There was a four-year-old boy. He had no parents, came from the slums, and was taken to an orphanage. The first night was quite an experience. When bed time came, after the first bath he had in some time, the matron took him to a bed with clean white sheets. He said, "Do you want ME to get in THERE?" After tucking him in the matron reached down and kissed him good night. "What did you do THAT for?" he said, and he rubbed off the kiss.  

The next morning, when he saw the lady who put him to bed, he said, "Would you mind doing that again... what you did last night?" He had never been kissed before. It did something to him that warmed him inside. In about a week's time the matron said the boy was coming around three or four times a day. He'd look up at her with a soft look on his face and say, "Would you love me a little?" After some time it was felt Tommy was ready for adoption.

One day he was brought into a room to meet a man and woman. The matron asked Tommy if he would like to go home with the woman. Tommy looked at the floor and didn't say anything. The lady said, "I'll give you a rocking horse and all sorts of play things." She kept on talking, trying to tell him how nice it would be at their home. After a bit Tommy looked up at her and said, "Would you love me a little?" [read more] 

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Pastors who make weekly home visits on active members, non-active members, and prospects know the huge benefits of doing so. What might be a good weekly goal for the pastor in the average sized congregation in each of these three areas? What do you think? The answer is extremely important to both the pastor and the people. 

Please feel free to share this Newsletter with the people in your church and with friends. 

"Raising a financially literate family" is one of the best articles around on how to teach children and teens to be financially literate. WOW! It's carried in the Denver Post. Be sure you read the article and then share the article or link with your people in your newsletter or bulletin. You will be doing a lot of people a huge favor.     

Do it to love people for no ulterior reason. If you have a snow blower (or a shovel), consider using it to clear sidewalks and driveways for others. Start and leave unannounced. P.S. Our newspaper is always thrown on to our driveway. A few months ago someone started placing it at our front door. After the first snow of this winter someone began shoveling our driveway and sidewalk. The person did his good deeds very early in the morning and unannounced. I finally found the man, his name is Kit, and he lives about a block away. I went to his house and thanked him. When I asked him why he did it, he said he just wants to be kind. Obviously we have a new friend. We've returned the favors with a bottle of wine and a basket of fruit. Can you be a "Kit" to someone? - Don    

1. Put  your plans on paper (or on screen). Dawson Trotman said, "Thoughts disentangle themselves when they pass through the lips and the finger tips." If I can say it and write it down, then it's clear. If I haven't written it down, then it's vague. A lot of us go around with anxiety which is this free-floating, vague fear that I'm not getting it all accomplished. Just the very fact of putting it down, a lot of times, gives credence and relief to your mind and you're able to focus on it. [read more]  

Do you have one for your congregation? One of the tools at your disposal is the "We Miss You" Card, No. 406. Email us and ask for a free sample, and then consider this strategy.  

Before mailing the "We Miss You" Card consider some planning with pastor, elders, or church council.  

Every inactive member should receive the card. There should be follow-up a week or two after the mailing. The pastor or elder should phone or visit the missing families. A visit is more effective. It makes an enormous difference when people really believe that their church (pastor and people) truly loves them and cares for them. [read more]