Benevolent Fund
As the church, we are called to be a beacon of hope and compassion to those around us. You all know that well; there are so many things we do in our church community to extend care and compassion into the communities we serve. We’ve just come out of our annual stewardship campaign, where we have been able to read and hear about many of the meaningful expressions of ministry that are faithfully offered by our church community.
Today, however, I’m writing about another important part of the support we offer as the church, our Benevolent Fund. This fund exists to provide temporary financial assistance to individuals and families facing unexpected hardships. It is a designated fund that is not supported by annual operational budgets or stewardship campaigns or fundraising events. It works behind the scenes for situations outside our regular ministries. Whether it's helping a single parent pay an overdue utility bill, providing groceries for a struggling family, or covering transportation costs for someone needing to get to a job interview, the Benevolent Fund allows us to extend support in tangible, meaningful ways when other options are unavailable.
Because the Benevolent Fund is largely behind the scenes, it doesn’t really get the attention it ought to, especially considering how many people the church has been able to serve over the years through it. People facing unforeseen circumstances. People at their most vulnerable. And yet I write this knowing that, for many of you, you may be learning about the Benevolent Fund for the first time in reading this.
Here’s the reality: the need is great, and it’s growing. We don’t need to look to far at our world around us to see the truth of this. Every week, people from our congregation and community turn to the church during times of crisis. While we cannot always solve every problem, we can ease burdens and provide relief in moments of acute stress. The ministers of the church have managed to make effective use of every dollar in the Benevolent Fund for numerous years based off faithful stewardship and the generosity of donors. We have sustained the Benevolent Fund largely through a small number of substantial donations that we have received in years past and trying to stretch those donations across multiple years.
Now, the Benevolent Fund is nearly empty.
This season, as we fire up our Hamper program and look to the season of giving, I’m asking you to consider a one-time donation to the Benevolent Fund. Your generosity will enable us to respond with grace and practical support to those who reach out during their most vulnerable moments.
Imagine the difference we can make together:
A family kept warm during the winter because their shortfall could be covered to pay their heating bill.
An elderly neighbor able to afford their medication, or to have safe transportation to a medical appointment.
A child with food on their plate because the grocery budget stretched just a little further through a grocery gift card.
These are not just stories—they are lives touched and transformed by your giving. And they happen all the time, thanks to the availability of the Benevolent Fund to meet these needs when they arise. We are at risk of losing this vital piece of our ministry. I know times are tight for many folks, and the demands for giving around this time of year are substantial. I wouldn’t be making this request if I didn’t feel it was important. If you can give, it will make all the difference in the world to someone who sorely needs it.
Contributing is simple. You can include your donation in the offering plate (please label it “Benevolent Fund”), donate through our church’s website, or drop off a gift at the church office. No amount is too small; every contribution matters.
Thank you for your faithful support and generosity.
To make a donation, please visit the donation page.