20 Apr Easter Eggs and God’s Provision

John Christophel, pastor, Brooklyn Park UB, Baltimore, Md.

We are coming up on two years since we first broke ground on a new addition that will house and expand our after-school ministry. We called it “Faith that Moves Dirt.”  As of today we have received enough in donations to purchase all that we need to complete the building and re-open our program.

That is not the greatest reason to praise God. The best reason is the spiritual lessons of faith God taught us during this process.

Last week I was faced with a difficult choice. Funds were given two weeks ago to help the church or the after-school program. It was made my choice by the person who gave the donation. I held the funds, knowing we had to pay for the roof shingle work to be.

When an emergency need arose, I faced a difficult choice. Giving the $500 toward the emergency meant I would have to hold off on paying the roofer. I felt God telling me to take care of the emergency. God would just have to take care of the kids then, because we were down to our last $90 in the bank. That was last Thursday.

Saturday I receive a call from a couple who read about our program, our need of raising $4000 more for the project, and of our chocolate peanut butter Easter Egg fund-raiser. They want to use the purchase of a couple of eggs as a excuse to make a donation. Once I looked at the checks they gave for the eggs/donation, I realized they donated $1,000. Another couple wrote me an email after they read the same story. I received their donation of $4000 today. A local hospital called me today and said they read the same story in the paper and wanted to donate a grant of between $200 to $300 to the after-school program.

I believe my obedience allowed God to bless our after-school program more than ten times what I gave. We are a struggling church just like many others, but God continues to bless our efforts to better care for our community children. In the past month we have seen two teen deaths 100 feet from our center. One was hit by a car and the other was a gang shooting. Since then we have had two other evenings with gunfire within blocks of our church.

People are amazed that a small congregation of 40-50 people can not only attempt, but complete such a large task. It is succeeding because of our resolve and the combined efforts, love, prayers, and support of hundreds of people.