2022 Thanksgiving Offering
During this past Sunday’s message, I urged you all to give a special Thanksgiving Offering to the poor. Similar to last year, I want to suggest you all to give either (a) 1% of your annual income or (b) 10% of your annual expense for food, entertainment, travel, hobbies, and apparel.
It is important for us to make intentional efforts to share what God has abundantly blessed us with, that is, to “share [our] bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into [our] house; when [we] see the naked, to cover him” (Isaiah 58:7). It is good to remember the poor and pray for them, but the reality is that one-third of our world population is still living off a few dollars a day. My desire as a pastor is to train you to become not hearers of the word but doers of the word, that is, disciples of Jesus Christ who follow his teachings not with their lips or ears but with action. I believe that this is the time for us to stretch our faith and step outside our comfort zones. I will also give 1% of my annual income as a special Thanksgiving offering to the poor as well.
Every dollar that we collect will be set aside in a separate account and used solely to support those in need. Because of your Thanksgiving Offering to the poor last year, we were able to support refugees in Ukraine, indigenous Indians living in remote villages in Mexico, a missionary in Turkey, the Latin America Ministries Board, the refugee school for children in Egypt, and the Refugee Services of Texas.
Proverbs 14:31 says, “whoever is kind to the needy honors God.” By giving a special Thanksgiving Offering once again this year, I hope that we can continue to glorify God and thank God not with our lips but with our obedience and receive even more blessings from God this coming year. Acts 20:35 says, “[The Lord Jesus] himself said, ’It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Even if you can’t attend our Thanksgiving Sunday Worship, you could still participate in giving the Thanksgiving Offering to the poor through online giving (venmo or Zelle). I love you all and pray for you
