By Vickie Crabtree of Hot Springs, Arkansas, USA 

For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.

(shared as part of the International Leaders Meeting, June 2025)

Our congregation collects quarters for birthdays and anniversaries. We have a tall tube next to the podium and if someone has a birthday, they are encouraged to put quarters in the tube. Some people put the number of quarters that represent their age or how many years they have been married in the tube. But the number of quarters is up to them; it is not required. It is a fun way to recognize a special day and raise funds for a good cause.

One year, we had collected quite a bit of money in the quarter fund. Our outreach leader, Brandon, decided we needed to do something special with such a large amount. He learned of a school in Africa that needed a water well. If the school had a water well, the whole village could access clean water instead of walking several miles each day to a river to get their water.

Our money was substantial but still not enough to build a freshwater well. A generous member matched our donations and helped us raise the $10,000 needed to build the well. Builders of the well sent pictures to us as the digging progressed. We celebrated with the village when the well was complete.

Our generosity had provided a basic need for many years to come. We were thankful we could help in this way.

Prayer Phrase

“For in him all things…were created…” (Colossians 1:16).

The International Community

Find (or imagine) a globe or map of the world. Look at all the nations and find a country other than your own. Notice the geographic distance between your homeland and this one. Picture a person living there. Pray for this person. Sense God’s love connecting you just as the oceans connect the continents. Thank God for the spiritual connection you have with all of God’s people around the globe. Ask a blessing on the church as a community sharing Christ’s peace, drawing all into the family of God.

Today’s Prayer for Peace

Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.