How Generosity Inspires Giving: Reflections after October Home Dedication

Last Sunday evening a family walked into their new home for the first time. Ladies from our church were stationed in each room that they helped decorate. The family of four had been with us in their front yard for a dedication service of hymns, prayers, Scripture reading, and testimonies. Our U.S. Representative added words of encouragement for the work our church has been doing in the recovery efforts from the devastating tornadoes of April 27, 2011.
When the family entered their new home, there were already tears running down their faces. They were greeted with the warm words, “Welcome home.” The father spoke of the family’s shock and hurt after losing their home to the tornado. Their next door neighbors, members of our church, were killed in the storm. He also spoke about the healing work of helping our church members and many other volunteers work on building his new home. He mentioned the changes that have occurred in the life of his family. They have a new sense of humility and they have found a renewal in their faith in God and in neighbors. He said he had also found a spiritual home. His life and the lives of his wife and two children have been changed. What was terrible and wrong about the storm is now overshadowed by the love and generosity of our church and our partners who have been willing to make a difference.
The Patterson Foundation was catalytic in this story and in others like it through its generous grant of $50,000 to the First Baptist Church of Williams. To date, the church has provided six homes, three mobile homes with additions and three 1,142 square foot houses, to families affected by the historic tornadoes of April 27. Four more houses are in various stages of construction now.
The investment of charitable giving is a matter that should require a lot of time and thought. I have seen money come into my community from well-meaning givers, however it has had little accountability or impact. The gifts to our church continue to impact lives in a way that is bringing transformation and change.
The people we are helping are primarily those dealing with issues related to rural poverty. They have lived in our area for generations. Some of them lived in substandard housing before the storm. Most affected by the storm are living in borrowed campers with little or no financial resources to build a house or even to purchase a mobile home. For around $50,000, our church is building houses, furnishing them, and giving them to the neediest of our community debt-free. The storm was terrible and the scars on our land and hearts will remain forever. However, we believe that some people are finding the chance to have a new start in life. The gift from The Patterson Foundation is one of the ways this happens.
As a financial investment, you would have a hard time finding a better way to spend your money. The investment of $50,000 is necessary for the homes we build. On the day it is dedicated and given to the family, it is appraised at nearly $120,000. Think of that. What other investment could you make and get that kind of rate of return? But there is more. Since we used the money on more than one home, we were able to approach others to help donate to complete the project. For example, we could approach donors and mention that we already had $20,000 given for the project. They were then given the opportunity to help match that gift. In addition, the money was used at local vendors for building materials and the local vendor whom we knew gave us discounts of 10-15% on the materials. Talk about leveraging your charitable investment! A cycle of poverty was impacted by a cycle of generosity that was sparked by groups like The Patterson Foundation.
I understand that knowing your money was spent well matters to all givers. Our church has been wonderful stewards of the gifts entrusted to this. We formed a ministry corporation and have filed for 501 (c) 3 status. The monies are deposited in a separate checking account and we have separate bookkeepers who oversee the expenditures for each construction project. The accountability is solid. However, when it comes down to it, charitable giving comes from the hearts of people who have the ability to give and are generous enough to give it. They want their gift handled well and leveraged. Ultimately, though, most charitable givers want to make a difference. They want their gift to matter. They want tears running down the faces of families who have been given new lease in life. I am here to tell you, your gift matters. Lives are being impacted. The poor are given good homes; they are given new hope in life and second chance. Tears are running down their faces. And they get to hear the good news in their ears after a long dark night, “Welcome home.”