Live Mission

Group Lead: Peter Lounsbury

Homestead, FL

About this group

2 Cor 8:10-15

10 I suggest that you finish what you started a year ago, for you were the first to propose this idea, and you were the first to begin doing something about it. 11 Now you should carry this project through to completion just as enthusiastically as you began it. Give whatever you can according to what you have. 12 If you are really eager to give, it isn't important how much you are able to give. God wants you to give what you have, not what you don't have. 13 Of course, I don't mean you should give so much that you suffer from having too little. I only mean that there should be some equality. 14 Right now you have plenty and can help them. Then at some other time they can share with you when you need it. In this way, everyone's needs will be met. 15 Do you remember what the Scriptures say about this? "Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough."

How it all began...

I was reading 2 Corinthians 8 because I ran across it in the "The Hole In Our Gospel" and I always check my sources because it's the Berean thing to do! I like the New Living Translation of it because it spells it out in language that we can relate to, namely the very last part where the Apostle Paul writes: "Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough." If you didn't know, Paul got that from scripture himself as he was quoting the Old Testament (Exodus 16:18).

In the account in Exodus, Moses had instructed the people to specifically "Let no one leave any of it till morning." He was referring to manna, and the result of the disobedience of the people was that some of them left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and stank. The point being that God had provided them with provisions and told them to gather all of it up. When they didn't do as they were told, that which was left over bred worms and stank.

Isn't this also something that can be said if us? God has richly provided for us all, and yet as so often is the case we fail to take full advantage of all that God has given us. Well, here's you chance then!

For a small amount of money for a person who lives in a land of plenty, we have the opportunity to take what God has given us, and to ensure that those who need our help can do so with microloans that in turn, when repaid, go on to continue to bless others over and over again. Normally when we donate to charitable organizations we are providing much needed financial support to address very critical one time needs such as food, water or clothing. Here, you providing these folks with a source of income that ensures that there will always be food on the table for their families, not just a meal that has to be supplied again and again until that person or family can provide for themselves.

The whole point of this group is to establish a social network far and wide, so the amount of money you contribute is overshadowed by the biggest offering you bring to them... other people where just $25 can make an enormous and exponential impact because of the social networks that all of us have already established in places like Facebook, MySpace or even you email address list. As we grow this group with people, the impact (the money) becomes secondary to the people because it just keeps on growing and is recycled as well.

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