Unorthodox Giving.

Made to Love found a new way to raise funds in the fall of 2014…we had a demo crew tear down a barn (small shed actually, but that doesn’t sound as cool). That seems like a strange and unlikely way for us to help Haiti. We are typically telling our story, selling our products, politely begging…just kidding about that last one. The opportunity presented itself, and we took it. We believe God laid it on someone’s heart to give, so they gave. I was able to put together a crew of fellow firefighters from the Hamilton Fire Department, and we had it torn down in no time at all.

This really got me thinking about how we can all give. Typically when someone says donation, you think immediately of money. I believe that is just a piece of the pie. You can give your time; you can give your talents. That day these guys didn’t give any money, but they gave up their time and absolutely used their talents (I didn’t know how to tear down a barn). The truth is that not all people can give money, and that is okay. I wonder if giving of time and talents can be harder than giving your treasure. If you have the money to give, isn’t it easy to just write a check and move on? This is a question that can really be relevant to ask yourself before going on a short-term missions trip.

Would my funds for the trip be better utilized if given for a cause as opposed to being used for me to go? That is a hard question, but let me give you an answer that I lean on. This came from David Platt and his book “Radical.” David was speaking with a man in the Sudan. This man described how thankful they are for the aid they receive and how it blesses them. He goes onto say that they appreciate David being there more than the aid sent, “a true brother comes to us in our time of need, and you are a true brother.”

My Brothers from HFD Local 20 were true Brothers that day when they helped me in my time of need. Little did they know that their gift, combined with some other unexpected gifts would help build a school in Haiti that houses 120 kids each day (will share more about that at a later time). They didn’t know that a few short months later that school building would be completed and some other Brothers and a Sister from Local 20 would be standing in it while serving on a medical mission in Haiti. None of us know what God will do with the things we give in His name. You can rest assured that He has a great plan for each and every one of you!

Unorthodox giving can become something very unexpected…..

2 Corinthians 9:10

Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.

Thank you for taking the time to read this,
Tony Harris
Co-Founder of Made to Love