I’ve Been Thinking about... Generosity

Last year the people of the Mississippi Annual Conference gave more money to the apportionment than ever before!!! Part of this generosity, $1.1 million, was shared with the General Church for World Service, in addition to this, Mississippi churches sent in an additional $228,692 in “second mile giving” in support of missionaries and missionary projects throughout the world add to that the fact that well over 30 Mississippi church led volunteer mission trips went to Africa, Latin America, Russia and other overseas locations.

Part of this generosity was also shared with our Mississippi Methodist community centers, Children’s Home, Choctaw Mission, United Methodist Hour, Baddour Center and so many other missions and programs throughout the state. Add to this the contributions made directly by the specially designated Special Sunday Offerings and the many generous individuals and church donations in response to local and national emergencies and disasters, and the number of volunteers going to serve in these areas.

Mississippi has been recognized nationally as being the most generous state and this morning I heard on the radio that it has been recognized also as the most religious. Well, we already knew or suspected as much, but what does it say about us as people? It demonstrates that we have Christian hearts that care about our neighbors across the world and our neighbors close to home!

While we should feel good about being faithful to our Christian mandate to do good and our Methodist tradition of personal piety and social action we need to acknowledge that in the midst of a lost and hurting world we cannot afford to become complacent, but must continue on our journey to draw closer to God and our neighbor. As we traverse through the current economic recession in this the poorest state we cannot forget that many more of our neighbors are in need now and that the organizations that help them need more than ever our prayer and financial support.

On a somewhat related note and to correct an omission from last week I would like to salute Ernestine Varnado, United Methodist Deaconess serving as a missionary at the St. Andrew’ Mission in McComb as a parish nurse. Her Missionary Support Code is 982905.

Thank you friends for giving, praying and serving!!!

Jorge.