Hey everybody,
What an incredible weekend we just had at Believers! Nearly 800 people from our church and community attended the Believers Theater production of It’s a Wonderful Life. The production was phenomenal, and the warmth and hospitality shown to our community were nothing short of inspiring. Thank you to everyone who attended, invited friends, and served to make this weekend so memorable.
As many of you know, a pivotal part of George Bailey’s story involves him experiencing what life would have been like had he never been born. Clarence, his guardian angel, shows him the ripple effects of his absence—and spoiler alert—things were worse without him. This thought-provoking storyline highlights something we often underestimate: the profound impact of our lives on others.
Now, think about your life. How would things be different if you weren’t here? How many lives have you touched through your kindness, friendship, or support? Like George, you might be surprised to realize just how much your presence matters.
This same idea can be applied to The Gift, our generosity initiative. Imagine what wouldn’t happen if The Gift weren’t funded this year. Right now, we’ve reached 25% of our $100,000 goal, which means we need $75,000 more to meet it. Let’s consider what’s at stake:
Displaced students in our partner schools might not receive the food they need to make it through weekends or Spring Break.
Communities in western North Carolina recovering from Hurricane Helene might not receive meals or essential assistance.
Students might miss out on the life-changing experience of camp, where they can encounter Jesus.
Over the years, The Gift has been a source of hope and transformation for countless people. Last year alone, your generosity provided 60,000 meals to a developing nation, fed hungry families, and helped students grow in their faith through camp experiences.
Closer to home, we partnered with schools in Suffolk, and the impact has been incredible. One school shared how they used their Gift funds:
“Last year we used $1,301.02 for Teacher appreciation gifts. We also spent $675.92 for a staff meal during Teacher appreciation week. We saved $5,522.06 and plan to use it for a staff engagement event in December. We also plan to host a Hot Chocolate Bar or Candy Bar during spirit days this month. Your generosity made this possible, and we’d love for a few people from your church to join us in some of these activities. We tried to conserve the money to use this year too because we didn't think we would be getting any more. :)”
How amazing is that? A whole team of teachers feels seen, valued, and loved because of a group of Jesus-loving people at Believers contributed to The Gift.
This year, our goal is for 100% participation. If you consider Believers to be your spiritual home, we invite you to invest in The Gift. Every dollar – given above and beyond your regular giving – will make a tangible difference. What’s more, 100% of the $100,000 will go to fund the initiatives outlined in last week’s Outlet article or our message from December 1st. You can give online at any time throughout the month of December, just be sure to designate “The Gift” in the online dropdown menu. You can also give at any of our Sunday services, or our Christmas Eve services on December 24that 4:00 pm and 5:30 pm. We encourage families to prayerfully consider how they can create room for generosity in their budgets this holiday season.
Together, we can continue making a lasting impact – here and around the world. Let’s make this The Gift that keeps on giving! I look forward to seeing you THIS Sunday as we continue our series, It’s a Wonderful Life!
Blessings,
Pastor Jamey