Lamplighter Article

About a month ago, we finally reported back to Neighborhood Church about how we completed our Kingdom Assignments. It was so wonderful to hear the stories and see that the impact the assignment made is continuing to expand. I was asked to write an article for the Lamplighter, the Cooper Young newspaper, to share about the assignment and it came out this week. The article has Mandy's name as the author, but I did indeed write it:)

Enjoy!

[Coming soon is an update on Scott and Debbi and the stories that I didn't cover in the article.]


The $100 Challenge

On a cold January night, ten people at Neighborhood Church were each given $100 and an assignment. They were instructed to manage, multiply, and invest the money in some way that advances God's Kingdom in the world. And they were to report back in three months. Pastor of the church and Philadelphia Avenue resident Robert Grisham had heard about other churches undertaking a similar challenge as they studied the Parable of the Ten Minas (or Parable of the Talents), so during his sermon series on "God's Economy", he asked these ten people to be creative and follow God's lead in serving others with the money. In the parable, a group of servants is given an amount of money to steward. Some invest and multiply their gifts while others hoard it away. In the end, those who invested and multiplied were rewarded abundantly, but those who had essentially stashed it under the mattress had it taken away. So, the question was, how would members of Neighborhood Church do with the same challenge?

Nelson Avenue resident Josh Spickler, a lawyer, knew from experience in the public defender's office that the minimum bond to get a person released from jail is $100. And more importantly, he knew that if no one had shown up with that small sum to get you released, you were truly at rock bottom. Using his knowledge of the court system and his professional skills he chose to use his money to bond out a complete stranger who'd been sitting at 201 Poplar for a little too long on a minor charge. Josh's plan was to represent the person in court and engage them in a relational way to help them get back on their feet. Because of Josh's deft legal wrangling, the man was actually released without having to pay the bond. Although he ended up spending the money on a charity instead of on his client, the $100 challenge inspired this Neighborhood Church member to reach out and help someone no one else would.

Virginia Boyd used her money on supplies for crafts to sell at a bake sale her company was hosting. After advertising that the funds raised were going to help some families she had met volunteering with Idlewild Presbyterian's More Than A Meal, some of her coworkers donated their own crafts to sell. Not only was Virginia was able to triple her money, but she also engaged her coworkers in helping beyond the craft sale. Together, they gathered donations of laundry detergent and researched organizations that could help the families further. Some of her coworkers even became interested in volunteering at More Than A Meal.

Not everyone decided to go it alone. Kristi Vickers and Paula Peyton, two friends who work together at a photography studio, decided to continue their relationship with a shelter for victims of domestic violence for which the studio had conducted donation drives in the past. Instead of having a traditional drive, this time they wanted to do something personal for the families at the shelter. Kristi and Paula invited them to come be photographed at the studio. They visited with a few mothers and their children and not only took their photographs, but also gave each child an Easter basket overflowing with goodies. While most of the $100 went toward treats for the Easter baskets, it was clear that having a family portrait was the most valuable part of this ministry for the moms that were served.

Not all of the money stayed in the Memphis area, though. A few people were led to use their money to reach across the world. Amy Smith put up her money for a small business loan in Afghanistan through Kiva (www.kiva.org). Kiva connects individual lenders with low income people across the world who need a small loan to start or improve their business. The loans, which have an extraordinarily high repayment rate, are typically repaid within a year, meaning that Amy will be able to continue to use her Kingdom Assignment money to invest for years to come.

Everyone was amazed by the unique and wonderful ways this assignment enabled them to give. The most important part of each of the ten stories was not the money, but the relationships that were built and strengthened because people stepped out to help. Some of the money was invested in neighbors and organizations right here in Midtown and some was sent across the world to India, Lebanon, Afghanistan, and China. Some people invested in old relationships and some in brand new. Some people used their skills and talents and others invested in other people. Some people know exactly what their money helped to do and others have entrusted someone else to use the money. Though each aspect of the giving process was different, one thing was the same - everyone was changed and challenged to do more with their resources of time, talents, and money after this experience. They hope their experiences encourage the entire community to give what they have to share.

Scott and Debbi

I keep referring to this couple that I met through volunteering at More than a Meal. I should have used their names all along because our stories are just beginning to be intertwined. God has blessed me tremendously through the time we have spent together. I met them last summer when I started volunteering, and found common ground because Debbi and I were both pursuing jobs at that time. They didn't show up for about two months, and I had no idea why or how to get in touch with them.

When they came one week in October or November, we picked right back up and they were surprised I knew exactly how many weeks it had been since I had seen them, and they rejoiced with me in that I had gotten my job with Kele. We exchanged phone numbers in case I heard of any job openings Debbi might be qualified for. That day they also shared with me that times were so hard that their utilities had been turned off. I did some research to see if their health problems might enable them to get help with their utilities and called them with the information, but then probably 6-8 weeks passed that I didn't hear from them or see them at More than A Meal.

In early January the temperatures got down into the single digits and teens for an extended period of time, so the government and utility company turned utilities back on to try to help save lives. In one day 3 people died because it was so cold, so the government stepped up to stop that number from growing. At this point I called the number Scott and Debbi had given me to check on them and make sure they had their utilities turned back on. I left a message, and the next day Scott called me back from a different number. He told me that they had run out of minutes, but he was calling me from work. I was elated that he had a job, and glad to hear they had utilities. He is working for a company he worked for years ago as a technician for copy machines and they have taken good care of him. Their truck had died, so the company has been giving him a ride to a from work. He was just working as a contract employee, but that enabled them to pay on their utility bill, so their utilities would not have to be turned back off.

I finally talked with Debbi the next week once she had gotten a new phone with minutes, and I offered to come and pick her up and take her to lunch on a Saturday so we could catch up a little bit. I also offered to pick them both up on my way to More than A Meal, since their lack of transportation was stopping them from getting there. I got to treat them to Back Yard Burgers and take them to the Grocery Store that Saturday where they could get everything they needed since we had my car to load up with their groceries.

I have learned so much about them during these little trips in my car the last few weeks. Debbi lived in England and Germany while her dad was in the military, and although they have known each other for 30 years, they have only been married for 5. Scott loved her all along and just waited as she dated around and even married another man.

I'm still overflowing with joy over my time with them last week. I went to pick them up, and Debbi was alone. She got in my car and I asked, "Where's Scott?" thinking he was running late from work and we could wait on him. She handed me two chocolates with the name of the company he works for on them and said, "Scott is now a full time permanent employee!" Woohoo! I told her we needed to celebrate with ice cream. So, we stopped for some ice cream on the way home, and although I had many things to do to prepare for the Bake Sale the next day, I could NOT pass up celebrating with them.

While we were eating our ice cream, Scott suggested that Debbi get me to look over her resume that she is taking to a job fair next week. I was able to look over it and give her some helpful tips that I have learned through my long job search process, and I can't stop thanking God for the opportunity to help her in that way.

All Part of the Family

I am so thankful this week. Tuesday I got a phone call from a couple I became friends with when I started volunteering at More than a Meal last summer. It was filled with good news: he has a job that will become permanent next week and they have their utilities turned back on permanently because now they can pay on their bill [since he has a job]. The reason they haven't been at More than A Meal in awhile is their truck engine blew up, and I started this week giving them a ride to More than A Meal.

I'm also so thankful and excited about how much potential there is for my Kingdom Assignment money to be multiplied. I am going to use some of the money to buy supplies to make some crafts to sell. I'm going to make some more letters like I made for the prisoners in December, and some out of clay at the pottery studio. I'm also making some hearts for Valentine's Day since I am going to be able to sell some at the Bake Sale they have at work for Valentine's Day. The really cool part is that I have gotten one offer and leads to more from other crafty people who are willing to donate some of their goods to be sold for my Kingdom Assignment as well!

I will be looking for other opportunities to sell them, so if you are interested please let me know. I can do custom orders for specific letters and colors, so think of people who are getting married or having a new baby, or a friend or family member with a birthday coming up!

The title of this post refers to something my friend Robert said at our table at More than A Meal this week. [Robert is the man who told me he would buy school clothes and supplies last week.] In the last month or two I have started eating with the table I serve and last night Robert had saved me a seat and called me part of the family. The awesome part is that most of the people at the table are not related by our own blood, but certainly by the blood of Christ.

A Round of Applause for God

Last night at More than a Meal, Earle welcomed everyone, made annoucements, and asked for a round of applause to thank the people who make the meal possible. First the cooks, then the volunteers/servers, and then someone from the crowd yelled, "And an applause for God." I got goosebumps when the crowd roared loudest for that last request.

That is just one of the reasons I love More than A Meal, that you can never know what to expect.

I also asked a few people what they would do if someone gave them $100 dollars.

• The first person I asked is a man who always comes with two boys who I don't believe are his biological children. I intentionally serve his table every week, so we have a built a friendship. He thought for a second and then he said, "I'd buy some school clothes, and some school supplies. And if I had any left over I'd get some new shoes from the thrift store." Then he inquired why I was asking and just told him someone had asked me recently and I was wondering how other people would answer. Then he said, "Well you would probably put it in the bank because you can do that." I was surprised that was his perspective of me and knew he was right. I didn't feel like I was being judged, but I wanted so badly to be able to relate to him. But instead, I felt like we were worlds apart at that moment.
• The next man I asked said, "I'd buy some gasoline, and then I'd pay some of my bills."
• Another man said, "I'd get somethin' for my baby for Valenine's Day." To which I replied, "How old is your baby?" And the whole group chuckled at me. Then I realized he was talking about his significant other and not his child.
• A lady sitting with that group said, "I'd give it away to someone who needed it."

More to come in the weeks to follow...