By Ben Byrne of Lee’s Summit, Missouri USA
They are ever giving liberally and lending, and their children become a blessing.
[Adapted from Witness the Word DGR series]
On January 6, 2015, I had to undergo reconstructive spinal surgery to correct three breaks in my lumbar vertebrae. Because of this procedure, I could no longer perform my job as an industrial electrician. I went back to college to become a science teacher. However, the transition between careers took a great financial toll on my family. During this time, I was offered an amazing and fulfilling position as an outreach minister with Central Mission Center. Even with this new position, our family still needed to make financial sacrifices. Unfortunately, our ability to give financially to our faith community quickly faded. But our ability to generously share was made a reality once more because of a simple copper wire tree.
During the time I worked as an electrician, a woman I met on a construction site while traveling across the country taught me the skill of making [crafted] trees from copper wire. We would make these trees and raffle them off on job sites to help raise money for people on the job who had fallen sick and needed financial assistance. So, I began making them again and selling them to raise money for world mission tithes and the Abolish Poverty, End Suffering Mission Initiative. Because of the positive response, my wife and kids were able to join in, and we worked together as a family to make and distribute these trees to homes all over the United States.
We are such unique and talented people with so many gifts to share. It only makes sense that we put those talents and gifts to work, so let’s get creative! How can we, as Community of Christ, use our gifts to benefit others? How can we use our time and talents to, like these trees I continue to make, give to the communities surrounding us?
Community of Christ, we are all called into Christ’s mission! There are so many amazing people out there waiting for their invitation to the table and it just might be your gift or your invitation which makes the difference and changes a life. This is why it’s so important to do our best to share generously with both local and world mission tithes which support Christ’s mission equally.
So, remember, Christ’s mission IS our mission. Let’s get to work!
Prayer Phrase
“…do good and share what you have” (Hebrews 13:16).
Enough and to Spare
Take three slow, deep breaths. As you inhale, silently say, “There is enough.” As you exhale, say, “And more to share.” Then name aloud or write down three ways you already experience God’s generosity in your life—big or small. End by asking, “How can I share from what I’ve been given today?”
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.