Everyone likes their birthday, except for the people who think they're old. Birthdays are a time to celebrate life. What's the purpose of life anyway? People turn to religion with that question. Our Presbyterian Westminster shorter catechism asks and answers the following:
Q. 1. What is the chief end of man?
A. Man's chief end is to glorify God, [a] and to enjoy him for ever. [b]
- [a]. Ps. 86:9; Isa. 60:21; Rom. 11:36; I Cor. 6:20; 10:31; Rev. 4:11
- [b]. Ps. 16:5-11; 144:15; Isa. 12:2; Luke 2:10; Phil. 4:4; Rev. 21:3-4
I am brainstorming how to glorify God at my birthday.
One simple way through Second Presbyterian of Little Rock is the Birthday Fund when they ask you to donate a dollar for every year you've had a birthday to support the church's endowment fund. The endowment supports missions and ministries both within and outside the church walls. In fact 25% of the church's budget every year is sent to ministries outside the church walls. They're pretty popular among the non-profits in town as a grant source.
What a neat idea: churches using their financial power to build up the communities around them. Maybe we can learn from that.
For those of you who thought about sending me a card, or a facebook post, or maybe even a present I want to challenge you to glorify God with a gift toward his work in honor of my birthday this weekend! Please consider the following.
1. Watch the video on this page: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoEBr65YZ4Q
2. Donate the dollar amount of your age or One Day's Wages to an organization you trust to fight extreme global poverty or local poverty in your area. See below if you need ideas.
One Day's Wages for me as a YAV is about $12.30 ($270 per month with approx 22 workdays per month excluding weekends)
My $25 donation to the church's birthday fund is actually close to two days wages....
"The Earth is the Lord's and ALL that is in it" God gives us blessings and asks us to go and do likewise.
For my birthday please consider donating to one of these organizations, or to another organization toward building a better world, or building the kingdom of Heaven on Earth. I really would appreciate that much more than a facebook message!
Ideas on who to donate to:
1. Thistle Farms--This Episcopal ministry in Nashville, TN offers a safe community, training, and employment making soaps and beauty products for women released from prison after serving for drug addiction and prostitution. Buying from them or donating helps go toward a holistic sustainable community solution and shows how the power of love can make a difference
2. World Relief https://worldrelief.org/donate A former BFJN supervisor Ryan now works with World Relief connecting donors to the projects where money is helping those with most need. Ryan taught me about generosity and One Days Wages and World Relief is involved with some of the world's most vulnerable populations
3. Catholic Relief Services--Another former YAV supervisor Maggie now works for Catholic Relief in Jordan working to build infrastructure and education for public health issues. Maggie taught me 93% of what I know about food justice.
4. Presbyterian Disaster Assistance--This group is active in long term recovery after disaster. They send kits with supplies to people in need and they are a partner here at Ferncliff
5. Little Rock Young Adult Volunteer Program--That's who I work for and I am almost to my fundraising goal. Please send a check made out to Ferncliff with YAV-Alex Haney in the memo line to 1720 Ferncliff Road, Little Rock AR 72223.
I also trust the following organizations with my donations every so often: They are working toward sustainable solutions to problems beyond just immediate needs. I have a total of 14 listed because my birthday is the 14th.
In Virginia:
Voluteer Farm in Woodstock, VA --Volunteer labor runs a farm that donates all food to the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank in Verona for local families in need.
In Little Rock:
Our House Shelter--A temporary shelter for families in transitional housing situations
El Zocalo Center--A local immigrant support group helping me learn Spanish for an upcoming mission trip
Stewpot--A local meals shelter and clothes closet serving lunch everyday
Interfaith Power and Light--Working toward bringing sustainability and long term planning on environmental issues into church congregations.
National and International:
Habitat for Humanity--Helping people help themselves build their house and learn personal finance skills
Presbyterian Mission Agency's Self Development of People--investing in people to achieve their own personal goals and not telling them how to live
Bread for the World--national ecumenical advocacy organization for food policy in the US
Heifer International--Using Agriculture and education to help people pull themselves out of poverty
Who have I left out? Who would you give to?
