Purpose/Christmas Challenge

[unworthyservant]

8 hours ago, Debp said:

The problem is people do not like to give money to strangers on the internet.   Someone can say they are collecting money for charity but actually be a scammer.   Do you understand what I mean?   Since you don't represent an accredited charity but want to make your own trust and collect money, that is where the problem lies.   

I couldn't agree more. That's why I added in my query I mentioned that I would need a trustee or board that is above reproach. But I've been researching and people give all the time via GoFundMe to people or organizations with little or no actual credibility. I think the problem is more systemic. It's that people no longer give the way Christ taught us. Oh, they occasionally give to large non profit corporations that use most of the money for salaries and administrative costs but even that giving leaves a whole bunch of people in need. I don't know if you've noticed but you are the only one who even bothered to leave a reply here. The harvest is great and the laborers few still applies today. 

[shortangel]

I agree that Christians should cut down their spending on Christmas presents I do see what you are trying to say,  but that's kind of tricky asking people for money though because I do agree that there a lot of scammers on the net ,  I will pray for that

[JustPassingThru]

23 hours ago, unworthyservant said:

The whole concept is what I'll call a Christmas challenge. It's based on all the crazy challenges I see all over the internet these days only this challenge is for Christians everywhere to simply cut their spending by 1/3 this Christmas season and then give the difference to the poor and the needy (as Christ commanded anyway).

Or they could participate in Franklin Graham's, Operation Christmas Child, it's fun and involves the whole family, ...basically the family fills a shoe box with toys and goodies and wraps it in Christmas paper, then it's sent to, I believe, the Samaritan's Purse for distribution, it can be declared for local, United states or International giving.

https://www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/pack-a-shoe-box/

 

[unworthyservant]

The harvest is great and the laborers few. Plenty of folks who could use the support and not nearly enough stepping up to offer it.

[Debp]

23 minutes ago, unworthyservant said:

The harvest is great and the laborers few. Plenty of folks who could use the support and not nearly enough stepping up to offer it.

Christian Aid Mission in Virginia was established in 1953.   They funnel funds to poor ministries in poor countries and closed (Muslim) countries.   They help a variety of mission work.... evangelism, church planting, training, orphanages, lepers, relocating former Muslims, evangelism to Muslims, supporting widows, etc.

Christian Aid Mission sends all funds to the ministries you choose to support.   Very little money is spent on administration.   Only funds marked for administration go to that.

The above mission was founded in 1953 by a former American missionary who felt the poor native pastors needed our help.   All native ministries are thoroughly checked out.

They also have a Christmas program where you can buy chickens, ducks, a cow, etc, to help those in need in poor countries.

You could choose a country or type of ministry  (for example, orphans or lepers) to help.   Christian Aid Mission will then let you know what ministries  you might be interested in.    http://www.christianaid.org Maybe you can find some ministries to support through them, instead of setting up your own organization??   It's easy to donate and they handle all of the work involved.

[unworthyservant]

10 minutes ago, Debp said:

Christian Aid Mission in Virginia was established in 1953.   They funnel funds to poor ministries in poor countries and closed (Muslim) countries.   They help a variety of mission work.... evangelism, church planting, training, orphanages, lepers, relocating former Muslims, evangelism to Muslims, supporting widows, etc.

Christian Aid Mission sends all funds to the ministries you choose to support.   Very little money is spent on administration.   Only funds marked for administration go to that.

The above mission was founded in 1953 by a former American missionary who felt the poor native pastors needed our help.   All native ministries are thoroughly checked out.

They also have a Christmas program where you can buy chickens, ducks, a cow, etc, to help those in need in poor countries.

You could choose a country or type of ministry  (for example, orphans or lepers) to help.   Christian Aid Mission will then let you know what ministries  you might be interested in.    http://www.christianaid.org Maybe you can find some ministries to support through them, instead of setting up your own organization??   It's easy to donate and they handle all of the work involved.

As I believe I said in another post "The harvest is great and the laborers few. There are plenty of good organizations that could use lots of help. There's not enough Christians stepping up and digging deep enough to get the job done. The problem as I see it is to convince Christians that they should give more than they spend. I've been watching a documentary movie on modern consumerism and how we Americans spend trillions of dollars with companies who are taking advantage of underprivileged people (even children) by buying goods made in third world countries. And since 75% of Americans identify as Christian, then Christians must be spending a good chunk of that money. There's an old song that says "I gave, I gave my life for thee. What hast thou given for me?". Christ only actually told us to do a few things. Have faith! Repent! and Give! (in a nutshell). Give of our time, our talents and our MONEY to help those less fortunate than ourselves and I just find it kind of hypocritical that Western Christians (which is the only segment I know enough about to comment on) spend so much more on their friends and family at Christmas than on helping the poor.  So, before I worry about with whom to share money, I first have to figure out where that money is going to come from. I've actually got a couple more ideas of how to handle the logistics and how to garner support. I'll just have to trust God that somehow all will work out to His glory no matter how things may seem to go by anyone else's standards. (including my own)

[Debp]

6 minutes ago, unworthyservant said:

I just find it kind of hypocritical that Western Christians (which is the only segment I know enough about to comment on) spend so much more on their friends and family at Christmas than on helping the poor. 

Well, I guess some might be like that.   I don't have any family here except my mom, and I usually buy her some sock slippers or a box of candy.   She is homebound so she doesn't shop at all, so nothing for me!  That's ok.

I feel sorry for the brick maker children in India.   They start to work as very young children and work even 12 hours a day making bricks on the ground outside.   Their parents are impoverished and also make bricks molding the clay.   They are usually indebted to the brick "factory" owner so they are basically slaves.   It's a hard life.   Some ministries try to give them a little schooling.

[unworthyservant]

And there's a million more stories of poverty and suffering all over the world (including this great country of ours). I applaud you for your own rejection of the commercialization of Christmas but the numbers say that most Christians don't share the view and spend excessively. I just want to open the eyes of as many people as I can. I really worry that God is not happy with the way we celebrate the birth of Christ.

[Debp]

10 minutes ago, unworthyservant said:

And there's a million more stories of poverty and suffering all over the world (including this great country of ours). I applaud you for your own rejection of the commercialization of Christmas but the numbers say that most Christians don't share the view and spend excessively. I just want to open the eyes of as many people as I can. I really worry that God is not happy with the way we celebrate the birth of Christ.

Personally I am a budgeter year-round. We have very high rents here so I try to budget.   But when I do need a gift for when we visit someone, I look for some candy, cookies or even something on sale.   It's the thought that counts.   

[unworthyservant]

20 minutes ago, Godismyloveforever said:

This is the only reason why you joined this site?

. . 

Didn't mean to say that. It was the search for like minded people that brought me here and when I saw that there seems to be a lot of good folks here, I chose this platform to put out some feelers but if you'll notice I've also been actively participating in topics and even posting my own that are totally unrelated to this particular mission. So in short I was on a mission and God led me here. I've enjoyed the conversation and while I'm still not sure if I know the reason that God led me here, I'm enjoying the conversation while I wait on God to show me His purpose.

Edited August 18, 2019 by unworthyservant
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