going ti fix our church up
By suspenseful
@suspenseful (40192)
Canada
February 1, 2009 2:06pm CST
We are finally going to fix our church up. We have been talking about it for some time, and we do need to do something. We have no wheelchair access, not enough washroom space, and there are the minor repairs, our furnace makes such a loud noise that no one can hear each other speak, and with the members increasing, our present building is not big enough and there is not enough room when we have major events so they all go to the other church in our denomination that is much bigger and more modern. So now we have to get the money together. Now I am the only one in my family who goes to church, and I just get a pension so I will be unable to pay for that much. It is considered a charitable deduction so that makes it easier. Only the project will take five years. A couple of the ladies have been talking about making sacrifices, and that got me thinking, I am already saving for a trip to the States, and I could reduce the money I set aside for that and perhaps put in $10 a month or so. One of the other ladies talked about giving up vacation for the next five years.
So if there was a project what would you give up to make it happen or would you feel bad if you could not put in as much,would you feel resentful that you were asked to do so when times were tough, would you feel glad that you were even to help in a little way. or would you feel guilty whenever you bought something for yourself and thought "I should have contributed more?"
3 people like this
12 responses
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
5 Feb 09
Neither would I. I am not the type of person who believes that the reason you get a request for donations is because you took that trip to someplace or bought that nice pair of leather shoes. I used to think that way that God said "aha A- went and bought herself a grand new Tv, let ME see how I could make her feel guilty," but not anymore. I do not think that has anything to do with requests. It just happens and besides I have a budget.
1 person likes this
@Yestheypayme2dothis (7874)
• United States
2 Feb 09
I don't know the ladies of your church so when one says she will give up vacation for the next five years, I don't know if she will really do that or if she is trying to get other people to make big sacrifices. I would not allow what they do to influence me. What I sacrifice will be based on what I have. You may have an incredible honest congregation and it may not change things for the people in a bad way. Unfortunately, in the USA, I see so much crookedness in churches today that it has made me stick to giving what I can. What I would do, and you get a lot of money this way.....use coupons for my groceries and whatever money I save from using them, I would donate. And I would not feel guilty and think I need to do more. I give back to God in community service so when give back to Him, it is not just through what I give to he church.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
2 Feb 09
I am the person who figures that they can still give and still not have to give up things like vacations. I tend to shop for bargains anyway. It is different if someone always paid full price for everything and only bought the best, then they will have to make sacrifices. Also many of our church have relatives in the Netherlands, and they are always going there every two years or so, so I guess that would impact them, but I could not afford to see my relatives in the Ukraine or in England.
$10 a month is what I can afford. I do not want to give more and wind up feeling resentful. If I give that much and maybe later on, can give extra then I will.
@Yestheypayme2dothis (7874)
• United States
2 Feb 09
That sounds like an excellent way to handle it, too.
1 person likes this
@Polly1 (12644)
• United States
1 Feb 09
Times are tough right now, there is no need to feel guilty for not giving more then what you can. you still have to live. Hopefully your church will have fundraisers to help with the cost. You have enough on your shoulders to handle right now, you don't have to put this on your shoulders too. That will work itself out, just give what you can and also keep saving for your trip.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
2 Feb 09
We plan to have fund raisers. It is just that we are in a working class middle class neighborhood and no one has that much money. I want to give a bit, but I am afraid I cannot give as much as expected.
@GardenGerty (169448)
• United States
1 Feb 09
We committed five years ago to putting a little bit in a campaign for church improvement. I do not mind doing it. I like to give. Times were tough for awhile, and we could not honor what we had said we would, but we are now, and we will fulfill the total pledge. If you are going to resent it, you might as well not do it. The Lord loves a cheerful giver. I also do not thing God wants you to feel guilty. He just wants you to do whatever it is you said you would do.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
6 Feb 09
I am worried, not that I cannot do it but what if my husband gets worse, and gets into a wheelchair? I do not want to move out of the area. That is the only thing, I do not mind giving. In fact I wish I could do more.
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
14 Feb 09
So am I. I can only afford so much and I do not want to give up what I need to get. There is only so much that one can do, and if I give a whole lot then I would be resentful and I do not want to be that way. AS it is, I had to get somethings that I needed.
@suzzy3 (8341)
•
2 Feb 09
There is no way you giving up your trips is going to be enough to do up your church ,as you say the rest of the family don't go anyway so I cannot really see them going without for a church.I know it means a lot to you but you are going to need thousands of dollars for what you need doing,what I would do is go to the other church and wait for a sponsor with that type of money to come forward.You could give them everypenny you had and it could take years to put the church right and even then you cannot guarantee it will be done,you have sacrificed everything ,not had a life and the church still not done,I do admire you wanting to help.The fact of the matter is you are not a millionaire ,there is another church you go to anyway,and in this day and age it is unfair to expect pensioners to pay extra out of their income,and no I would not feel guilty.Start jumble sales and cake sales ect to raise funds.There are plenty of shops and offices who would benifit from having their names all over the building site,it is not the type of project that pensioners should have to pay for,there is a credit crunch on and priorites are yourself and your health.
1 person likes this
@slickcut (8140)
• United States
2 Feb 09
I do not think you should give up your savings that you are saving for your vacation....I would give only what i could do and be comfortable with...Don't feel guilty about anything, you are NOT being selfish....God only wants you to do what you are happy with....There are others there...If this one lady wants to give up all her vacations then thats HER, but that does not mean you have too...Just set aside what you can without doing without.The Bible says Charity begans at HOME...I do understand you want to help and you can but you do NOT have to change your life around in order to do it......There are other ways of helping beside giving money...If they want to raise money by selling dinners for instance, then you can help by cooking something or helping sell the dinners...You can give "YOUR TIME" and that is also a way of giving....Don't let anyone make you feel guilty....God knows your heart...
1 person likes this
@terri0824 (5203)
• United States
3 Feb 09
There are many different ways to contribute other than monetarily. Service of your time is also a very good way too contribute. So I don't think one should feel guilty if they aren't giving up something in order to contribute monetarily as long as they are contributing in another way or fashion.
Where I go to church we built a new addition to our church. Though I didn't contribute monetarily. I did help out wherever I could be of help. Including helping with fund raisers to raise the funds needed.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31633)
• United States
1 Feb 09
Church is very important to you, so you do as much as you want to. I think $10 a month is a goodly amount for someone who is on a pension and if everyone gave at least that much you wouldn't have much trouble saving for and getting those things done. Remember the story about the widow's mite and how it was more valuable than the small contributions from the wealthy people?
Have you thought about approaching a furnace company and asking them to donate part of a furnace or the labor for a tax write-off? Or do charitable contributions work that way there? Here, we can deduct everything we donate to churches or charities.
I would not feel guilty about getting something for myself. I don't think God requires us to live like paupers in order to show our love for him. He wants us to enjoy life within the moral boundaries that are set for us.
1 person likes this
@cynthiann (18612)
• Jamaica
2 Feb 09
don't beat yourself up on this. You can only give what you can give.what I do to make extra is to bake cookies and sell after church. You could get a group of ladies to do this and you would be surprised at how much money is made. You could just buy a cookie mix and add a few extra things to it - nuts or chocolate etc. God doesn't expect you to do more than you can and I am sure that you need that vacation. I wouldn't feel resentful, I would try to do something extra - like making cookies for sale. Blessings
1 person likes this
@catabianca (142)
• Tunisia
2 Feb 09
Good done, good charity, I would like to contribuate, I have 50$ in my paypal, message me on how to donate for your church! Thanks!
1 person likes this
