The Big Give

Out of the blue

thebiggive — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 13:17:39 +0000

So one day out of the blue i woman i work with ( have never talked before) comes up to me and asks “hey you know about religion right?” I told her i knew my way around. She then sits down on my table and starts pouring her life story out to me, she starts talking about her son and how that he told her that, “a pastor once told me that if I killed myself I would still go to heaven.” She wanted to know if that was true. I got a piece of paper and wrote down 5 bible verses for her to study and i prayed for her.

A few days pass and we run into each other again and i asked if the scripture had helped her. Well she said, “i can’t find a bible to look them up in.” So i told her that she didn’t need to look and i gave her a bible with a big give card.

Also gave 5 devotional books about being the man God made you to be, written by Dr. Swihart to a friend at work.

Kevin

Kids Giving Big

thebiggive — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 01:34:07 +0000

Today our family attended the 1st Dowtown South Bend’s Egg Stravaganza. We had a lot of fun visiting several businesses and museums for free.

The finale of the event was held on the lawn of the Tippecanoe Place aka Studebaker Mansion. An egg hunt was to be held for all the kids.

I don’t think the organizers of this event were expecting such a huge turn out. As the crowd grew, the emcee kept reminding all the kids that this was an egg hunt, not a race. I think they were afraid that some children were going to get trampled. As the hunt was counted off, you could see the excitment on the children’s faces.

The hunt lasted for about 3 seconds-yes only 3! Mia gotlucky and found several eggs near the starting sign-nobody else saw. And Hagin scrambled as fast as he could to find 3 eggs. However, most kids walked away with only one egg.

The excitement faded away and was replaced by disappointment. Hagin spotted several kids crying because their bags were empty. Hagin decided to give some of his few eggs to those kids. Mia didn’t seem to mind to give hers away either.

Parents and kids alike were so surprised at this gesture. I am pretty pleased that my kids love to give big!

Misti Hiatt

Gift card makes a BIG difference

thebiggive — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 12:27:26 +0000

I felt led to give to a co-worker this week. She is such a giving person to her family, patients at work, and always very willing to help her fellow co-workers. Her daughter recently was arrested and she has had to take custody of her two small grandchildren. Her husband also has been laid-off for a while, so they are really financially troubled at the moment.

I could tell that she was stressed about her home life and needed cheering up. So I gave her a Wal-Mart gift card and a little note telling her how wonderful she is. I also told her about what our church was doing and invited her to come sometime.

She was so thankful and had tears of joy in her eyes. She said she couldn’t remember when the last time was that someone had just given her something like that “just because”. She also said she would like to come to church with me sometime and bring her grandkids. It was so awesome to give freely like that! Can’t wait to do it again!

Amanda

Perfect timing

thebiggive — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 14:23:53 +0000

I met a lady at work and I could not get her off my mind, so after praying I called her and told about our church and the Big Give and I felt lead to give her money for gas.

She started to cry and said “I can’t believe you are calling at this moment, I used to go to church but have not for a while and I just asked God how I could continue to look for a job when I had no money and was wondering if He heard me any more…then you called, I am just amazed”

We talked for a while longer then I prayed for her and told her to stop by my work place when she was in town the next day. She did and we spent about 30 min. talking and giving me her story, I prayed again for her and believe even if she does not come to our church, God made a move that reminded her He still loves her!!

~LuAnn

Bikers Big Give

thebiggive — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 12:21:26 +0000

Aaron and I had a blast earlier this week doing our big give on our bikes.
We would go to the (fast food) drive through and just after the order box ride to the pay window tell them what we were doing and pay for the people behind us.
It was fun to see the reactions of the restaurant employees and the reaction of the people who got free lunch. Then we sped away. Super cool!
We did it on the far west side of South Bend. Bigger need there!

May The Lord Keep You And None Of Your Bones Be Broken!

Big Al

A gift of Groceries

thebiggive — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 03:17:04 +0000

This week a friend and I were able to bless a customer at our business. She has been going through marital troubles and both she and her husband were recently laid off from the same company. We purchased groceries for her family. When I explained that she had been in our thoughts and we wanted to help her in some small way, she began to cry. She told me that she had just come from the food stamp office and was declined food stamps because she had a small retirement account. She didn’t know how she was going to feed her four children. What timing? I am so excited to be able to give to others! We can never out give God!

Anonymous

Blessing a nurse and a dogsitter

thebiggive — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 20:42:41 +0000

On Monday I had a doctor’s appointment. His nurse Heather is always so encouraging to me. I felt I wanted to give her some money to use however she wanted. It is such a joy to give!!

We have a great lady, Mary who house and dog sits for us when we go to CA or TX. I sent the card and a gift certificate for a hair cut to our salon in Plymouth. She is such a blessing and takes great care of Bo!!

Judi

Lasagna for my neighbors

thebiggive — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 12:49:52 +0000

We took over some lasagna to our neighbors. Misti makes some mean lasagna and we thought they might like having a meal that was basically ready to go.

Jesus gave the greatest gift, and since we are His children, we love to give as well.

Heath

Carhopping For Jesus Part 2

thebiggive — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 12:38:40 +0000

Thanks, Heath, I like that “Carhopping for Jesus” title. It inspired me to help a friend today.

She called me early this morning about something and gave me the news that her home’s roof was torn off by the last two storms we had this week. Everything inside her house is soaked and she now needs a new roof which she can’t afford. I asked her how I could help and she said I could come over and help clean. Well, I thought, I am at work and can’t leave so that might not happen. And after the call I thought some more. And that voice I can hear in my head sometimes suggested I donate my tips from carhopping today.

Okay, I thought, but if I’m going to do that I want to make “The Big Give” a part of this. So I fixed up one of the postcards with a Sharpie and wrote on it that I was donating all of my tips today to my friend whose roof blew off and then I taped it to my jacket. I was able to tell just about everyone what I was doing was a part of my church practicing giving during this Easter season — just like Jesus gave at Easter. People were very generous.

At the end of my shift (one of God’s coincidences) our mutual friend showed up with our friend in need still out in the car. She cried when I told her what I had done today. Then I got to go out and give our friend the cash right then. Of course she cried. And what I had said to some of my customers was true, she doesn’t go to any church, but she needs to know what it is like to be touched by a part of the church. I took my “Big Give” card off my jacket and handed it to her as a reminder.

It is all happening at the drive in! Glory to God who gave us his best!

Julia

(the BK drive in on 35 in knox is owned by Julia who goes to the Starke campus. If you are looking for a place that is fun and the food is awesome, stop by the drive-in!)

Carhopping for Jesus!

thebiggive — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 12:53:35 +0000

I have been working as a carhop at my business while the season is getting started and I have had the opportunity to (intentionally) give some food to a couple of customers this week. It was well received, but I felt best about giving encouragement to one particular customer. He is someone that I don’t even know his name but know that he has lost a great deal of weight and kept it off by working out and eating properly (yes, you can eat at the drive in while losing weight!) for about ten years. He told me that he had a heart attack a month earlier and as he smoked a cigarette, told me that the doctor said that was the reason. He has cut way back, but had just bummed that particular cigarette off a friend he ran into at the gas. I told him that I hadn’t smoked for twenty-five years, it can be done, and that Jesus had come to set the captives free. He could be free of cigarettes.

And I would like to second what Donna Osborne said about tithing. I have been tithing off my business and, of course, my child has never had to beg bread, but one of my sales reps told me that he thought I was going to have my best year this year at the drive in. Hallelujah! I can’t give it away if God doesn’t get it to me first somehow.

Julia