Giving Alms
Illustration
Stories
Jonathan picked up the phone on the second ring. “Hello?”
“Hi, I’m calling from Blessings Outreach Ministry,” the voice on the other end said. “Am I speaking to Mr. Jonathan LeSalle?
“Yes, it is.”
“Mr. LeSalle, I’m Bethany from the donations committee. I’m calling to thank you for your extremely generous gift you made last week. You’ve made so many wonderful things possible.”
“You’re very welcome,” Jonathan said. “I’ve been supporting your efforts for years and finally had a year where I was able to make a sizeable donation to help out.”
“We are certainly blessed because of what you’ve given. The board met last week and because of your gift, we’re able to replace the old meal van so that we don’t have the cancelled days like we did last year. Plus, we are able to extend the hours of the drop-in center and add the washers and dryers we’ve been talking about for years.” Bethany paused. “The board doesn’t have access to any donor records but since I processed your donation, they asked me to call you directly and let you know that they’re putting your gift to good use.”
“I appreciate the call and I’m thrilled that my donation is going to expand the good work you people are doing. Please pass along to the board my thanks for their hard work and for their careful oversight of the money entrusted to them,” Jonathan said. “I’m in business and know the importance of good financial oversight in helping an organization to thrive.”
“I’ll certainly pass that along to them,” Bethany said. “Do you have time for a couple of questions?”
“Certainly.”
“Thank you. I see that you receive our emails outlining our work, stories about our ministry, and information. Do you read those emails?”
“I do,” Jonathan said. It’s actually one of the things that made me such a supporter of your work. I enjoy reading about how my donations are being used and the stories the workers and volunteers tell.”
“That’s wonderful, I’m glad you find the emails a good way to keep connected to Blessings Outreach Ministries.” Bethany paused. “Since you made such a generous donation, I was wondering if we might profile you in the next issue- we would talk about your reasons for donating, what your gift has enabled us to do, and we can even mention your business.”
“You mean like a profile about me and what I have given?”
“Yes, exactly,” Bethany continued. “I think that hearing your story might help other people choose to donate to our ministry. We could do the interview over the phone whenever it fits into your schedule.”
“Ah.” Jonathan tapped his chin. “No, thank you.”
“Oh.” There was silence on the other end. “Do you mind if I ask why?”
“Not at all. I don’t want to be interviewed because I don’t give so that others can know what I’ve done,” Jonathan said. “My donation is an expression of faith and I’ve really found that what Jesus says in Matthew chapter six is true. I grow in faith more when I give quietly and don’t make a fuss about it. Otherwise the gift becomes about me and I don’t want a single bit of focus to move from the people whose lives are being helped and the volunteers who are spending time and skills to do what they are doing.”
“Okay,” Bethany said slowly. “I can understand and appreciate that. I’m embarrassed to admit that I honestly had never thought of donations that way before and I work with donors all the time.”
“Do you look for press coverage when you make a donation somewhere?” Jonathan asked.
“No, my gift is part of how I follow Jesus.” Bethany took a deep breath. “Which is exactly what you are saying to me, isn’t it?”
“Exactly. The amount of the gift isn’t the question it is the spirit in which the gift is given. I find when I make a gift public, then the focus is on me rather than on what the gift will do. I think that’s part of the reason Jesus tells us to give our alms in secret.”
“That actually makes sense,” Bethany said. “I appreciate you taking the time to help me better understand that.”
“You are very welcome.”
“Can I ask one more thing?”
“Certainly.”
“Would it be okay if I included your comments, without naming you of course, in a piece I am writing about why people donate to our ministry? I’ve got comments from regular donors, one-time donors and even some people who use our ministry who also support it when they can.”
“I would be honored and interested to read the article,” Jonathan said. “I bet there are things in those comments that will help me to be more generous and caring.”
“That’s certainly been my experience,” Bethany said. “Thank again for your time and for helping us do great work.”
“My pleasure and God bless you.” Jonathan said as he hung up the phone and went back to work.
“Hi, I’m calling from Blessings Outreach Ministry,” the voice on the other end said. “Am I speaking to Mr. Jonathan LeSalle?
“Yes, it is.”
“Mr. LeSalle, I’m Bethany from the donations committee. I’m calling to thank you for your extremely generous gift you made last week. You’ve made so many wonderful things possible.”
“You’re very welcome,” Jonathan said. “I’ve been supporting your efforts for years and finally had a year where I was able to make a sizeable donation to help out.”
“We are certainly blessed because of what you’ve given. The board met last week and because of your gift, we’re able to replace the old meal van so that we don’t have the cancelled days like we did last year. Plus, we are able to extend the hours of the drop-in center and add the washers and dryers we’ve been talking about for years.” Bethany paused. “The board doesn’t have access to any donor records but since I processed your donation, they asked me to call you directly and let you know that they’re putting your gift to good use.”
“I appreciate the call and I’m thrilled that my donation is going to expand the good work you people are doing. Please pass along to the board my thanks for their hard work and for their careful oversight of the money entrusted to them,” Jonathan said. “I’m in business and know the importance of good financial oversight in helping an organization to thrive.”
“I’ll certainly pass that along to them,” Bethany said. “Do you have time for a couple of questions?”
“Certainly.”
“Thank you. I see that you receive our emails outlining our work, stories about our ministry, and information. Do you read those emails?”
“I do,” Jonathan said. It’s actually one of the things that made me such a supporter of your work. I enjoy reading about how my donations are being used and the stories the workers and volunteers tell.”
“That’s wonderful, I’m glad you find the emails a good way to keep connected to Blessings Outreach Ministries.” Bethany paused. “Since you made such a generous donation, I was wondering if we might profile you in the next issue- we would talk about your reasons for donating, what your gift has enabled us to do, and we can even mention your business.”
“You mean like a profile about me and what I have given?”
“Yes, exactly,” Bethany continued. “I think that hearing your story might help other people choose to donate to our ministry. We could do the interview over the phone whenever it fits into your schedule.”
“Ah.” Jonathan tapped his chin. “No, thank you.”
“Oh.” There was silence on the other end. “Do you mind if I ask why?”
“Not at all. I don’t want to be interviewed because I don’t give so that others can know what I’ve done,” Jonathan said. “My donation is an expression of faith and I’ve really found that what Jesus says in Matthew chapter six is true. I grow in faith more when I give quietly and don’t make a fuss about it. Otherwise the gift becomes about me and I don’t want a single bit of focus to move from the people whose lives are being helped and the volunteers who are spending time and skills to do what they are doing.”
“Okay,” Bethany said slowly. “I can understand and appreciate that. I’m embarrassed to admit that I honestly had never thought of donations that way before and I work with donors all the time.”
“Do you look for press coverage when you make a donation somewhere?” Jonathan asked.
“No, my gift is part of how I follow Jesus.” Bethany took a deep breath. “Which is exactly what you are saying to me, isn’t it?”
“Exactly. The amount of the gift isn’t the question it is the spirit in which the gift is given. I find when I make a gift public, then the focus is on me rather than on what the gift will do. I think that’s part of the reason Jesus tells us to give our alms in secret.”
“That actually makes sense,” Bethany said. “I appreciate you taking the time to help me better understand that.”
“You are very welcome.”
“Can I ask one more thing?”
“Certainly.”
“Would it be okay if I included your comments, without naming you of course, in a piece I am writing about why people donate to our ministry? I’ve got comments from regular donors, one-time donors and even some people who use our ministry who also support it when they can.”
“I would be honored and interested to read the article,” Jonathan said. “I bet there are things in those comments that will help me to be more generous and caring.”
“That’s certainly been my experience,” Bethany said. “Thank again for your time and for helping us do great work.”
“My pleasure and God bless you.” Jonathan said as he hung up the phone and went back to work.
