Generosity Abounds: Calvary Receives a Gift of $175,000

Calvary recently received an extraordinary gift of $175,000 from Calvary members who saw an opportunity to make a special gift above and beyond their regular giving to support our ministry needs this year.

This unrestricted gift is an extraordinary act of generosity, but it doesn’t have to be out-of-the-ordinary! This gift inspires us all and reminds us that we, too, may have extra resources that could bless Calvary—money inherited from family; a company bonus; the sale of a car, boat, or home; or a gift made from assets during a particularly fruitful year.

The past few years we have put a substantial “faith line” in the income section of our operating budget. While this can feel a bit risky or worrisome, we include this line with the belief that God provides for Calvary’s ministry needs in unique and different ways each year. We cannot predict generosity or how the Spirit will move. We act on faith, planning for the ministry we believe God is calling us to, and we trust that our collective generosity will fund that ministry. This gift of $175K is a beautiful example of why we do not cut our budget at the beginning of the year just because we do not yet know where all of our income will come from. We never know how God is working in our community, or what unexpected gift we may receive. We live by faith.

While some years we meet the “faith line” through the combined extra gifts of many members, in this case, Calvary members who are alive and well saw an opportunity to share their blessings Here and Now—not after their death in a bequest or after a specific need was voiced in a “special ask” by the Senior Pastor. They gave because they had the ability to give and knew Calvary’s need. I believe this gift was of the Spirit’s leading, and I am deeply moved by the generosity of these beloved members, their commitment to and love for Calvary, their belief in the importance of our ministry in the world, and their faith and trust in God.

May we draw inspiration and hope from moments like these. What a gift to be a part of this church in this season—the Spirit of the Living God is alive and moving in our church and in the world, Calvary!

Praise God from whom all blessings flow…
- Pastor Anne