Living a Better Story with Hot Chocolate

Our family pooled our money together for a total of $35.  We decided to use the money to serve Women’s Resource and Rape Assistance Program (WRAP), a private, non-profit agency that covers a 13 county area in West Tennessee.  WRAP provides services for domestic violence victims, sexual assault victims, and their families.  Last year, this organization served 2,121 victims and sheltered 245 individuals.

On Thursday, October 14^th, WRAP held a candlelight vigil for those that lost their lives to domestic violence and to recognize those who have escaped from domestic violence.   The vigil took place on the Madison county courthouse steps.  There was a guest speaker, a former minister of the C.M.E. church, the North Side and South Side choirs, personal testimonials, and a solo from a member of the fire department.  Our family decided to use the money to serve hot chocolate, brownies, and cookies at the vigil.  We discussed with the director of WRAP the options to take donations for the food to go back to the group or to serve the food as complimentary.  The director chose to use the food as complimentary.  All together we served between 50-55 people.  The treats were well received on the chilly night, and everyone was very appreciative.  There were treats left at the end of the evening and the remaining food and drinks were given to the office workers at WRAP and to a children’s daycare center. 

Our family gained as much out of the evening as we gave back to the community.  We plan to do the same thing next year on our own.  I would like to thank the church for giving us the opportunity to give back to some many individuals.

Greg, Denise, and Benjamin

Living a Better Story: Tom and family's Story

Our family has given great prayer to our goals in participating in the Living a Better Story program.  We wanted to do something as a family that would give pleasure to someone in need.  We decided on the children who are in the Children’s wing at Jackson General.  

After contacting JMCGH we presented them with our idea to bring the children in the hospital goody bags with candy, crayons, balloons etc.  They were very positive about our idea and will lead us as to the best time to make this happen.  We would like to deliver them either before Halloween or Thanksgiving depending on the need at the hospital and will wait for their direction as to the best time.  The monies given to us by “Living a Better Story” will be used as well as our matching funds.  Our son Thomas and daughter Catherine will be contributing from their own monies as well to give everyone a part in the plan.  We feel the direction God has led our family is meaningful to us and we hope as meaningful to the children.  

Tom, Kelly, Thomas and Catherine

Living a Better Story: Caroline's Story

My story is not really that impressive. I received $5.00. The following Monday I went to work at Birth Choice as a volunteer. Of the group there, three decided to “pool” our money, double it, and donate it to Birth Choice. We each donated $10.00 and three hours of our time to help with the needs of their program. The donation seemed to surprise the director and she appeared to really appreciate the thought and money. There are so many organizations trying to help people and all are in need of funding. It is a very satisfying feeling to help, even if just with a small amount.

Living a Better Story: Cathy's Story

Have been hesitant to write, my story is not filled with any great revelations or

unique ideas...I was so humbled and thrilled to receive the envelope with the

$10 bill so fresh and full of promise.  Right away I had so many ideas for areas

that I wanted to put my effort and God's money....I prayed just knowing that

it would be revealed to me. While waiting for a destination I went about putting

back the $ I earn each week doing a small side job...

then, last Saturday after leaving the missions fair where I purchased some

wonderful things :) I headed to yet another fund raiser where I saw a dear

friend who had been one of the finalists in my 'destination, help someone'.

As soon as I saw her sweet smile and hugged her neck I just knew that she was

the one I would offer a hand(a humble amount of $100) for her to put to use

for something that 'she' needed....You see she has in recent months become

Mother again to three teenagers who have always called her Grandmother.  What

a loving and unselfish and most difficult thing for her to do at a time in her

life when she could have chosen to be their Godly influence from a distance

instead of opening her heart and home to deal with difficult decisions and a

financial burden. I am thankful to God, our wonderful church and the donor family

that jumpstarted so many needed offerings in the name of love.

Living a Better Story: Pat's Story

I received $10 and turned it into $40. I made logs of sausage pinwheels and sold them to my friends and neighbors for $2 each. The money is being given to The Dream Center. By focusing on the needs of others, I was truly blessed. 

Living a Better Story: Molly and family's Story

We decided it would be best to take the team approach and pool the money that our family received, including our parents, and all of us would work to increase the money.  We had a total of $45.00.  After looking at all of the talents that the five of us had, we decided to bake cakes and make cheese braids.  Being a smart team, we decided it would be best to find the Michael Jordan that was on our team and give that person the ball and get out of their way.  Obviously, we gave the ball to Jackie and turned her loose.  We sold to friends, co-workers and neighbors.  We used the $45.00 to buy ingredients and we netted $650.00.    

We all agreed that the money would go to WRAP to help fund their programs.  They helped over 2,200 people last year in the West Tennessee area and we felt that they provide a service to the community that is desperately needed.  We feel blessed as a family that we were able to participate in this worthwhile program and try to help others. 

Molly, Maggie, Alan, Jackie and Jim

Living a Better Story: Scott & family's Story

When I got my envelope and opened it and found ten dollars.  What to do with ten dollars?  I knew this day was coming and I thought I would have an idea by now, but I didn’t.  I thought and prayed for a week and still had no answer.  One night I sat with my daughters at the kitchen table and asked if they had any ideas.  Olivia, my five year old, said, “How about we buy toys for kids who don’t have any.”  That was when we decided to help Reelfoot Rural Ministries Christmas Toy Store.

I got the idea from the video shown in church and created a blog online and started raising money there.  I also promised to match with the $200.00 I had been saving from working on people’s computers.  Olivia and Emma sold popcorn and lemonade at the mission market, Rhonda made prayer beads for sale, and I offered gift certificates towards computer tutoring.

We were able to raise $561.75. The original $10 dollars help pay the transaction fees from the online giving. I went to Big Lots and told them our story and they gave us a discount on the total purchase.  We were able to fill four shopping carts with toys to take to Reelfoot.

The one thought I had over and over is how easy it was to give of myself once I let it all belong to God and this is just another “exercise” to help strengthen my “generosity” muscles.  Another joy I had was seeing the joy and excitement my daughters had during this project.  From the raising of money and buying of the toys, to the trip to Reelfoot and giving it all to them, Olivia and Emma really enjoyed the whole process.

A sales associate said, “It looks like someone is going to get a lot toys.”  Olivia quickly responded back with a smile on her face, “Yeah, it is for kids who don’t have any.”  In that moment I saw God.

Scott, Rhonda, Olivia, and Emma

Living a Better Story: Walter's Story

Having received $5.00 for use in this project, I was at a loss as to how to worthily address the opportunity.

My son Steve had a co-worker who, as a minimum wage, uninsured person with very limited resources, has a medical condition which interfered with his work.  He needed some routine surgical care to correct it.

Steve came up with a plan to aid the man, and consulted with a physician who agreed to help facilitate the process.  Steve consulted with his Sunday school class and gained their interest and financial support.  It was decided to focus on the Mission Fair as a way to raise $700.00 that has been established as a goal for the project.

I saw an opportunity to contribute by making some little stools that persons might find useful in their homes.  Purchasing the necessary materials, I made six stools (Phyllis did decorative artwork on the tops), and they sold for $20.00 each, producing a total of $120.00 for Steve’s project.

As to the $5.00, I purchased a pie from Betty at the Mission Fair.  She was raising money for her project at the New Southern.  My money was multiplied by helping her.

Inspired by both the church’s program and Steve’s project, I invested considerable money, time, and talent in making the stools.  Not only did I gain satisfaction from an original and worthy effort, but the enthusiastic response of those who saw in the stools a good personal use and purchased them rewarded my effort.  I have some woodworking talent, and this project was an act of stewardship.

Living a Better Story: Mark & Debra's Story

Together we received $25, which we quadrupled and contributed to the W Family Fund through the Religion for Life Sunday School class.  This experience reaffirms my belief in and commitment to minister to the least of these, and my prayer is that I will continue to grow in service to others who need to see God's love in a troubled world.

Living a Better Story: Garey & Jan's Story

On Sunday, September 26, we received our envelopes and began to pray about what we could do to increase our money and “Live a Better Story”.  We prayed for three days and the answer came that this was the time for us to increase our money.  Garey came up with the idea of purchasing Boston Butts and smoking them and selling them. 

By the following Sunday, we had checked around and were able to find a good price for 10 Boston Butts.  We sent an email to our Sunday School Class and presented to the class, that we could purchase 10 Boston Butts for $100 and could sell them for $35.00 each, which would show a gain of $250.   Several members in the class wished to participate, but several had other ideas that they wished to support. 

The email that was sent to the class, had requested that we receive a response by the following Friday so that we could know what kind of help that we could expect.  By that day, October 8, 2010, we had already received donations of $360.  In addition, on that day, there was a tea to celebrate my retirement and several persons donated money to me and this was added to the cash that we had received.  

On Tuesday night, October 12, Garey went to an Area Relief Ministries board meeting.  At that time, they announced that they had a great need to replace the cots for the Room in the Inn Ministry.  The new cots would be sturdier at a cost of $70 each, but needed to be ordered in lots of 10.  Our orders increased at the Missions Fair the 16^th, and the orders were enough for us to multiply the  $25.00 that we received to a total of  $812.50 to Area Relief Ministries for Room in the Inn.

Thanks to David and Laurie, Pat and Mike, John and Carolyn, Dickie and Sam, Larry and Joyce, and Bill and Jan for all of the support that they provided.  Also a special thanks to Kay’s grocery (formerly Camp’s grocery) for the exceptional price for the meat.

The Good Book says ask and you shall receive and this is shown by the donations and help from our friends in Christ.

Living a Better Story: Les & Pam's Story

We thought and prayed about how we wanted to use our $30.  We had many ideas, but finally settled on doing something for the "Special Needs Athletic" foundation. We became aware of this program from our good friend Linda, whose son Chase plays in the baseball games. The program has been written up in the Jackson Sun several times. We decided to use our money to buy Cracker Jacks and sell them at the game for a $1 per bag and donate the proceeds to the Special Need Athletic fund to build a special needs ball field.  At this time they play at the sportsplex, but it is very hard for the wheelchairs to move around on the grass and dirt.  There is a dream to raise enough money to build a special rubberized playing field for these games.  Les and I went to Chase's game tonight and set up a table and sold our Cracker Jacks and made $85. and presented the money to Michael for the special needs ball field fund. The Cracker Jacks sold in less than an hour and we only wished that we had more to sell.  It was so heartwarming to watch these men, women, and children delight in getting to play baseball.  The baseball games have been so well received that the foundation is planning to add bowling and basketball this coming year. "Take me out to the ballgame" has a whole new meaning for Les and me.

Living a Better Story: Wes & Cathy's Story

We  received $25 together.  Cathy was already involved with World Vision with a monthly sponsorship of a child in Sri Lanka, where our son Matt lives and works.  We learned recently that World Vision is currently addressing a severe food shortage in Africa, and we were able to contribute our money to that project and our gifts was increased fourfold through matching gifts by other contributors.

Living a Better Story: An Anonymous Gift

So, the church hands out money, fives, tens, twenties.  What to do, what to do?  Need to increase the money, need to give it away.  It sounds easy on the surface, but I wanted it to have meaning, so I prayed and I thought and a plan began to develop. My husband and I have given to many good, worthwhile causes and agencies during the year, but I wanted this to be personal. 

I became aware of a young family that could use some help.  They are a sweet wife, a hard-working and devoted husband, and several children.  His paycheck is steady, but it is not a lot for a family.  I was able to increase my money from $5.00 to $150 by selling some things and adding to it and so, through an intermediary, I gave this family the money.  Little did I know that on the very day of my gift, he was planning to go to his employer to ask for an advance on his next paycheck.

I know this is a small effort in the big scheme of things, but it was for me a great joy. Living a Better Story has challenged me to look beyond myself and my usual “tax deductible” giving.   

Living a Better Story: James and family's Story

We decided to pool the money we were given as a family.  Altogether, we were give $45.00.  We then decided we would bake homemade cakes to sell.  James sold some cakes to his friends, and Megan, Sarah, and Thomas sold to our neighbors.  Everyone was so generous and agreed to pay $10 for a cake.  We used our money (plus some of our own thrown in) to purchase the supplies for the cakes.  We sold 11 cakes to friends and neighbors, and we baked an additional five for the mission fair.  In addition, we made lanterns which we sold at the mission fair for $5.  After Saturday's fair, we had made $205.00!

Every year, we make shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child through Samaritan's Purse, and I always receive a catalog of gift ideas to contribute to their many causes.  Every year I want to give, and because it always comes around Christmas, I never seem to be able to.  So, we decided to take this money and contribute this year!  I am so excited that we are going to be able to do so many different things with this money.  Some of what we will do is to buy a goat for a family, buy a fishing boat, stock a pond with fish, and feed a hungry baby for a week - and that is just some of how we will spread our money.  There is more we will be able to do.

This has been one of the most rewarding experiences I have been through.  I think because we worked to multiply this money, it made it more rewarding.  Also, we did this as a family.  We are always stronger when we unite!  I can't wait to get this money sent in to Samaritan's Purse.  Thank you to all who purchased from us and helped to further the Kingdom of God.

James, Kristie, Megan, Sarah and Thomas

Living a Better Story: Luke's Story

I received $10 in the envelope I received in church. I knew that I would use my financial resources to multiply it by the Biblical 10 fold, but was not sure where I would use the $100. I support a number of organizations with my second mile giving, but thought I would wait and see if I received a special "word" about what I should do with this money.

About 10 days ago I was talking with one of my nurse managers, also a choir member in her United Methodist church, and she told me about a conversation she had that morning with a young woman who is caring for two disabled parents. The daughter also has health issues, and money was tight. The young woman reported she had run out of money during a recent hospital stay with her mother and had been reduced to eating the parts of the meal her mother did not eat. She was not complaining and was unaware that the hospital has a program that would provide her with her own tray at no cost. She went on to tell the nurse about their financial plight, as it seems the mother's disability check is the only current source of income.

I told the nurse manager about the Church program, and told her it seemed clear this was the place I was supposed to use this "found" money. There was a convenient way to "launder" the money so the young woman would not know where it came from, so I gave the cash to the nurse to pass along. I have no idea what the family will use the money for, but I hope it will ease their stress for a little while. More importantly, the nurse responded as if she too felt this was a divine message, and will likely discuss the program with her church, helping the idea spread.

Living a Better Story: Bill and Laura's Story

We increased the $25.00 that we received to $55.00 by making and selling Blue Bird Houses.  We purchased the supplies and constructed the rustic cedar houses to sell at the FUMC Missions Market.  It was a joy to make and sell the Blue Bird Houses and to be with people who love missions as we do.  The money will be given to support the church that we helped to build in Laureles Sur Nicaragua.  Living a Better Story was a blessing to us and we hope it will be a blessing to this struggling congregation, too.

Living a Better Story: Jason & family's Story

Our family was given $40 seed money to grow God's kingdom.  We thought of different ways to give the money away, but referring back to the Parable of the Talents, we felt inspired to try to grow the money.  Together, we thought that a bake sale would be something everyone in our family could participate in. 

We bought $40 of baking supplies and baked cakes, brownies, and cookies.  The sale took place at the Eye Clinic and the Physicians Surgery Center.  We provided information on our charity, Area Relief Ministries.  We also offered to match dollar for dollar all money raised. 

On October 19, our family took a check for $274 to Area Relief Ministries. 

This has been a humbling experience for our family.  It wasn't a very difficult task growing the money, but it seemed very effective.  A small effort can make a large difference.

Living a Better Story: Carl & Betty's Story

This is the story of Carl and Betty's experience of Living a Better Story.

We were strongly taken by the idea of Living a Better Story. The idea may not be unique, but it certainly was new to us.

After reading and rereading the loaves and fishes story it was easy for us to decide to donate whatever we could collect to the RIFA Soup Kitchen. Ever since we began to volunteer at the kitchen, we have been more and more impressed by the work done there for those who are in dire straits.

Each of us had received 5 dollars. The problem became what to do to make some extra money and make this endeavor worthwhile. We had already toyed with the idea of a garage sale, but how much would that bring in? Besides, we felt a garage sale was so impersonal. Mostly items you want to get rid of regardless. 

We decided that we had to give something personal, something that we cherished. We looked around our house and picked some items that for both of us had great sentimental value. This small group of items brought, to our pleasant surprise, the sum of 300 dollars. It was with humility (and a little bit of pride) that we presented the sum of $310 dollars to the RIFA Soup Kitchen.

It was amazing to realize a little feeling of hurt when seeing the items gone, but that was quickly suppressed by a sense of gladness to have contributed something of personal value to the work of the Lord.

This experience has been more valuable to our personal insight about how to live a better story than the amount of money we managed to make.

Living a Better Story: Steve & Cindy's Story

We received a total of $10 in our envelopes.  At first it felt as though it would take too much to multiply it.  At this point in our lives, we don't have a lot of extra time.  So I thought about things that I could give up that would allow me to add to the original $10.  Gusta Java is a drive through coffee shop that is on my way to work.  I had started stopping by there every morning before work for a mocha.  I decided that I could keep driving every morning and save that $5 each day. I saved an additional $65 in a short time. After I made that decision, I found out that a dear friend of ours was not able to afford her prescriptions for the month.  Steve and I decided that we would give God's money to her.  She was very grateful.  We have abundant blessings that God has given us.  This was just one more.

Living a Better Story: Linda's Story

For many years I have been a member at WKNO, the public radio station, and I give $40 during each plege drive.  This time, using the extra $10 I received, I increased the pledge amount to $75 because giving at that level means an additional sum of money will go to the food bank to provide 10 meals.

I also attended the Barrister's Breakfast at Calvary Episcopal Church and paid for one of my new volunteer attorneys to attend.  This event raises money for a breast cancer cure.  The cost to attend is $10.

Living a Better Story: Helen & Bob's Story

Here’s My Story, and I’m Stickin’ To It!

About a year ago, I heard about this “Pass the Blessing” experience from dear friends Amanda and Travis Garner.  Travis increased his “God Money” through a website for a worthwhile charity.  So, when I opened my FUMC envelope and saw $20, I thought, “Website?”

I immediately answered myself, “I need to do this without pestering my computer savvy children to help a computer challenged parent with yet another project.”

Thus began my wrestle with God and finding what He wanted me to do.  Thoughts were:  RIFA (good, but too easy?); a community “Messiah” sing-along (fun, but not quite what this is all about?); gift to one of my financially strapped children to help with car repair, utilities, etc.  None of these seemed right.

You may know that daughter Kate is married to James, a 2^nd year Vanderbilt Divinity student.  He, and she, recently accepted a pastorate an hour away from Nashville in Trenton, KY.  Bob and I were blessed to worship in Trenton this past Sunday.  Bells Chapel United Methodist Church is the replica of “The Church in the Wildwood,” a beautiful red brick chapel nestled in a copse of trees way out in the country.  The church has 39 members, 21 of whom were attending service.  Jenny played the hymns, complete with the little church mouse scurrying out of the piano during the offertory.

  

James is struggling with this tiny congregation who are reluctant to reach out to the community.  And so, here it was – my better story!

      

I have passed this experience of “Living a Better Story” to Bells Chapel, Trenton, KY.  Anonymously, they have received $200 to be divided among the members with the same introduction First Church received.  I hope that a few parishioners will wrestle with God’s will as I have and increase their blessings tenfold.

Living a Better Story: Jane's Story

I received $5.00 in my envelope.  As I prayed and thought about what to do, I found my eyes and ears more open to need. I encountered an individual going through a very tough time that included a divorce, loss of a house, and not enough money to make it to the next paycheck.  It reminded me of a similar situation I had experienced and the way that members of FUMC had reached out to me anonymously.  At that time, I vowed that I would try to repay them by helping someone else some day.  So I added money to what I received and anonymously passed it along.  I am grateful that this process helped to open my eyes, ears, and heart to the needs of those around me.

Living a Better Story: Tom & Sally's Story

Sally received $20 and I received $5.  These funds grew to $300.   We know a self-employed electrician who does small jobs and he has done several for us.  About a month ago he was diagnosed with esophageal cancer and is undergoing both chemotherapy and radiation.  The treatment has made him so sick that he is unable to work regularly and he has no disability insurance.   With the funds that we were able to raise we prepared the attached letter to explain our church's plan and to let him know that he was not viewed as a charity case.  We know him well enough to be certain that he would not have accepted the funds as a mere "hand-out".

Because he is a private person about his illness I have deleted his name from the attachment.

This program has been inspirational, and if recipients can only feel half the joy that the givers have enjoyed we would be most grateful.   The anonymous donor of the seed money must surely be blessed when he/she reads all of the stories.

Dear ______________:

Sally and I belong to First United Methodist Church, and Sunday, September 26, 2010 our church gave out money in a sealed envelope to everyone in attendance.  The money ranged from $5.00 to $ 20.00 and was the result of one of the members providing an anonymous gift of these funds in order to finance this program.  There are churches all over the country that have done this, and the first time that we learned about it our Associate Pastor was driving and listening to the radio when he heard a story about a church in Texas that was asking members to take money not to give it.  He said that he almost drove off the road.  After that time, someone on our church staff learned that the Brentwood United Methodist Church had implemented this program, and I am enclosing a copy of a web page from that church that explains something that they did.  I am also enclosing a copy of the insert to which our cash was attached. 

 

After praying about this and what we would do with the money we received Sally and I decided to make use of a pear tree on my farm in Brownsville.  We peeled, cored, and diced the pears, purchased four kinds of bell peppers, white onions, jalapenos, sugar, spices and mason jars.  Together we made pear relish and I took most of the jars to my Wednesday morning Bible study group at the Old Country Store and gave it to the members present, asking them to make a donation in whatever amount they would like.  We have been praying for you and the members were told that whatever money we raised was going to be delivered to you as an outward symbol of encouragement in your struggle and to express to you the love in Jesus Christ which we share with you.

Sally also contacted a couple of people that she knew that thought so highly of you and they added to the pear relish donations. 

Please accept this gift as the effort of fellow believers to live a better life and to show what we can do with God's money.

We will continue to pray for you and for a full and complete recovery, and we know that you are in God's hands.

Yours very truly

Living a Better Story: Sharon's Story

After Sunday service a few weeks ago, I was walking to my car and recognized a young man named Josh who had often been in Area Relief Ministries Room In The Inn program hosted 2 years ago by First Methodist.  At that time, he had been attending Tennessee Technology Center and had no place to sleep.  He graduated from the Center and had been employed.  I asked how he was doing now and was told he had lost his job and was selling bags of Cascade dish washing detergent to try to get by.  He was asking $10 for 2 bags.  

Unforntunately, I had not brought any cash to church.  And then I remembered, I had just received $10 from Living A Better Story!  I gladly gave him the $10, later purchased another 10 packages, and donated them to The RIFA Soup Kitchen.  Josh will probably eat there some days and he may be back in the Room In The Inn program.

I was happy to know that I had hopefully given him encouragement to keep trying and the belief that he will soon be employed again.

Living a Better Story: Bruce's Story

I received $10 in my Living a Better Story envelope and increased it to $100, including donations from the staff at the Children’s Clinic.   My original plan was to make a donation to a local agency, but when I learned that a sweet little patient of mine had received a trip to Disney World through the Make a Wish Foundation, I decided to send the money to her family to help with extra expenses related to the trip.  This little girl and her family have been through a lot over the last two years so it is indeed a joy to be a part of this special experience.

Living a Better Story: Julia & Jeremy's Story

Jeremy and I received a total of $15 from the “Living a Better Story” envelopes.  I had originally planned to bring desserts to the office to sell, but someone else had brought in a load of free candy for us to snack on, so I didn’t figure my desserts would go over well.  We also weren’t set on a charity to donate the money to either.  Instead, while driving to Trenton one night to visit my family while praying about what to do, I noticed a huge sign on the side of the road.  Joe Shepard was running for office, and his sign said JOE in huge letters.  My mind instantly went to a coworker named Joe at one of our other offices whose wife had just died from cancer and had left him emotionally and financially fragile.  I knew instantly that God wanted the money to go to him.  My 10 coworkers and I are pooling our money and hope to buy him a $250 grocery gift card (we have raised $215 so far), and plan to send the money to him by the end of this week.       

Living a Better Story: Leila's Story

My $20 went to buy solder wire to make crosses.  The idea for using them failed; so I began praying for help!  Knowing that sometimes an old idea is better than a new one, I took ribbon, flowers and the crosses to decorate four preserved white pumpkins.  These I plan to sell at the Flea Market for Missions.  Now I am back to praying that the pumpkins will sell on Saturday!

The money they bring in will go to a new little church on Main and Royal in which my granddaughter and her husband are involved.

Living a Better Story: David & Laurie's Story

I was giving a lot of thought to how I could increase the $5.00 that I received in church, when Garey and Jan had a wonderful idea.  We are members of the Family Life Forum Sunday School Class and we typically go out for breakfast / brunch as a class following Sunday School. (Those who attend First Awakening, that is.)  We happened to be sitting with Jan and Garey at Denny's that morning and they made the suggestion of pooling our money, taking orders for BBQ, buying the meat and cooking it to sale.  Garey has a large cooker and offered his services to cook the meat. Well, everyone in the South loves good BBQ, so this seemed like a great way to multiply our money.  I gave the $5.00  that I received and David gave the $20.00 he received and we put $20.00 of our own money with it. We all agreed that the proceeds should go to Area Relief Ministries, and specifically to the Room in the Inn Ministry.  Jan gave a report in Sunday School yesterday, that so far we have made in excess of $700.00, in advance orders.  ARM has a specific need of new cots, so it appears that is what will be purchased with the money they receive.

This whole experience has been very meaningful and has really brought the parable to life. It is truly better to give than to receive!

Living a Better Story: Florence's Story

In 2007 I was living in Knoxville, Tennessee. A group of us got into the sewing room, cut out and made 250 stockings. After we decorated, collected and made other things to go into them we had a party to fill them. We made sure that a stocking went to all of the 250 apartments in both buildings at Guy. B. Love Towers. By the time we finished I needed something else to do so I decided to purchase and collect more fabric. I began to make hats for cancer patients. As I went through my building and talk with people in B building about collecting names of cancer victims and survivors I was shocked at the long list I came up with. In each hat I put in the name of one or the other. I was amazed at some of the people I came in contact with. My next door neighbor remains a survivor for 17 years. She's 80. One lady who had cancer wanted to were a hat in memory of a lady who had been over our fellowship meeting. There were two sisters who lived together and wanted to wear each other's name. One of them passed on and the other was cured. I stopped the mail man and ask if he knew of any one and he said, "Yes, me!" I ask if I could put his name in a hat and he said, "Proudly, it will be an honor!"

I moved to Chattanooga in 2008 to be with my mom. I wanted to keep up the work so I kept making hats. In 2009 I made over a hundred stockings and collected gifts and took them to the National Guard Armory and gave them to some Marines who were out waiting for Zack Wamp. I informed them I did not care what group of service men got them. I prayed and hugged all of them and left.

When I got the $20 in my envelope I went and bought over $20 dollars worth of fabric and bought some ribbons to make stockings. When I finish with these I will start on the hats again. I do have a nephew in the Army and a formal pastor who just left going with the Navy to Japan. Some one in the Church may have a relative in the Service. Some one may want to give a dollar gift to go with the stockings or have fabric sitting around they don't need. Someone else may want to help make and decorate them. I will welcome any and all help. If I did 107 last year, just think how many a group could make.

Living a Better Story: Justice for Our Neighbors

In the days that followed my receipt of the "Living a Better Story" money, I kept hearing and seeing news about immigrants – particularly immigrants to the U.S. The hateful rhetoric from those who seem to have all the answers disturbed me. The heart-wrenching stories of families dealing with issues we can only imagine brought tears to my eyes.

I know there are no easy answers to this difficult problem, but I am a tiny bit comforted by my decision to add to the money I received and make a donation to what I believe to be an important, but little known, ministry of the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR). It’s called Justice for Our Neighbors (JFON).

JFON reaches out to the "alien" among us - immigrants who have nowhere to go for help. It’s a faith-driven ministry that welcomes immigrants into churches and communities by providing free, high-quality immigration legal services, education, and advocacy.

As Christians we read and learn that when we welcome sojourners, it is as if we are receiving Christ. It is a sign of our faithfulness. That is why we should care about refugees and immigrants.

These words from the 1986 United Methodist Bishops' Statement on Refugees and Immigration speak volumes: "God comes to us in the form of the vulnerable person who lacks the benefit of status and protection in an alien land. In the flesh of Jesus Christ of Nazareth God chose to sojourn in a particular way for the sake of all humankind…and restored the possibility of authentic community in which love and justice reign and peace prevails."

The Old Testament is full of scriptures admonishing God's people to treat immigrants with compassion and fairness. Exodus 23:9 states, "Do not oppress an alien; you yourselves know how it feels to be aliens, because you were aliens in Egypt." In Deuteronomy 24:14, it says: "Do not take advantage of a hired man who is poor and needy, whether he is a brother Israelite or an alien living in one of your towns."

Our faith does not allow us to be indifferent or hostile to immigrants, but calls us to care and act. Learn more about the JFON immigration ministry at www.umcom.org.

Living a Better Story: Beth's Story

I was away from the church attending a family wedding in Illinois when the envelopes were first distributed but I heard about it. On September 27-29, I went to Paris Landing State Park for Equal Justice University-- the Tennessee Poverty Lawyers' In service training. Martha, a friend from Morristown, volunteers for Maya Works. www.mayaworks.org. Mayan women from the highlands for Guatemala make crafts. Martha had a booth to sell the crafts. According to the publicity Mayaworks returns all sales profits to fund scholarships,  training programs and provides micro-credit to the artisans and their families. I bought 3 beaded fish key chains. At that time, I did not know that you had preached about the loaves and fishes. I thought it was the parable of the talents. I used two key chains to give to participants in a seminar session I co-taught. Martha heard about that and was pleased. I gave the third to Virginia who collects key chains. The key chains were $6.95 each. I took an envelope last Sunday; it contained $10. I asked my Sunday school class what they thought of my actions; they thought they were appropriate particularly since I had been drawn to the fish.

Living a Better Story: Pat's Story

After receiving my envelope containing $5.00, I decided to invest it in a Walk for Alzheimers on a team from Jackson Meadow.  That $5.00, along with the $15.00 from John and Bobbie and $10.00 from Harrell, increased to $140.00.  The original $5.00 inspired me to solicit for the Walk that I otherwise would not have done.  Several factors influenced my decision to do this:  several friends and some loved ones have been afflicted with Alzheimers; I'm impressed with the three point objective of the organization--education, support and research; lastly, our beloved administrator, recently deceased was on the Board and her goal for this year was to have a team of 5 walkers from the Meadow, raising $500.00; we had 14 walkers who raised $700.00 today, October 2 at Pringle. Park.  With one in eight persons over age 65 suffering from Alzheimers, I feel that maybe I did make a difference in someones' life by getting involved today.     

Living a Better Story: Betty's Story

I received $10 in my Living a Better Story envelope.  I knew that I wanted to use the money to support the New Southern Food Pantry.   I used the money to purchase baking goods and made pies and cakes.  I was able to sell the baked goods for $114.  The money will be used to purchase food for the food pantry.  I am thankful I had this opportunity to do God’s work to help others.

Living a Better Story: Joel & Kitty's Story

Our family collectively received $25 on our Live a Better Story Sunday. We had no difficulty deciding on a ministry to support. We chose Operation Hope, a marvelous before-and-after-school program for disadvantaged children in Jackson. We did have difficulty deciding on a way to increase the money we had received. But after several days, we came up with a plan.

We purchased baking items and nice wrapping paper, baked chocholate chip cookie bars for several days, and wrapped huge cookie bars in nice foil wrapping. Then we went to a Lambuth soccer game and sold the bars to the spectators. We had only about two left after a half-hour of selling.

Just yesterday (October 11) we brought a check for $75 to Operation Hope. We learned of new developments in their ministry and how they are taking real steps of faith to expand what they do. The director couldn't have been more enthused to receive the money. We left feeling that we had invested in a ministry that is truly making a difference in the name of Jesus Christ.

BTW - Lambuth won the soccer game.