Our organization has served the poor, needy, and underserved for 25 years. During that time, we have processed tens of thousands of donations. The quality of donations has varied widely. We’ve received broken toys, malfunctioning kitchen appliances, mildewed shoes, torn books, and even unwashed undergarments. When we receive donations, our staff and volunteers divide the clean and usable items from the stained and damaged. We don’t give anything that we wouldn’t want our families to receive. In this way, we demonstrate obedience to Jesus’ words: “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” It might seem like this kind of giving goes above and beyond what should be expected, but it’s the kind of giving we learn from Jesus.
Recently we received a donation that exemplifies this above-and-beyond giving that Jesus commands. Bill and Denise Bennecker heard about the needs of immigrant and refugee families through our organization. They learned about our volunteers who were conducting English classes, driver’s education classes, Bible studies, health and safety seminars, maternal health education and support, children’s programs, food programs, and the collection of needed items for families. They wanted to take part in the world of helping these families.
Then they heard a story about a man named Evariste who was serving in a Congolese church, while also working the night shift at a factory for 12 hours a day. For the two years Evariste has lived in the U.S., he’s had to find rides to work, his church, the grocery store--any place he needed to get to. The Benneckers had a car that, although had substantial mileage, was mechanically sound. They made the decision to donate their car to Evariste who, in turn, would be able to offer help and transportation to other refugees needing to go to work and church.
Donating the car could have been the end of the story, and it would be worth telling, but there is more. Bill and Denise thought about the person on the other side of the donation. They had the automobile tuned up, renewed the tags, and had the car professionally cleaned. When the keys were given to Evariste, they gave along with it a gas card, an oil change card, and a AAA membership with the extra towing package.
When Evariste had a moment to reflect on the experience, he penned these words:
“I am very happy for this great gift of the car I received from the Bennecker’s family. This was a big surprise for me and for my entire family. I am praying for this family for all the blessings from God according to DEUTERONOMY 28: 1- 14.
I thank you and G.O.D. Int’l so much for all you did to connect me with the Benneckers. May God bless you so much. That gift I received will help me with transportation, and to save some money to help my family and other people. You know I have a big family in Africa. I was thinking of getting a loan to buy a car, but I was worried of how to pay off the car loan. Now it is not necessary to take a loan! Thank you so much for helping me. I will continue praying for you all.”
The gratitude and life Evariste felt from the donation was the result of Denise and Bill Bennecker fulfilling the words of Jesus. Along with their donation, they gave Evariste a clear message that expressed his value and dignity as a child of God. Everything is better when we are obedient to Jesus.
(1) Before they became part of our community, Denise Bennecker learned about us by reading everything we published. Now, all of our present blogs, videos, and photo stories can be accessed through our website including our archived publications.
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