A letter from G.O.D. International Founder/CEO Gregg Garner on #GivingTuesday 2021
Dearest friends,
G.O.D. Int’l is 25 years old!!!
Praise the Lord for his faithfulness, blessing us to share his love across the street and around the world. Since 1996, we’ve been able to serve Jesus by equipping a globally conscious community to serve the poor and marginalized through education, advocacy, and empowerment, without discrimination, demonstrating unconditional love.
What started with just a few in Southern California, moved to Nashville in 2000, and is now dearly held by many in the USA, Latin America, East Africa, India, and South East Asia. Global impact is characterized by a strong local presence, where what is done here is done there; building on a foundation of hearing and doing what Jesus says, living a mission through a thriving ministry and organization rooted in a biblical worldview amongst committed friends, and carrying the conviction that God wants to disciple the world in his way. Yes!!! This is who we are! Praise the Lord!
Today is “Giving Tuesday” a global effort to get people to give generously to those organizations that are making a difference in the world.
Our theme for this Christmas season comes from 1 Timothy 6:17-19 which reads:
“As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be arrogant, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and READY TO SHARE, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life."
My ‘knee-jerk’ response to this text is to argue, “well, I’m not really that rich…” Perhaps letting myself “off-the-hook” for whatever expectation is implied by the verse. However, as I keep reading, the text lets me know that arrogance would be my characterizing response to this statement; I’m charged to act differently. Arrogance in this context is when one considers themself exempt from an expectation because of an inflated sense of self-importance, or the ability to justify themself for why they wouldn’t need to accommodate that expectation. Acting differently would have me humbling myself into the reality that I am indeed rich. More on this below.
Paul gets Timothy to recognize that we tend to set our hopes on the uncertainty of our wealth, instead of on God. Just like Jesus taught (Matthew 6:24), Paul has Timothy considering that God and wealth both give people hope. However, hope that comes from wealth is without certainty, whereas hope from God is guaranteed. It is God who “richly provides us with everything to enjoy.” I think you’d agree that God’s provision in our lives has indeed brought about everything we need, including the joy that accompanies contentment. This is true riches.
He ends the exhortation proclaiming that the rich are to do good. He creates a new economy of consideration by stating we should be rich in good works. He notes that generosity and sharing are the currency by which we invest in this Kingdom economy. The result creates a good foundation for the future, a legacy that is truly life giving.
Are you ready to share the resources God has provided for you to enjoy? Are you ready to share generously, investing into the Kingdom of God, and creating legacy for the future by doing good work?
Then join us in the good work of sharing our resources with those in need across the street and around the world. There are 12 specific ways we’ve set out to work together and share generously with those in need. We’re believing we can raise $250,000 to further the legacy of the Kingdom of God and be a blessing. Please invest in this Kingdom economy and let’s do good, together!
Ready to share,
Gregg Garner Founder, President/CEO Global Outreach Developments International
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