A Little Sacrifice Now…

…will lead to a big payoff later.

I know this principle applies in multiple areas – sports, education, leadership – but for us we’re applying to the Harvest and the reduction of debt at Western Hill. We’ve called for the church to spend the month of September in prayer – to seek God’s wisdom as to how each of us at WH needs to participate above our normal giving. October we’ll bring it all in.

As we sat around the Creative Team table this week, I was asked to share the decision we’ve made as a family concerning the Harvest with the rest of the church. Giving is one of those areas that I’m always nervous talking to people about. It’s like talking about politics…eventually you’re going to offend somebody.

However, I’m more convinced that the Church is capable of impacting and helping the culture like no other organization in history. We exist to help others in the name of Jesus. Because of the Church’s volunteers, we’re able to do so much more with so much less. I realize this isn’t true of every church and that some (some would argue most) churches exist only to perpetuate themselves. But that’s not true of WH and I think more and more churches are getting the big picture.

That’s why I’m not as bashful asking for money now days. I know how we are going to use it and it will go to helping people. We bought appliances for a single mom last week, we regularly give away grocery cards. We’re helping a local school, a Hispanic church, a Native American mission, and not to mention our Upward sports.

The point is, as long as we understand that getting rid of the debt in and of itself is not the point but ministry is – we’ll be okay. Anyway I can help people see that clearer – I’m all for. Even if it means a few minutes of uncomfortableness telling everyone how we’re giving.

So what are we doing? We’re giving up our weekly night out as a family. We normally grab a night at Qdoba – that money for the next months will go to the debt. Also Amy’s paycheck from working from the school – a sizeable portion of that will go towards the debt as well. Gary talked about how he and Nancy we’re reallocating some of their budget that had either been paid off or no longer needed to the debt.

And so we start. I’m looking forward to hear what God is saying to the rest of us.