{"id":1393,"date":"2016-12-03T19:36:40","date_gmt":"2016-12-03T19:36:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/craigfinnestad.com\/?p=1393"},"modified":"2016-12-03T19:42:33","modified_gmt":"2016-12-03T19:42:33","slug":"celebrating-generosity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/craigfinnestad.com\/?p=1393","title":{"rendered":"Celebrating Generosity"},"content":{"rendered":"

At The Water\u2019s Edge, WE move from one opportunity to the next. Each time you all demonstrate vision and generosity. Christian love are acts of kindness given to others with no expectation of that anything is returned. Here is some of the good you all have been doing recently.<\/p>\n

You furnished an apartment for a family of refugees who fled from Syria. Benjamin and I got to pick them up from the airport and take them to their new home. Many of you gave dozens of hours preparing their new home. The goods you all donated were worth around $5,000. Jesus said when we welcome the stranger we are welcoming him. You welcomed the stranger and Jesus!<\/p>\n

\"refugee-family\"

Preparing the apartment for our adopted family.<\/p><\/div>\n

You gave over $8,000 for medical and pharmaceutical supplies to people in Uganda. Our team just returned. Their stories are stories of grace, healing, and hope. You resourced them to succeed and serve those who could not help themselves.<\/p>\n

\"Some

Some of our Uganda team on location<\/p><\/div>\n

You packed 180 boxes full of toys that have been shipped to Africa. Children all over the continent will open these boxes on Christmas morning. You are bringing joy to these little ones. These gifts have a value of $5,000.<\/p>\n

\"Photos

Photos from Operation Christmas Child Sunday<\/p><\/div>\n

You provided 120 Thanksgiving dinners for hungry families in Omaha. Occasionally I drive down to Together and drop-off stuff. I see the people standing in line. The meals you provided cost $10,000. Jesus says when we feed hungry people we are feeding him. That\u2019s what you did.<\/p>\n

\"Some

Some of the 120 meals WE provided for families in Omaha.<\/p><\/div>\n

You provided Christmas gifts for 340 children who go to the Millard Public schools. WE will fill up three trailers this morning. These gifts have an estimated value of $25,000\u2014but I\u2019m guessing with your track record of generosity you gave a whole lot more. These are kids from the schools in our own community. You all exceeded all hopes on this one and are such a blessing to our community!<\/p>\n

\"wee-care\"

A text message I got this morning with this photo: Thanks for the opportunity to help a family in our own backyard have a nice Christmas. Buying Christmas gifts for someone you don’t know is so much fun! Our kids got involved too.<\/p><\/div>\n

In the last week, two donors have given me $1,317 in cash to give to people who need support and encouragement this Christmas. I have started giving it to people and it is always an amazing experience and it never gets old. I can\u2019t wait to keep sharing your generosity.<\/p>\n

The total you have given in the last couple months to people outside our church is around $54,317.<\/strong> You are creating hundreds of stories of people who have received God\u2019s provision and grace. You keep experiencing that it is more blessed to give than to receive. You are showing our city what it means to be the church.<\/p>\n

WE have three Sundays left in 2016. WE have our own budget that takes care of our own students and children. To resource our small groups and worship experiences. To invite and welcome our community. To strategize and implement new ministries as WE seek to better love and serve Omaha. I encourage you to finish 2016 strong and even go over and above by making a Christmas offering to your church as WE enter what will be the most exciting time in our history.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m so grateful for your generosity to our world, city, and church. You are an inspiration and a blessing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

At The Water\u2019s Edge, WE move from one opportunity to the next. Each time you all demonstrate vision and generosity. Christian love are acts of kindness given to others with no expectation of that anything is returned. Here is some…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1399,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[127,130,128,131,129],"class_list":["post-1393","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-waters-edge","tag-generosity","tag-millard-business-association","tag-together","tag-uganda","tag-wee-care"],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\t\n