God is so obvious!  

STORY 2:
First of all, I want to say that I will never be able to come up with the right words to fully describe the feelings, emotions, and personal growth I went through by participating in this. Initially, I was SURPRISED that the church was doing something like this.  I've been going to Sunday school or church for almost all of my life and have never been in a church that's challenged its people to do something quite like this. We were told that the amounts in the envelopes ranged from $20 to $100.  I was really HOPING I'd get one of the $100 envelopes because it'd be easier and more fun to make an impact with $100 versus $20.  I got one of the $20 envelopes. We were instructed to ask God to put it in our hearts where/how He wanted us to use the money.

Side note:  I've been going to Sunday school or church almost all of my life and I cannot remember people talking like this very often. When I did hear it, I was dismissive of it as something “weaker” people do who are not sure of themselves. Maybe because my heart wasn’t open enough to Jesus, maybe because I didn’t hear it enough, maybe I didn’t believe you could because I was so “self-sufficient.” This is talked about constantly at HVCC. Maybe I’ve opened up my heart up to Jesus more, maybe because I hear it all the time now, maybe because I just had faith and trusted you could hear God “talking” to you and wanted to hear Him (i.e., I’m less self-sufficient now and more Christ-sufficient), but I am now pretty sure I can truly discern times when God is speaking to me. And I've noticed that He speaks to me through my heart, not my head. It’s probably a combination of all these things.

Anyway, I asked God to let me know when/how He wanted the money to be used during a daily talk with Him while driving at work and left it up to Him. I was thinking this would be pretty quick and easy because there are SO MANY needs all around us. Then I (almost impatiently) waited.

I did notice many situations where the $20 would have helped out somehow, but I didn’t have any real feeling that God was telling me that “This is the one.”

One day while re-watching the 1980s/Greed service with some friends, who don’t go to HVCC, I was touched by Pastor Brian's reference to an organization called World Vision. It sparked some real emotion and I wondered if this was what God wanted. It seemed like an odd fit for a one-time $20 gift, so I waited to see if there was more. Over the next several days, I came across a few more references to World Vision and its programs. Each one stirred feelings in my heart and I was pretty sure this was where God wanted the money to be used. Then, last Sunday, Pastor Brian mentioned World Vision again, specifically why it got started (a child literally dying of starvation while standing in a food line).  That story REALLY got to me as I was sitting there and I knew that that was where God wanted the money to be used.

It was a weird feeling somewhat because there were lots of opportunities right in our community where the money could've been used and I could've seen firsthand the impact of the gift. I really thought it was going to be used right here, but this time it was used to help a child half a world away that, in all likelihood, we’ll never meet here on earth.

Anyway, while researching the World Vision website, I learned that a child is supported (food, healthcare, education, spiritually, etc.) for a month for $30. So I figured we’d chip in another $10 and cover a child for a month.  But I quickly realized that a month didn't feel right.  The eyes of “my” child in his picture were powerful.  I decided to commit for 12 months of support.

I did the year commitment and THE INSTANT the financial transaction was complete on the computer, I was overcome with emotion (joy and sadness) and tears formed. All I could think then and now as I write this was “Why me, Lord? Why me?” That’s the response I received. That’s how I felt when I actually gave the $20 away.

It’s funny how God used this to do more than what was originally planned. I was worried at the beginning about how much I could do with the $20. And that was my error...I couldn’t do anything all by myself.  But God could do a lot. All He needed to work was an open heart dependent on Him and not on me. He helped two children: one in Brazil and me. And if this is the God I’m learning more about each day, He’ll probably affect even more people with that $20 that was in that envelope than we’ll ever know.
 
STORY 3:
First, I want to thank you for the challenge of teaching me how to pray and how to listen to answers.

I volunteered not knowing what I was going to be doing for the church. I was given an envelope with $20 and told to pray to God and see who I should give this money to. What a task. First off I was amazed at how much money was given from both churches. What a gracious thing for the church to do.  I had a hard time with remembering to pray every day. I am learning to pray daily not just to pray during a crisis time in my life. This is has been difficult. I did however use the $20 to spend it on my three nieces who are living with their father due to my sister going through a drug rehab program. They need winter coats mittens and boots so I am purchasing these items with the money. The hard part that came along with this is to teach me to pray daily and the hardest was to know when the right answer or if this was an answer to follow through with this. How do you listen to GOD when do you know this is answer? Thanks for the learning opportunities and because of this my nieces will be warm.

STORY 4:
A flood has recently hit our town. And many people have had to evacuate their houses because of severe flooding. So Red Cross has come to my school for people who needed to evacuate their homes. They had been asking for donations. I was one of the ten people who had been given $20 from Hidden Valley and was suppose to pray and ask God what I needed to do with this money that I had been given. So I had been praying and saying “Lord, please show me what you want me to do with this money that I have been given”. Then one day my mom came home and said that Red Cross was asking for donations. I thought that this was where I needed to donate my money.

STORY 5:
This e-mail is to relay the experience I had in becoming an everyday hero. My first time attending Hidden Valley Church was the weekend that you started your new series on heroes. When asked for volunteers to come up front, I hesitated at first being there for only my first time, but finally went up front. The envelope I received was not opened and looked at for two days as I wanted to do some praying on the subject and not have any monetary amount in my head.  When I did open the envelope I found I had been entrusted with $40. I took the two $20 bills and broke them into $10 bills so that I may be able to help four people at this tough time of the year with school supplies or groceries. I watched for an opportunity to help and nothing had come to me.

One evening my husband and I were talking about all the people who had lost so much during the flood and how some people were so helpful and yet others were selfish in ways that were so amazing. We talked about the fact that there were still some people living in the middle school gymnasium because they had lost everything and still had no place to go.

The following day was a Thursday and in the back of my mind was our conversation playing over and over. I stopped by the school to check with the Red Cross to see if there was anyone still there. There was one family left. The Salvation Army had just left there giving the message that they had found a home for the family to go to. The family was not yet up for the day and did not know that information as yet.

The Red Cross workers were wonderful in the volunteer work they were doing and told me a little about the family. They had lost their house in entirety in Gotham. They had a daughter who was 7 years old and all her things were gone as well. The daughter had spent much time drawing pictures for the workers and talking to them and at one point had stated to her parents that they would just have to start over.  Oh the wonder of youth!!! When asking the Red Cross workers if I could leave something for this family they let me know that there was a lot of red tape if going through the Red Cross but if I were to give it to them myself, there would be no problems. One of the workers took me to the middle school office and I was then able to place the $40 in an envelope for the family.

I wrote on the envelope only “Everything we have is on loan from God.” I never met the family and did not sign my name or give any indication as to where the money came from. I still carry a great sense of fulfillment with me when I think of how that gesture may have been a great relief to these people.

STORY 6:
I accepted the money challenge several weeks ago at Richland Centers HVCC. I started by praying to God that he would open my eyes and heart to know when he wanted me to meet a need in someone's life. I was afraid that I would miss the opportunity to help someone and not spend the money the way God intended me to. I thought about the money often. 

Then one Saturday night, as you all know, a devastating flood hit our area and many surrounding areas.  We were doing all we could to help our neighbors and community get back on their feet.  I hadn’t had much time to think of the money for several days. 

Then one night I awoke around 3:00 am to the thoughts of my daily e-mails. (Every day I start my day with 2 web sites that send me either daily bible devotions or sections of the scriptures to read and ponder on). The one that kept running thru my mind was Matthew 25:14-30. I instantly knew what God wanted me to do with the money. 

The next day I went to work and I sent an e-mail to all my co-workers that said, “I have $20 that I challenge you to either meet or contribute some money to help a family with children, soon to start school, that are in need. I then called the county Nurse who contacted a family and had them get in touch with me if they wanted our help. This family of 5 (mother, father, two boys and one girl) owned their home and were forced out of it when the flood came and they lost everything. This was the week before school started. By that Friday, I, myself met the challenge and so did many others. We turned that $20 into $259 and a big box full of brand new school supplies for this family. 

I took it to the family on the Saturday of Labor Day week-end so that they would have time to go shopping for some new clothes or shoes for school.  The parents weren’t there at the time because they were meeting with FEMA.  

So on Sunday after church I went back to talk to the family and get their story. The mother, with tears in her eyes, said she couldn’t say thanks enough and hoped that one day she could help someone else in need like we had helped her. I told her “it was a gift from God”. They gave me permission to take their picture to show you who you helped and the little girl was so excited because she was wearing a brand new dress she had just gotten. By the way FEMA could not access their house because there were still several inches of water in the basement.

I learned several things from doing this challenge. One is, God WILL get your attention when HE knows you will listen (3:00 am). I also learned that helping out like this and allowing others to share in that plan, is one of the most euphoric feelings you can get. I now find myself searching for others I can touch, even in very small ways. Thanks for giving me this wonderful opportunity.

STORY 7:
I gave my $20 to my friend who teaches at Ithaca. She teaches the little kids and there are always kids who do not have supplies. I told her to use it for supplies or milk money or whatever someone in need could use.

STORY 8:
When my son received his envelope I wasn’t sure what kind of outcome we would have. He was very excited and extremely ready to give. We thought of at least five people right off who could really use the money. So we had to pray and we needed God’s specific guidance. Christ said right away how he knew God was saying it was for school supplies. But that still didn’t narrow it down. I just kept my eyes and ears open and Christ was doing the same. 

One day at work, a co-worker of mine came in and showed us pictures of her flooded home. Everything was ruined including one of their cars. Her kids didn’t really know how they would get school supplies or even school clothes. I went home and shared this story with my son. We cried and thanked God that he showed us who needed this money. 

I took the envelope to work with me a couple of days later. Christ said I know these are the kids God wants us to bless. So I found my co-worker in passing through the hallway. I asked her to stop and wait because I had something for her. I handed her the envelope and she asked what it was. At that moment I realized I’d done something wrong. I left the money in the envelope. Oops! So then I proceeded to tell her why. I felt I owed her an explanation due to the writing on the envelope. I told her how our church wants to reach out to the community and how Christ volunteered for this. I told her how he was to ask God who to give it to and to deliver this money. I explained how he knew that he was supposed to help other kids with school supplies and that when he heard their story he knew it was for them. This lady broke down and cried. She was so touched by this and her children were as well. She said how that was the first offer of help they had gotten and how school was about to start and they didn’t know what they would do.

Thank you for this experience.  It has richly blessed my son and me.  God bless you all.  

STORY 9:
I got home from football practice and felt like I needed to go to Wal-Mart. So I asked mom if she needed to go shopping and she said yes. So I got cleaned up, grabbed my $40 I got from church to give away.  So we got to Wal-Mart and I felt like I needed to go back by the garden stuff, but before I got there I saw a guy with his girl and daughter in the cart. They didn’t look poor, but they stayed in my head. So I got back to the garden section and saw nobody so I left and passed those 3 again and they stayed in my mind. Then I walked back to the garden stuff and saw those 3 again. So I sat on a bench and prayed.  I asked God if they were the right people and I had a feeling come over me that I get when God talks to me so I knew they were the ones. I walked by them a few times and finally walked up and said. “I don’t know why, but God wants me to give this to you.” As I handed them the money the wife’s eyes lit up and her husband said okay. I knew he wouldn’t refuse because when he saw my size he kind of backed away. Then I turned and walked away slowly so they could read my shirt that had a cross on it and the verse Romans 1:16, which says “I am not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.” So as I walked away I thanked God for the wonderful serving experience. And a peace came over me that made me feel like I did the right thing. I don’t know why God led me to them but he knew they needed it.

Some of you out there reading this may say that we’re crazy for giving money away.  Well first of all, I have seen money ruin good people. In the book of Job it says that we carried nothing into this world and we carry nothing out.  How true is that? Some of you may not believe in God - well I am living proof that there is a God. I have been transformed from a person tied to the world to a person that wants to live to please the King and I can say that no lie would have ever changed me. Go God! A teen for the King.