I hope you enjoyed your Thanksgiving! I know it’s a special day for me, a day to enjoy happy times with my family and thank God for all the blessings and trials He has provided for me since last Thanksgiving as I reflect on the past year (it doesn’t hurt that I’m surrounded by food all day long either).
Nowadays people anticipate today, Black Friday, almost as much as Thanksgiving. Cyber Monday isn’t much different in popularity and purpose—both are spending sprees with deals galore. The allure of a good bargain might get your blood pumping more than a plate of turkey and mashed potatoes! But it’s important to keep that excitement in check.
Giving Tuesday, celebrated on Tuesday, December 3rd this year, is a perfect opportunity to honor God through our spending.
In this season we remember Jesus’ words from Matthew 6:19–21: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Giving Tuesday, celebrated on Tuesday, December 3rd this year, is a perfect opportunity to honor God through our spending. This day has grown to become as influential as Black Friday and Cyber Monday; and it’s counterbalanced them wonderfully.
What Has Giving Tuesday Accomplished?
Created in 2012, Giving Tuesday is a worldwide campaign and was designed in response to the consumerist rush of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. It’s a healthy reply to the question, “Couldn’t massive amounts of money be spent more wisely?” It aims to encourage people to do good—and it’s succeeded wildly. People from 150 countries combined to give 3.6 million gifts totalling over $400 million in generous donations in 2018 alone, an increase from $274 million from the previous year. Wow! These figures speak to the capacity of people to make a positive change with their resources. Thanks to diligent marketers and zealous campaign efforts, the philanthropic itch has spread like wildfire throughout the world in just seven short years.
Now entering year eight of Giving Tuesday, the movement is more relevant than ever. Many organizations working to combat poverty and improve quality of life (among other goals) depend upon donations greatly, and it’s this special push that often helps their missions succeed. The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry is no different. For 81 years we’ve worked to provide Jesus’ love to the Jewish people through direct physical relief while preaching the gospel to all people. We’re grateful for those who have selflessly given from their heart of compassion for our Jewish friends in ways that have allowed us to bring them hope in hard times.
Last year was a huge blessing to us. With a goal of raising $8,000 for Jewish children in Eastern Europe to attend our summer camps, we were blown away by the incredible response of more than $17,000! These gifts allowed us to fully fund two summer camps, bringing many children to a safe place where they were introduced to the gospel.
How Can You Join the Movement?
Now we look to provide for the rest of our Jewish friends in Eastern Europe. Many in Poland, Belarus, Ukraine, and Russia are facing severe poverty, a fallout resulting from their post-Soviet Union societies. As we enter the winter season, so many desperately need heat for their homes, warm clothes, beds, medicine, and food. We’re aiming to provide much-needed resources like these, plus a copy of God’s Word to as many of our Eastern European Jewish friends as we can. $10,000 could allow us to reach up to 500 people in 25 cities with immediate help. This is a great way to make an eternal difference!
This year, I encourage you to act like Jesus did by giving of yourself to make His goodness known to others. So many of our Jewish friends can experience physical and spiritual healing through your giving. We pray that this Giving Tuesday we can love the Jewish people not just with well wishes but with direct action to back up our words. This unique opportunity allows us to share the power of the gospel in action.
Are you ready to change lives in the name of Jesus?
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