|
|
Letter from the Executive Director
Dear Friend of the Foundation,
Thanks for being part of another great year for the Foundation in 2011. Please read further about:
- Doubling the impact of a gift to the Foundation Endowment.
- How the Foundation, Jeff Ferguson and others partnered to advance Winthrop RUF.
- God's blessing on our October 20 Ministry Celebration Banquet.
- How I was personally impacted in Cleveland, Ohio (of all places!).
Endowment - Any gift you make to the Foundation Endowment Fund before December 31 will be matched dollar-for-dollar. Please prayerfully consider how you might support the Endowment Fund.
Winthrop RUF and the Foundation - Jeff Ferguson had been praying about three needs: (1) More monthly support, (2) new donors, and (3) starting the academic year with fewer concerns about finances. In June, Jeff and I met and came up with the "2 for 20 Challenge." We identified a group of donors willing to contribute up to $10,000 to match certain gifts from others. Jeff then spread the word about the challenge. God richly blessed this partnering effort as new support exceeded the $20,000 goal. I believe that God will continue to bless the Kingdom efforts of those willing to partner and collaborate in ways that efficiently and effectively match ministry needs and opportunities with resources. This is just one example of His blessing!
Ministry Celebration Banquet - What a great night! We felt God's presence leading up to the event as He shaped the group of participants, both in quantity (over 200 signed up) and quality (the people there came with open hearts for ministry). And we felt His presence that night. I have received nearly unanimous feedback that hearts were touched, spirits were encouraged, and minds and bodies were challenged to advance the Kingdom through increased ministry participation and support. Click here to watch the ministry video shown at the banquet.
Cleveland Mission Trip - Have you ever heard it said about a missions opportunity - "You will impact others in the name of Christ, but you will also be impacted yourself." - and dismissed the idea that you might be personally affected. I'll confess to that kind of skeptical thinking myself . . . until my son and I went to Cleveland this summer. Wow! Please see the story below.
Thanks again for all that you do in furtherance of God's Kingdom. Have a blessed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year!
In His Service,
Edwin Barnes, Jr.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2011 Year-end
Considerations
Before December 31, please consider the following.
- Read the short book - Genius of Generosity.
Email us for a free copy
- Support a ministry you have not previously supported. We know of several needs and opportunities.
- Give appreciated stock instead of cash to your church or favorite ministry.
- Consider setting up a donor advised fund (or recommend a fund to someone else).
- Allow the Foundation to provide you with a personalized estate design, either for the first time or as an update or check-up.
- Consider if a charitable gift annuity might fit into your stewardship plans or those of a relative.
- If you are 70 years old, think about a direct gift from your IRA to church or ministry.
Check out our website or call for more information.
|
|
 Partnering in Missions:
Cleveland, Ohio
This past July, several fathers and sons drove 9 hours to Cleveland, Ohio to share the Gospel through football. Each father had the opportunity to share the Gospel with children in an un-churched under-served area outside Cleveland. But, just as importantly, each father returned home profoundly impacted, reminded of the unique and important role of men, fathers and husbands and challenged to model the heavenly Father to not only their own son but also other young men, realizing that many young men have no Fatherly or fatherly role model in their lives.
This unique trip was a collaboration among WPC Missions, ROAR Sports, Velocity Church (www.velocitycleveland.org) and former Northwestern High School football standout Benjamin Watson. For photos and an entertaining video about the trip, go to the Foundation website.
The date has not yet been set for Summer 2012. Stay tuned!
We would like to feature a missions or outreach partnership in each edition of our Foundation Enews. Please send us your ideas.
|
Merciful Ministries
Merciful Ministries is a new counseling ministry for women. Lizabeth Swayne was formerly with the RUF ministry at Winthrop University and, during that time, began to feel a call towards counseling women of all ages. Lizabeth's passion, and the mission of Merciful Ministries, is to provide Biblical counseling to women of all ages who otherwise would not be able to afford it. Lizabeth has a Master's of Divinity with emphasis in Biblical Counseling and knows that purely secular counseling often works only as a "band aid," not addressing the issues of the heart. Biblical counseling recognizes that God is our creator, that our hope is in Christ and that women must first find themselves in Christ before they can truly heal and resolve their particular struggles. Merciful Ministries recognizes that counseling, even Biblical counseling, can be expensive and thus provides counseling at an affordable rate to those who truly want to work on their issues. "So many women are hurting and don't think they can find someone who will walk alongside them . . . It is my dream to help women in the way that I have been helped in my own walk, my own journey, the way others have helped me," says Lizabeth. For more information, contact Lizabeth at (484) 686-6108 or lbswayne@gmail.com. Click here to view a video about Merciful Ministries.
|
|
|
|
|
|
