Fred was the new pastor...
Illustration
Fred was the new pastor at a 400-member suburban, affluent church. Early on, he heard about the annual garage sale that sometimes netted the church $20,000. They used that money for capital improvements and for missions. Everyone felt good about this annual event. As the time grew closer, Fred began to hear how many less fortunate people were helped by the garage sale. "They get things they really need for a really good price," the people told him.
When the sale was in the two-week preparation phase, twenty to 25 people were working on the set-up every day. Fred was impressed. Then an odd thing started to happen. He noticed that many of the items were leaving the building prior to the sale. The church people and helpers were buying the best stuff before the sale ever took place. What the "less fortunate" people got to choose from had already been picked over.
After that first year, Pastor Fred confronted the congregation and told them they had to make a choice. Either they could do away with pre-sales and let the people at the sale have first pick of all that was given, or they could be honest with themselves and say that the only reason to have the garage sale was as a money-maker for the church and they were going to continue with the pre-sales.
When the sale was in the two-week preparation phase, twenty to 25 people were working on the set-up every day. Fred was impressed. Then an odd thing started to happen. He noticed that many of the items were leaving the building prior to the sale. The church people and helpers were buying the best stuff before the sale ever took place. What the "less fortunate" people got to choose from had already been picked over.
After that first year, Pastor Fred confronted the congregation and told them they had to make a choice. Either they could do away with pre-sales and let the people at the sale have first pick of all that was given, or they could be honest with themselves and say that the only reason to have the garage sale was as a money-maker for the church and they were going to continue with the pre-sales.
