See, we spent the month January teaching about the scourge of domestic sex trafficking of under-age girls, the complicity of many church men in creating that sickening demand in the first place, and then described our partnership with On Eagles’ Wings Ministry.
For this project, the partnership was relatively simple: with the proceeds from our January 27 offering, we would buy an unoccupied home, pay for its renovation & restoration, and then when it was ready for occupancy, give it to OEWM.
At that point, OEWM would begin to house girls who have been delivered from the lifestyle of underage sex trafficking but not its after-effects. The ministry of On Eagles’ Wings would do for the girls many of the same things we would do for the house: renovation and restoration.
We called the project, simply, Home. Our Challenge Goal for January 27 was $125,000 and our Miracle Goal was $150,000.
You can read all about it here.
So after a month of planning, praying, preaching, leading, crying, and asking, we received the offering last Sunday. As money continued to come in through the week, our Business Office kept counting. And counting. And counting.
I think we need to redefine the definition of miracle around here.
Instead of that $150,000 goal, the people of Good Shepherd last week gave . . . .
$389,751
to the Home Campaign. In one week. And all of it will leave the church and head toward the rescue, renovation, and restoration of young girls who have been stolen from their homes and had home stolen from them.
At each service, the announcement of that frankly staggering amount was met with a collective audible gasp.
And then spontaneous standing ovation.
And then, best of all, as if to remind us what this or any Radical Impact Project is ultimately about, Chris Macedo led us in singing, “Not To Us, But To Your Name Be The Glory.”
And you wonder why I like being the pastor of Good Shepherd United Methodist?
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Yesterdays announcement brought tears to my eyes. I knew the people of Good Shepherd were generous, but the amount of money collected was astounding. You could feel the Holy Spirit in the room. To God be the glory, indeed.
The amount collected is staggering. I’m curious as to how they extra money will be used. Will it go as a monetary gift to OEWM? Will GS purchase a larger house? Or maybe 2 houses? Obviously, any of these options will be wonderful!
To you and all the Pastors at Good Shepherd, this just goes to show how the congregation loves to rally around your call. It is through the glory of God, but it is that same glory in how he uses you to convey and confirm his message.
I will again say, THANK YOU for providing the leadership and the opportunity.
My thought yesterday morning when I heard the amount was God laughing at our measly miracle goals of $125,000 and $150,000. It’s like God was saying, “Let me show you what I can really do through those who are obedient in giving!”
I was so glad to sing “Not to Us” following the announcement. It captured the moment perfectly.
Chris Macedo’s idea!
I am so glad to be a part… oh, , I am a member now… of Good Shepherd. Thank you pastor for being so Radical for Christ!