Saturday, Dec. 30 am

Barney Ford

As part of our continuing worship, Barney Ford led us into a time of offering. He first reminded us that God's generosity causes us to respond in kind with generous hearts. Barney shared that his father died when he was six, so he has always felt fatherless. But as he has been adopted into God's family, he hears God saying, "because you're my son, I'm giving you the family business." When we acknowledge our adoption into God's family, we realize our tremendous blessings, compelling us to respond with financial generosity.

Barney prepared our hearts for the offering by speaking about external and internal preparation. On an external level, we need to ask ourselves if we are giving to a need that is real. InterVarsity formed a team of six individuals, including a student accountant and a missionary with thirty years of experience, to research organizations.

Internally, each individual must make a personal decision regarding how much to give. InterVarsity has suggested an amount that each person give in order to raise significant funds for these organizations. Barney also reminded us that God calls us to be cheerful givers, not people who give under compulsion. Finally, he informed us that every single cent would go to these agencies.

Following a time of silence to clear our hearts before God, we filled out offering envelopes. Then, appropriately, we sang Great is thy faithfulness. As we reached the refrain, "all I have needed thy hand hath provided, great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me " the truth of God's abundant faithfulness was clear.

Click here for a list of all the agencies receiving out of this offering, with descriptions of their ministries.

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