The Reporter story about the "Grassroots Effort" in support of LCMS World Mission by Paula Schlueter Ross can be found Here! The effort began with a single e-mail prompted by the Board for Mission Services releasing nearly one-third of its St. Louis staff...the second such "in-house" cut within a year. The Board also had to eliminate 28 overseas missionary positions.
Continuing e-mails, articles, items in newsletters and church bulletins have resulted in gifts, as of the end of April, totaling $89,194.00. This total does not include gifts that may have been prompted by the Grassroots Efort, but were not specifically earmarked for it.
Some amusing notes and stories have accompanied gifts. Some are inspiring. We told some of the stories the last four weeks here in our "Stories to Inspire." Here are some more.
A generous soul in Fremont, California, read about the effort in a publication from her church. The following Sunday she counted up the people attending worship and sent her personal check representing one dollar for each and every one of them!
The 25 members of a friendship club in New Orleans each contributed a dollar and sent their check for $25 in behalf of the "Grassroots Effort." A woman in New Jersey photocopied the article from the Reporter and attached a check for $300.
A congregation in Texas sends a portion of all their offerings in Lent to some special project every year. This year their check for $378.50 was earmarked for the "Grassroots Effott."
A very small but very generous congregation in Minnesota liked the idea of sending $1.00 per communicant member. They decided to have a special offering to help raise the $52 for 52 communicant members. They sent in $83.00!
A congregation in Wyoming shared the news about the offering on Easter day. They decided to take a special offering and sent in $325.00 as a result.
Until further notice, all gifts to the project "Where LCMS World Mission needs it most" on the Giving Catalog will be counted toward the grassroots effort. You can click on the words Giving Catalog and make your gift right now!