Click on comments below and share how you have used the money given to you by Piedmont Church to bless someone else.
40 comments:
Anonymous
said...
I'm not sure if this is the best place to leave this, but I need to let you know how we have been blessed through members of Piedmont. My husband and I have been "working" on a remodeling project for our master bathroom. Well, we have had no floor, open studs, loose wires, and a plain mess for almost a year. We got in over our heads and budget. A family that we've known, who are members of Piedmont, decided that they would help us out. Not only help us, but pay for it too! They have already added new joists, insulation, and new stud walls. Not only that but they bought us a tub!!! Can you believe this? Who comes in, pays for the materials, the builder's labor, and a tub without even being asked!? I have been so overwhelmed with the generosity that I can barely speak about it without being emotional. God has used this family in a HUGE way to bless us lavishly with his love. Thank you for encouraging us to live outside of ourselves, we have been blessed in a way we never could have imagined. I can no longer see the basement from my bedroom!
I have to say this is a very exciting moment for me in my faith. There are several things I'm going to tell you that may help some people 'on the verge' of taking that final leap toward God, actually TAKE IT!
I am NOT a regular church goer. Those reasons are my own, but Saturday night I had made a deal with God (yes, I know that's not the way it works, but this time it did), my deal was if God woke me up I was going to church, if not, then I was going to take a very much needed ME day.
Needless to say, I was awake in plenty of time :0) God has a plan for me. Last month I was losing sleep over trying to figure out how to help a family that was in dire need of some things. My family tends to be in need a lot as well, but in our case, nobody in our home ever does without the things they truly need. This other family however, does do without essentials. Yesterday, because God woke me, I came to Piedmont on a day when they did something so insane I was absolutely hesitant to take an envelope. At the last minute I did and told myself I would see what I could do. I picked the $500 envelope. When I saw the amount I was very concerned. I wanted so badly to give it back to the church. Even up until 6pm last night I was determined it was going back! Then it hit me like a ton of bricks! That family I had been so worried about could benefit from Piedmont's gift. Ultimately, that particular family has now received $250 along with another $50 item that was much needed in their household. I felt that I needed to do this anonymously because the family is extremely private and I only came about my information on accident from one of their family members. God did bless me back in a very unusual way last night. I decided at the last minute to buy dinner for my family with the last of my 'stash'. The girl that took my order didn't charge for a couple of items & when I pointed this out she gave them to me at no charge. It was a total of $10 but still... $10 can feed my family for one day!
We know a family that fell on hard times. The dad is doing his best to provide and is a great guy. We used our $75 to make sure their cabinets are full of food.
We have some friends in great need for many different reasons. We decided to have a pizza delivered to them at their house for dinner tonight, and we paid for it with our Bless Back Macon money so they could have a meal they didn't have to worry about funding, and never had to leave the house to get. We told them we are praying for them, and are here for them and happy to help in any way possible through this tough time.
As I was listening to Pastor Jerry pray about the envelopes of money a man of the streets instantly came to my mind. I had seen him around the Kroger parking lot and at the interstate exit. My envelope contained just $5.00, but I knew it would help him. After the celebration party, I headed out to find him. I had to really seach but soon found him sitting on the curb. I parked my car and approched him, nervous as to what I would say. I explained who I was and talked about Piedmont Church and our purpose of dominating Macon with the love of Jesus Christ. I asked if it was okay to give him our gift and he accepted only to ask me to recite John 3:16. I stumbled through it and he recited from 3:14 to 3:17 from what he called his "memory bible". He asked if I had paper and pen, and I did not so he dug though his worldly posessions to find scrap paper on which he wrote P eople I n E very D ay situations M eeting tO glorify 'N' T hank God. Then when he finished he wrote on the opposite side of the paper: Be a part of this invitation Sunday to see Christ heal us and receive Christ. He is the way, truth and life. No man cometh unto the Father but by Jesus. I sat on that curb for over 30 minutes listening about his life. When it was time to go I told him God loved him and had a plan for him. Then I thanked him for truly blessing MY day. His last words to me were, "Hey lady, Pray for a chariot to pick me up and take me to Knoxville, TN" and I replied I would. I thought $5.00 wasn't much, but it bought me a life lesson I will never forget. Pray for him.
We used our $20 to help a family with travel expenses to Atlanta. Their four year old little boy was recently diagnosed with a brain tumor and they were taking him to Emory to begin treatment.
On the drive home from church Sunday, we talked with our kids about the bless back offering. We talked about what we would do if the envelope had $50, $100 or even more. I mentioned that most people would have smaller amounts, but even $5 could bless someone if given in a creative and loving way. My kids couldn't wait to open the envelope! We opened it to find a ten dollar bill. Suprisingly, the kids were not disappointed. They began to give us lots of ways that we could share our $10.oo portion. We have decided to go purchase some things from a consignment sale for a family that could use some help. I challenge everyone to share with their friends about what happened on Sunday. Maybe the idea will spread beyond Piedmont Church!
We used our money to buy a Wal-Mart gift card for a family of seven that's house just burned down a week ago. This family was renting and had no insurance. The man works 7 days a week to provide for his family and this has devastated them. He asked me to thank the church for their generosity. This has been a wonderful and emotional experience. Thanks Piedmont!
My story is a little different from these others. I was not able to stay Sunday and participate in the Blessback offering or should I say taking. So, I thought I would share something that I did last year. Last fall, I was made aware of a bankrupt Methodist youth minister in another state who was trying to purchase his home. He credit was all shot out and the lenders were telling him it was impossible to finance a home for him. So, I agreed to finance the home for him. I have never met this man and only talked with him for the first time a couple of weeks ago. I had the resources to help him, and I did. I had never done anything like this before.
At the time, I was not regularly attending Piedmont Church. Since then, I believe with all certainty that God placed the right people at the right time in the right place to accomplish something that would glorify Him.
I have since been encouraged that the leadership of Piedmont Church has expressed repetitively that our pursuits should be less centered around ourselves. What happened Sunday was a bold move on the church's part, and I am excited to be part of a non-conventional, risk taking church that is unashamed about what we are doing. At the same time the church is offering a warm and inviting place for the curious as well as for serious. I encourage all who particpated this Sunday to not only blessback Macon, but the world.
I have never been to Piedmont Church. I work at a local psychiatric facility as a nurse every weekend throughout the night, three nights in a row so attending a Sunday service would find me sleeping in the pew. My prayer going up the elevator each night is, "Lord, help me find a way to be in service tonight. Give me the right words and actions. Bless them, change me." There are no regrets other than not having the support of a church family.
I saw the newscast this morning on WMAZ about "Bless Back Macon" and it inspired me to explore your website, join the blog and write to you.
Bless you, Pastor Jerry, in your effort to teach the most amazing lesson of giving. It is a powerful one and I believe that giving is the best way to express gratitude for all of our blessings.
Thank you for the blessing that you have given me today. You are an inspiration.
We received $50. After much thought, we decided to give the money to my daughter's teacher for her to use for under privileged students. Several times before my daughter has come home and said a child at school was not able to buy an icecream, go to the book fair, or even participate in a field trip. This breaks my heart everytime. After breaking the money down into one dollar denominations, I gave the money to the teacher with a letter telling her about our wonderful church and how this money came to pass. I know she will use it to touch the lives of her students. Thanks Piedmont for making that possible.
I am in nursing school. I have been taking care of a client who has no personal items and her bras are worn with pieces of frayed hooks exposed. My middle schooler received $5 and I received $5. We decided to purchase items for my client. We bought powder, deodorant, a new toothbrush, a comb, and warm socks for her.
It felt wonderful to surprise her with it. Her smile said it all. Since we can't as students supply items for our client, I was able to give these needed items as a gift from my church.
Good Morning, My name is Tradenia Earley and am a single mother and three(15, 13, and 10). I am so thankful to your members Christopher and Jennifer Simmons for giving me the cash gift. I was in a time of need and went to them. They opening up their hearts and give the gift from your church. Thank you so much. It is great to see a church reach out to the communtiy. I am very impressed with your church. Continue to do the good works that God has place upon you all to do.
There have been few times in my life when my faith has been really tested, however on August 1st a test like no other came. The son of one of my closest friends was diagnosed with an inoperable, incurable brain tumor at the age of 6. I have recently found myself on the VERGE as Jerry talked about Sunday, struggling with needing the answer to why this child and this family. Jerry's point about taking that leap of faith really stuck with me. I was waiting on Him...and He was waiting on me. My friend is a single mother with two children who have no health insurance, and her son has accumulated exorbident medical bills while receiving radiation treatment at Egleston in Atlanta. I was overcome with emotion when Jerry announced the intentions of the church. I used the money in my envelope to buy a few things for my friend and her children. Thank you, Piedmont, for showing us the way, for helping us send a powerful message to our community and for helping us believe.
After several years in our previous churh, my wife and I decided a change was needed. So, I hate to put it this way, but we went church shopping. We found ourselves at Piedmont on the very day the "Bless Back" was happening. When we heard what was to happen we both looked at each other and said the same name. This lady had lost her husband in January and was struggling financially and, of course mentally over her loss. We did not look at what was in the envelope. we just gave it to her. After drying her eyes, I said don't get too excited it may only be $5.00. It wasn't. It was $100.00. Then we all cryied together. Her husbands truck had just been repoed that morning so she was having a very bad day. But through the grace of God and the crazy church called Piedmont, her day ended on a high note. Thank you for letting me be apart of this blessed event.
I was truly blessed to be a part of the Bless Back Macon service at Piedmont Church last Sunday morning. I've been struggling with some life issues for awhile now, and I haven't really thought much lately about how I should be trying to serve others like Jesus did when He walked on this earth. It's so easy to get caught up with everyday life and all of its ups and downs and forget to do for and care about others. This step of faith by Piedmont has really made me think about what I'm here for and what I should be trying to do with my life for Him. God has blessed me over and over, and it was a joy to take the $50 in my envelope and pass it on to a Macon restaurant server who might could use the extra money for everyday life. I wrote a note to put in with the money gift that said, "God asked me to bless you with this. Have a great day!" It felt so good just giving to someone who I thought would appreciate it. Thank you, Piedmont, for wanting to show the people in Macon that you care about them and that God also cares about them and loves them. You are and will stay in my prayers! God Bless You!!!
I was truly blessed by Jerry's message Sunday. My wife & I took the $50 we received and gave it to a friend who has had financial problems and is between jobs. I explained Jerry's message and the purpose of gift. He told me that he had been attending a new church recently and had been convicted to start tithing recently. Even though money was tight, he knew that God would provide. Now between jobs, money is tighter than ever. At his greatest hour of need, God provided him an unexpected $50 and blessed him, reassuring him that God would provide. God truly blessed me by using me to convey his love and provide for a friend.
I wanted to share with everyone what has happened recently in my life. I have a had some really huge problem with my 18 yr old daughter. I was struggling with the issues with her and the way she left my house. I had been very depressed. One day on my way to work I heard a commercial for Piedmont Church. I decided to give it a try. I went during the House Sermons and felt as if this was about my life. I felt as if Pastor Jerry was speaking to me. Today while I was at lunch at work we had the groups that the United Way helps in our building. One of the people from the Macon Food Bank came to our table and gave us a brochure and asked us to read it when we get a chance. I picked it up and read about how they help provide food to the needy. I had a urge to give the money that was in my envelope to the food bank. I decided to give a little extra with it to help out. I feel like all things happen for a reason. The problems I was dealing with led me to Piedmont Church. The church has led me to help other people out and to have a relationship with GOD. Thanks for starting this Pastor Jerry!!
Our family received a total gift to "give back" of $25.00. I work with a man whose wife has been diagnosed with cancer. She is seeking treatment at a cancer center in Texas. They will have many travel expenses, so our gift went to them for their use as they need it in their battle to get well. This is one of those situations where they have insurance and good jobs but the unexpected additional costs of travel and gasoline combined with time off work for both and disability and, well you get the picture.
There was an organized fundraiser at work and my husband and I felt this was an excellent way to give back.
I'm continuing where I left off regarding the $500 bless back that came into my hands...
The $50 item for the one family fell through, so that's on hold for a minute. Another Piedmont family came up with an idea and ultimately, that's where that will go.
On the 9th another $100 left my hands and went to a family in need. They are struggling a lot financially and have recently had to declare bankruptcy because of mounting medical bills. The husband is a police officer, he's only just turned 30 and had open heart surgery less than 2 years ago. He also developed some kind of serious issue with his leg the year before last & the doctors told him there was a good chance it would have to be amputated. God looks over this family, I know that, but they do struggle and my heart aches for them. Their church has been able to help with one of their bills, but their particular church only allows one gift per family per year.
Yesterday I used the remaining $100 for a young couple who is expecting a baby any day now. I've always tried to help them out in any way I can, but yesterday I purchased diapers/wipes and various other baby necessities then put the remainder on WM gift card and dropped it all off at his work. This one I did not do anonymously because I felt the need to point out that God is on their side even if they don't realize it. The young man has had a very hard time keeping a job, mostly because he's young and has a temper that he has yet to learn to control, and this is something that's worried me for years. He himself came from a dysfunctional family & it's my deepest desire that he not repeat the pattern.
So... God blessed me through the heart of Piedmont. I am truly happy to have been a part of Bless Back Macon, God does truly work in mysterious ways doesn't He? I have always believed in random acts of kindness and this radical idea helped me take it one GIANT step further.
anonymous said: God's word REALLY is true! Prov. 11:25 says "a generous person will prosper, because he who refreshes OTHERS will himself be refreshed!" I cannot tell you of the great JOY WE had as we did an anonymous house project for a family who was away on a little trip...many "man hours" later, we had created the most lovely warm family-centered home atmosphere for them to return to...and they had great tears of joy when they saw how much Jesus loved them through us! Incidentally, we thought this was to be the use of our $100, but during the project the Lord led us to give it to one of the "house helpers" who sacrificially gave,even though they themselves were struggling financially...What joy for ALL of us!! Living beyond yourself is TRULY the pathway to deep joy and happiness> Thanks Piedmont was being a church which models and encourages this focus!
I read about "Bless Back Macon" on the Air 1 News Page at www.air1.com. I just skimmed through all the stories and was extremely blessed. Thank you for setting the example and doing what we're all called to do: give what we have. If we lose our life for His sake, we'll find it (Matt. 16:25)
My family received $50 in our envelope. We thought about many different ways to use the money but really couldn't decide on one that we agreed on. The next day at school, I overheard that a previous student of mine said their phone had been cut off. The family consists of a single mother raising 7 children. She works extremely had with these children. They are always at school with their homework done and ready to learn. She works with them every night and makes sure they understand what was taught at school that day. The little girl said that her mother was trying to find a job so the phone could get turned back on. I knew immediately that this was the family we needed to help. We decided to match the amount with our own money and sent a card anonymously to the family with $100 in it. We just wrote a note that said "We are thinking about you and God loves you."
these comments truly, truly touch my heart! Piedmont church is truly being the hands and feet of Jesus!
in 2006 my mom was diagnosed with a condition that caused her to be on long term disability. but for the six month processing period, she was only paid for her vacation and the remainder of her sick hours. she is the breadwinner in our family, so my dad worked constantly to ensure that we wouldn't struggle. as the debts piled up, an envelope in the mail from an anonymous sender containing $600. my family was so relieved, we cried and called everyone we knew to see if they sent the envelope. God truly blessed my family.
I am 20 now, and i work full time and attend college in macon. a friend of a friend mentioned Piedmont Church, in a facebook message, to me when i told him i was in the market for a new church.(that sounds terrible, but that's the only way to truly put it!) The morning of the Blessback sermon, i looked at the message at 9:58am. I knew i didn't have time to get ready and make it to service on time, but God pursued me to do so!
I felt bad taking the envelope, as it was my first time. but i drove to work that afternoon, and i KNEW that my co-worker would be the recipient of whatever was in the envelope. I told her all about my visit to a new Church, and she told me that her daughters car had caught on fire the night before and burned her daughters friend's face and arms. I KNEW God was using me to help her. She rarely gets to do anything for herself, so i know the money will be a huge help to her. ..she is constantly doing great things for her family and i know she needs something for herself.
Thank you Piedmont Church for helping us be in the image of Jesus!
As soon as my son and I got in the car, we opened our envelopes. We both got $5.00. We both said the same name at the same time. We know a boy whose mother is a single mom and she came here from Mexico to give her children a better life. She works very hard for her two children, but I know it has to be hard to make ends meet. My son decided to put our money into his friend's school lunchroom account. We also had the school to give him a card telling him what had been done and wished him a good day. We signed it from his friends at Piedmont Church. It was such a joy to be able to teach my middle school child what is is like to give to those who have much less than we do. Thank you Piedmont Church for trying to bless back Macon.
My wife and I received $5. Big ? how can that help? One of my wifes coworkers and her sister received $5ea. The $15. was given to a grandmother raising her grandchild because her daughter is on drugs.
When we were singing the song Sunday about greater things are yet to come and greater things are still to be done in this city, I finally knew the answer to who we were to bless with the money that we received. There is a lady at work who is starting a ministry to reach out to women who are living on the streets. Her group will be taking spiritual as well as physical food to these ladies. I know that they will be making a big impact on their area of Macon.
I have only visted piedmont a couple of times, but the bless back sunday was a really good service. I brought a friend (first time vistor and her birthday) and she got 10.00 and I received 5.00. We sent our money to a young single mother who was just sentenced to 2 years in prison. She just does not have much family and had to leave a 4 year old daughter she is having a hard time adjusting to the jail and also leaving her daughter. She can use the money for stamps,calling card, and personal items
Remember the lady with the "deal with God" to either rise and go to church or have a ME day? Well her story does continue. Our family, along with another family, and her family joined our funds together anonymously with a note for the purposes of an electrician service call or a new A/C. This single parent has four children and have endured a hot house this summer. Hopefully now they can cool it down a bit!
God Bless to our Piedmont Family and those of us who have re-discovered that we have giving hearts!!
We used our $10 to buy supplies to make cookies and other comforts to send anonymously to a sailor on the USS Reagan who is on a six month deployment and has come upon hard times with no family to send him mail. Please Pray for this Sailor who is currently on suicide watch. Thank you Peidmont for the oportunity to show my children the importance of giving.
My daughter's PreK class was collecting goods for a care package to send to one of her classmate's dad who is in the US Air Force and stationed in Iraq. I added the church's $20 to my $20 to buy twice as much for him and his fellow soldiers that he will share his care package with soon.
My wife and I received a ‘Bless Back’ envelope and immediately didn’t open it. We prayed for God’s guidance, and believing God would show us exactly how to use it, we tucked it away in one of our Bibles and waited. I thought we would have an opportunity within the week, and I’ll admit that I became discouraged when the ‘awesome revelation’ never came. In fact, after four weeks, the little envelope with unknown contents had almost become a burden—something that we just wanted to get rid of to any remotely decent cause.
On Monday of this week, I got into a ‘debate’ with a coworker. I would like to say that the topic was something important like the election, the wars or that day’s 777-point drop in the Dow; but sadly, it was over the previous weekend’s football game. I would also like to say that this person was more than just a workplace acquaintance, but again, sadly, I knew little more of this person than his football team of choice, and that his wasn’t the same as mine. Even though I walked away before the ‘discussion’ escalated above ‘passionate’, I felt oddly remorseful for the whole exchange, and I don’t ever remember feeling regret for a verbal round of trash talk. Shortly afterwards, I was sitting with my usual lunch buddies and I saw this individual and motioned for him to join us, mostly out of the unusual guilt for my earlier behavior. This individual had never sat with us before and I know that he was thinking that I only extended the invitation so as to continue the earlier ‘dispute’. I apologized for my part in our argument over something so trivial as a game and then introduced him to my friends. The conversation soon steered beyond college football to other topics and the long awaited opportunity.
In June, this man had suddenly lost his fourteen-year-old son to an acute and rare form of leukemia. (I question the ‘rareness’ because I’ve also lost a friend to this same supposedly ‘rare’ disease.) He told me the difficult time that he and his wife were having emotionally and was probably content to leave it at that, but something inside me was not. The same unseen hand that prompted me to invite this man to join us also gave me the boldness to ask about how adequate his medical insurance had been. He told me that they had been unable to afford insurance and that he and his wife were still trying to make arrangements for all the bills. After almost a month, I finally knew what our envelope was for. I told my wife and she agreed that this is what we had been waiting for. She also questioned whether this was the same individual that I had specifically mentioned to her over the weekend as someone I couldn’t wait to see on Monday so I could talk trash about the game. Ouch.
We finally opened our envelope to find a healthy amount, but it didn’t seem enough, so we doubled it and today I gave it to a very grateful, very fanatical and very hurting father. All of this taught me several things:
1. We are all very blessed. I am honestly ashamed that it took so long to find a real need in my circle. 2. Sometimes you have to pry. I’ve always been of the mind that if someone wanted you to know their business, then they would openly share it. But perhaps other people are sometimes as proud as I can be and God needs us to actually do some work to find opportunities of service. 3. College football really doesn’t matter as much as I often pretend it does. But God can even use our silly little human distractions to bring His good. 4. Giving is awesome and we want to do it again soon.
We received $50.00 during the Bless Back Macon service. Since we couldn't decide where to "gift" the money, we have been holding on til the right person came along. At G.I.R.L. time on Friday October 3rd, Katie Kemper told our Women's Bible Study group about her neighbor, a 32 year old widow with two children. This young woman lost her husband in April of this year to cancer. We made the decision to give her the $50 we had received at Piedmont and a "little something extra" of ours. We hope and pray that this small token will bless this woman and her family and show them that God is the answer for all of us. God has blessed me and my new husband beyond anything we could have ever hoped for. Thank you Piedmont for allowing and encouraging us to bring happiness to others. God bless you all in continuing His work.
I am not a Piedmont member but sometimes visit. Sometimes God prompts me to visit. Once I was leaving my church's early service and God said, "Go to Piedmont now." I said, "but it's too late...." HE said, "...not too late for the message." At this time, I had been considering going on a mission trip, but never had done this, and so felt "unqualified." The sermon, which was already in progress that day when I arrived, was entitled, "How Jesus Calls the Un-Qualified" or something to that effect. I was so touched by these testimonies, especially the seriousness with which people took their task in waiting for just the right "God moment" that I decided to do it with you! I was not visiting on the day of the "bless back", but shortly after, I was able to bless a friend who had actually given me an entire day's salary to help fund my mission trip. She had left an un-godly workplace on a leap of faith and was struggling, had moved in with a friend, phone being cut off, etc. I was able to pay her cell phone bill; a single woman does not need to be without a phone! Thank YOU for the inspiration to be His hands to someone.
I have started a non-profit to encourage people to use a partner system, buddy system when they go on hiking or bike rides. I encourage people to be aware and not to have both ears listening to ear buds. I encourage people to use www.justyellfire.com because I wrote a murder mystery called Murder On The Silver Comet Trail. Just like The Shack, if we make it harder to be a target, we are rescuing two people. The target, and the person who is damaged enough to hurt. http://www.murdertrail.blogspot.com
40 comments:
I'm not sure if this is the best place to leave this, but I need to let you know how we have been blessed through members of Piedmont. My husband and I have been "working" on a remodeling project for our master bathroom. Well, we have had no floor, open studs, loose wires, and a plain mess for almost a year. We got in over our heads and budget. A family that we've known, who are members of Piedmont, decided that they would help us out. Not only help us, but pay for it too! They have already added new joists, insulation, and new stud walls. Not only that but they bought us a tub!!! Can you believe this? Who comes in, pays for the materials, the builder's labor, and a tub without even being asked!? I have been so overwhelmed with the generosity that I can barely speak about it without being emotional. God has used this family in a HUGE way to bless us lavishly with his love. Thank you for encouraging us to live outside of ourselves, we have been blessed in a way we never could have imagined. I can no longer see the basement from my bedroom!
I have to say this is a very exciting moment for me in my faith. There are several things I'm going to tell you that may help some people 'on the verge' of taking that final leap toward God, actually TAKE IT!
I am NOT a regular church goer. Those reasons are my own, but Saturday night I had made a deal with God (yes, I know that's not the way it works, but this time it did), my deal was if God woke me up I was going to church, if not, then I was going to take a very much needed ME day.
Needless to say, I was awake in plenty of time :0) God has a plan for me. Last month I was losing sleep over trying to figure out how to help a family that was in dire need of some things. My family tends to be in need a lot as well, but in our case, nobody in our home ever does without the things they truly need. This other family however, does do without essentials.
Yesterday, because God woke me, I came to Piedmont on a day when they did something so insane I was absolutely hesitant to take an envelope. At the last minute I did and told myself I would see what I could do. I picked the $500 envelope. When I saw the amount I was very concerned. I wanted so badly to give it back to the church. Even up until 6pm last night I was determined it was going back! Then it hit me like a ton of bricks! That family I had been so worried about could benefit from Piedmont's gift. Ultimately, that particular family has now received $250 along with another $50 item that was much needed in their household. I felt that I needed to do this anonymously because the family is extremely private and I only came about my information on accident from one of their family members.
God did bless me back in a very unusual way last night. I decided at the last minute to buy dinner for my family with the last of my 'stash'. The girl that took my order didn't charge for a couple of items & when I pointed this out she gave them to me at no charge. It was a total of $10 but still... $10 can feed my family for one day!
To be continued...
We know a family that fell on hard times. The dad is doing his best to provide and is a great guy. We used our $75 to make sure their cabinets are full of food.
We have some friends in great need for many different reasons. We decided to have a pizza delivered to them at their house for dinner tonight, and we paid for it with our Bless Back Macon money so they could have a meal they didn't have to worry about funding, and never had to leave the house to get. We told them we are praying for them, and are here for them and happy to help in any way possible through this tough time.
As I was listening to Pastor Jerry pray about the envelopes of money a man of the streets instantly came to my mind. I had seen him around the Kroger parking lot and at the interstate exit. My envelope contained just $5.00, but I knew it would help him. After the celebration party, I headed out to find him. I had to really seach but soon found him sitting on the curb. I parked my car and approched him, nervous as to what I would say. I explained who I was and talked about Piedmont Church and our purpose of dominating Macon with the love of Jesus Christ. I asked if it was okay to give him our gift and he accepted only to ask me to recite John 3:16. I stumbled through it and he recited from 3:14 to 3:17 from what he called his "memory bible". He asked if I had paper and pen, and I did not so he dug though his worldly posessions to find scrap paper on which he wrote
P eople
I n
E very
D ay situations
M eeting
tO glorify
'N'
T hank God.
Then when he finished he wrote on the opposite side of the paper:
Be a part of this invitation Sunday to see Christ heal us and receive Christ. He is the way, truth and life. No man cometh unto the Father but by Jesus.
I sat on that curb for over 30 minutes listening about his life.
When it was time to go I told him God loved him and had a plan for him. Then I thanked him for truly blessing MY day. His last words to me were, "Hey lady, Pray for a chariot to pick me up and take me to Knoxville, TN" and I replied I would. I thought $5.00 wasn't much, but it bought me a life lesson I will never forget.
Pray for him.
We used our $20 to help a family with travel expenses to Atlanta.
Their four year old little boy was recently diagnosed with a brain tumor and they were taking him to Emory to begin treatment.
This is showing GOD'S LOVE in a PRACTICAL way. I pray that God will burden my heart each and every day to love as Jesus loved.
On the drive home from church Sunday, we talked with our kids about the bless back offering. We talked about what we would do if the envelope had $50, $100 or even more. I mentioned that most people would have smaller amounts, but even $5 could bless someone if given in a creative and loving way. My kids couldn't wait to open the envelope! We opened it to find a ten dollar bill. Suprisingly, the kids were not disappointed. They began to give us lots of ways that we could share our $10.oo portion.
We have decided to go purchase some things from a consignment sale for a family that could use some help.
I challenge everyone to share with their friends about what happened on Sunday. Maybe the idea will spread beyond Piedmont Church!
We used our money to buy a Wal-Mart gift card for a family of seven that's house just burned down a week ago. This family was renting and had no insurance. The man works 7 days a week to provide for his family and this has devastated them. He asked me to thank the church for their generosity. This has been a wonderful and emotional experience. Thanks Piedmont!
My story is a little different from these others. I was not able to stay Sunday and participate in the Blessback offering or should I say taking.
So, I thought I would share something that I did last year. Last fall, I was made aware of a bankrupt Methodist youth minister in another state who was trying to purchase his home. He credit was all shot out and the lenders were telling him it was impossible to finance a home for him. So, I agreed to finance the home for him. I have never met this man and only talked with him for the first time a couple of weeks ago. I had the resources to help him, and I did. I had never done anything like this before.
At the time, I was not regularly attending Piedmont Church. Since then, I believe with all certainty that God placed the right people at the right time in the right place to accomplish something that would glorify Him.
I have since been encouraged that the leadership of Piedmont Church has expressed repetitively that our pursuits should be less centered around ourselves. What happened Sunday was a bold move on the church's part, and I am excited to be part of a non-conventional, risk taking church that is unashamed about what we are doing. At the same time the church is offering a warm and inviting place for the curious as well as for serious. I encourage all who particpated this Sunday to not only blessback Macon, but the world.
Dear Pastor Jerry,
I have never been to Piedmont Church. I work at a local psychiatric facility as a nurse every weekend throughout the night, three nights in a row so attending a Sunday service would find me sleeping in the pew. My prayer going up the elevator each night is, "Lord, help me find a way to be in service tonight. Give me the right words and actions. Bless them, change me." There are no regrets other than not having the support of a church family.
I saw the newscast this morning on WMAZ about "Bless Back Macon" and it inspired me to explore your website, join the blog and write to you.
Bless you, Pastor Jerry, in your effort to teach the most amazing lesson of giving. It is a powerful one and I believe that giving is the best way to express gratitude for all of our blessings.
Thank you for the blessing that you have given me today. You are an inspiration.
We received $50. After much thought, we decided to give the money to my daughter's teacher for her to use for under privileged students. Several times before my daughter has come home and said a child at school was not able to buy an icecream, go to the book fair, or even participate in a field trip. This breaks my heart everytime. After breaking the money down into one dollar denominations, I gave the money to the teacher with a letter telling her about our wonderful church and how this money came to pass. I know she will use it to touch the lives of her students. Thanks Piedmont for making that possible.
I am in nursing school. I have been taking care of a client who has no personal items and her bras are worn with pieces of frayed hooks exposed. My middle schooler received $5 and I received $5. We decided to purchase items for my client. We bought powder, deodorant, a new toothbrush, a comb, and warm socks for her.
It felt wonderful to surprise her with it. Her smile said it all. Since we can't as students supply items for our client, I was able to give these needed items as a gift from my church.
Thanks Piedmont!
Good Morning,
My name is Tradenia Earley and am a single mother and three(15, 13, and 10). I am so thankful to your members Christopher and Jennifer Simmons for giving me the cash gift. I was in a time of need and went to them. They opening up their hearts and give the gift from your church. Thank you so much. It is great to see a church reach out to the communtiy. I am very impressed with your church. Continue to do the good works that God has place upon you all to do.
Forever grateful,
Tradenia Earley
There have been few times in my life when my faith has been really tested, however on August 1st a test like no other came. The son of one of my closest friends was diagnosed with an inoperable, incurable brain tumor at the age of 6. I have recently found myself on the VERGE as Jerry talked about Sunday, struggling with needing the answer to why this child and this family. Jerry's point about taking that leap of faith really stuck with me. I was waiting on Him...and He was waiting on me. My friend is a single mother with two children who have no health insurance, and her son has accumulated exorbident medical bills while receiving radiation treatment at Egleston in Atlanta. I was overcome with emotion when Jerry announced the intentions of the church. I used the money in my envelope to buy a few things for my friend and her children. Thank you, Piedmont, for showing us the way, for helping us send a powerful message to our community and for helping us believe.
After several years in our previous churh, my wife and I decided a change was needed. So, I hate to put it this way, but we went church shopping. We found ourselves at Piedmont on the very day the "Bless Back" was happening. When we heard what was to happen we both looked at each other and said the same name. This lady had lost her husband in January and was struggling financially and, of course mentally over her loss. We did not look at what was in the envelope. we just gave it to her. After drying her eyes, I said don't get too excited it may only be $5.00. It wasn't. It was $100.00. Then we all cryied together. Her husbands truck had just been repoed that morning so she was having a very bad day. But through the grace of God and the crazy church called Piedmont, her day ended on a high note. Thank you for letting me be apart of this blessed event.
I was truly blessed to be a part of the Bless Back Macon service at Piedmont Church last Sunday morning. I've been struggling with some life issues for awhile now, and I haven't really thought much lately about how I should be trying to serve others like Jesus did when He walked on this earth. It's so easy to get caught up with everyday life and all of its ups and downs and forget to do for and care about others. This step of faith by Piedmont has really made me think about what I'm here for and what I should be trying to do with my life for Him. God has blessed me over and over, and it was a joy to take the $50 in my envelope and pass it on to a Macon restaurant server who might could use the extra money for everyday life. I wrote a note to put in with the money gift that said, "God asked me to bless you with this. Have a great day!" It felt so good just giving to someone who I thought would appreciate it. Thank you, Piedmont, for wanting to show the people in Macon that you care about them and that God also cares about them and loves them. You are and will stay in my prayers! God Bless You!!!
I was truly blessed by Jerry's message Sunday. My wife & I took the $50 we received and gave it to a friend who has had financial problems and is between jobs. I explained Jerry's message and the purpose of gift. He told me that he had been attending a new church recently and had been convicted to start tithing recently. Even though money was tight, he knew that God would provide. Now between jobs, money is tighter than ever. At his greatest hour of need, God provided him an unexpected $50 and blessed him, reassuring him that God would provide. God truly blessed me by using me to convey his love and provide for a friend.
PIEDMONT,
You can't out give God,he loves a cheerful giver. Satin doesn't like what you are doing and sometimes he wins the battle but GOD will win the war.
I wanted to share with everyone what has happened recently in my life. I have a had some really huge problem with my 18 yr old daughter. I was struggling with the issues with her and the way she left my house. I had been very depressed. One day on my way to work I heard a commercial for Piedmont Church. I decided to give it a try. I went during the House Sermons and felt as if this was about my life. I felt as if Pastor Jerry was speaking to me.
Today while I was at lunch at work we had the groups that the United Way helps in our building. One of the people from the Macon Food Bank came to our table and gave us a brochure and asked us to read it when we get a chance. I picked it up and read about how they help provide food to the needy. I had a urge to give the money that was in my envelope to the food bank. I decided to give a little extra with it to help out.
I feel like all things happen for a reason. The problems I was dealing with led me to Piedmont Church. The church has led me to help other people out and to have a relationship with GOD.
Thanks for starting this Pastor Jerry!!
Our family received a total gift to "give back" of $25.00. I work with a man whose wife has been diagnosed with cancer. She is seeking treatment at a cancer center in Texas. They will have many travel expenses, so our gift went to them for their use as they need it in their battle to get well. This is one of those situations where they have insurance and good jobs but the unexpected additional costs of travel and gasoline combined with time off work for both and disability and, well you get the picture.
There was an organized fundraiser at work and my husband and I felt this was an excellent way to give back.
I'm continuing where I left off regarding the $500 bless back that came into my hands...
The $50 item for the one family fell through, so that's on hold for a minute. Another Piedmont family came up with an idea and ultimately, that's where that will go.
On the 9th another $100 left my hands and went to a family in need. They are struggling a lot financially and have recently had to declare bankruptcy because of mounting medical bills. The husband is a police officer, he's only just turned 30 and had open heart surgery less than 2 years ago. He also developed some kind of serious issue with his leg the year before last & the doctors told him there was a good chance it would have to be amputated. God looks over this family, I know that, but they do struggle and my heart aches for them. Their church has been able to help with one of their bills, but their particular church only allows one gift per family per year.
Yesterday I used the remaining $100 for a young couple who is expecting a baby any day now. I've always tried to help them out in any way I can, but yesterday I purchased diapers/wipes and various other baby necessities then put the remainder on WM gift card and dropped it all off at his work. This one I did not do anonymously because I felt the need to point out that God is on their side even if they don't realize it. The young man has had a very hard time keeping a job, mostly because he's young and has a temper that he has yet to learn to control, and this is something that's worried me for years. He himself came from a dysfunctional family & it's my deepest desire that he not repeat the pattern.
So... God blessed me through the heart of Piedmont. I am truly happy to have been a part of Bless Back Macon, God does truly work in mysterious ways doesn't He? I have always believed in random acts of kindness and this radical idea helped me take it one GIANT step further.
anonymous said:
God's word REALLY is true! Prov. 11:25 says "a generous person will prosper, because he who refreshes OTHERS will himself be refreshed!"
I cannot tell you of the great JOY WE had as we did an anonymous house project for a family who was away on a little trip...many "man hours" later, we had created the most lovely warm family-centered home atmosphere for them to return to...and they had great tears of joy when they saw how much Jesus loved them through us! Incidentally, we thought this was to be the use of our $100, but during the project the Lord led us to give it to one of the "house helpers" who sacrificially gave,even though they themselves were struggling financially...What joy for ALL of us!!
Living beyond yourself is TRULY the pathway to deep joy and happiness> Thanks Piedmont was being a church which models and encourages this focus!
I read about "Bless Back Macon" on the Air 1 News Page at www.air1.com. I just skimmed through all the stories and was extremely blessed. Thank you for setting the example and doing what we're all called to do: give what we have. If we lose our life for His sake, we'll find it (Matt. 16:25)
My family received $50 in our envelope. We thought about many different ways to use the money but really couldn't decide on one that we agreed on. The next day at school, I overheard that a previous student of mine said their phone had been cut off. The family consists of a single mother raising 7 children. She works extremely had with these children. They are always at school with their homework done and ready to learn. She works with them every night and makes sure they understand what was taught at school that day. The little girl said that her mother was trying to find a job so the phone could get turned back on. I knew immediately that this was the family we needed to help. We decided to match the amount with our own money and sent a card anonymously to the family with $100 in it. We just wrote a note that said "We are thinking about you and God loves you."
these comments truly, truly touch my heart! Piedmont church is truly being the hands and feet of Jesus!
in 2006 my mom was diagnosed with a condition that caused her to be on long term disability. but for the six month processing period, she was only paid for her vacation and the remainder of her sick hours. she is the breadwinner in our family, so my dad worked constantly to ensure that we wouldn't struggle. as the debts piled up, an envelope in the mail from an anonymous sender containing $600. my family was so relieved, we cried and called everyone we knew to see if they sent the envelope. God truly blessed my family.
I am 20 now, and i work full time and attend college in macon. a friend of a friend mentioned Piedmont Church, in a facebook message, to me when i told him i was in the market for a new church.(that sounds terrible, but that's the only way to truly put it!) The morning of the Blessback sermon, i looked at the message at 9:58am. I knew i didn't have time to get ready and make it to service on time, but God pursued me to do so!
I felt bad taking the envelope, as it was my first time. but i drove to work that afternoon, and i KNEW that my co-worker would be the recipient of whatever was in the envelope. I told her all about my visit to a new Church, and she told me that her daughters car had caught on fire the night before and burned her daughters friend's face and arms. I KNEW God was using me to help her. She rarely gets to do anything for herself, so i know the money will be a huge help to her. ..she is constantly doing great things for her family and i know she needs something for herself.
Thank you Piedmont Church for helping us be in the image of Jesus!
Brightest Blessings!
^^^
(the daughter's friend is ok, she went to the hospital and was sent home that night with medication. she is doing great, now!)
As soon as my son and I got in the car, we opened our envelopes. We both got $5.00. We both said the same name at the same time. We know a boy whose mother is a single mom and she came here from Mexico to give her children a better life. She works very hard for her two children, but I know it has to be hard to make ends meet. My son decided to put our money into his friend's school lunchroom account. We also had the school to give him a card telling him what had been done and wished him a good day. We signed it from his friends at Piedmont Church. It was such a joy to be able to teach my middle school child what is is like to give to those who have much less than we do. Thank you Piedmont Church for trying to bless back Macon.
My wife and I received $5. Big ? how can that help? One of my wifes coworkers and her sister received $5ea. The $15. was given to a grandmother raising her grandchild because her daughter is on drugs.
When we were singing the song Sunday about greater things are yet to come and greater things are still to be done in this city, I finally knew the answer to who we were to bless with the money that we received. There is a lady at work who is starting a ministry to reach out to women who are living on the streets. Her group will be taking spiritual as well as physical food to these ladies. I know that they will be making a big impact on their area of Macon.
I have only visted piedmont a couple of times, but the bless back sunday was a really good service. I brought a friend (first time vistor and her birthday) and she got 10.00 and I received 5.00. We sent our money to a young single mother who was just sentenced to 2 years in prison.
She just does not have much family and had to leave a 4 year old daughter she is having a hard time adjusting to the jail and also leaving her daughter. She can use the money for stamps,calling card, and personal items
With the $5.00, we blessed an elderly woman in an assisted living facility with her favorite sodas and snacks to keep in her room.
We received $10 and put some money with it to buy groceries for a struggling single mom with a young son.
Remember the lady with the "deal with God" to either rise and go to church or have a ME day? Well her story does continue. Our family, along with another family, and her family joined our funds together anonymously with a note for the purposes of an electrician service call or a new A/C. This single parent has four children and have endured a hot house this summer. Hopefully now they can cool it down a bit!
God Bless to our Piedmont Family and those of us who have re-discovered that we have giving hearts!!
We used our $10 to buy supplies to make cookies and other comforts to send anonymously to a sailor on the USS Reagan who is on a six month deployment and has come upon hard times with no family to send him mail. Please Pray for this Sailor who is currently on suicide watch. Thank you Peidmont for the oportunity to show my children the importance of giving.
My daughter's PreK class was collecting goods for a care package to send to one of her classmate's dad who is in the US Air Force and stationed in Iraq. I added the church's $20 to my $20 to buy twice as much for him and his fellow soldiers that he will share his care package with soon.
My wife and I received a ‘Bless Back’ envelope and immediately didn’t open it. We prayed for God’s guidance, and believing God would show us exactly how to use it, we tucked it away in one of our Bibles and waited. I thought we would have an opportunity within the week, and I’ll admit that I became discouraged when the ‘awesome revelation’ never came. In fact, after four weeks, the little envelope with unknown contents had almost become a burden—something that we just wanted to get rid of to any remotely decent cause.
On Monday of this week, I got into a ‘debate’ with a coworker. I would like to say that the topic was something important like the election, the wars or that day’s 777-point drop in the Dow; but sadly, it was over the previous weekend’s football game. I would also like to say that this person was more than just a workplace acquaintance, but again, sadly, I knew little more of this person than his football team of choice, and that his wasn’t the same as mine. Even though I walked away before the ‘discussion’ escalated above ‘passionate’, I felt oddly remorseful for the whole exchange, and I don’t ever remember feeling regret for a verbal round of trash talk. Shortly afterwards, I was sitting with my usual lunch buddies and I saw this individual and motioned for him to join us, mostly out of the unusual guilt for my earlier behavior. This individual had never sat with us before and I know that he was thinking that I only extended the invitation so as to continue the earlier ‘dispute’. I apologized for my part in our argument over something so trivial as a game and then introduced him to my friends. The conversation soon steered beyond college football to other topics and the long awaited opportunity.
In June, this man had suddenly lost his fourteen-year-old son to an acute and rare form of leukemia. (I question the ‘rareness’ because I’ve also lost a friend to this same supposedly ‘rare’ disease.) He told me the difficult time that he and his wife were having emotionally and was probably content to leave it at that, but something inside me was not. The same unseen hand that prompted me to invite this man to join us also gave me the boldness to ask about how adequate his medical insurance had been. He told me that they had been unable to afford insurance and that he and his wife were still trying to make arrangements for all the bills. After almost a month, I finally knew what our envelope was for. I told my wife and she agreed that this is what we had been waiting for. She also questioned whether this was the same individual that I had specifically mentioned to her over the weekend as someone I couldn’t wait to see on Monday so I could talk trash about the game. Ouch.
We finally opened our envelope to find a healthy amount, but it didn’t seem enough, so we doubled it and today I gave it to a very grateful, very fanatical and very hurting father. All of this taught me several things:
1. We are all very blessed. I am honestly ashamed that it took so long to find a real need in my circle.
2. Sometimes you have to pry. I’ve always been of the mind that if someone wanted you to know their business, then they would openly share it. But perhaps other people are sometimes as proud as I can be and God needs us to actually do some work to find opportunities of service.
3. College football really doesn’t matter as much as I often pretend it does. But God can even use our silly little human distractions to bring His good.
4. Giving is awesome and we want to do it again soon.
We received $50.00 during the Bless Back Macon service. Since we couldn't decide where to "gift" the money, we have been holding on
til the right person came along.
At G.I.R.L. time on Friday October 3rd, Katie Kemper told our Women's Bible Study group about her neighbor, a 32 year old widow with
two children. This young woman lost her husband in April of this year to cancer. We made the decision to give her the $50 we had received at Piedmont and a "little something extra" of ours. We hope and pray that this
small token will bless this woman and her family and show them that
God is the answer for all of us.
God has blessed me and my new husband beyond anything we could have ever hoped for. Thank you Piedmont for allowing and encouraging us to bring happiness to others. God bless you all in continuing His work.
I am not a Piedmont member but sometimes visit. Sometimes God prompts me to visit. Once I was leaving my church's early service and God said, "Go to Piedmont now." I said, "but it's too late...." HE said, "...not too late for the message." At this time, I had been considering going on a mission trip, but never had done this, and so felt "unqualified." The sermon, which was already in progress that day when I arrived, was entitled, "How Jesus Calls the Un-Qualified" or something to that effect. I was so touched by these testimonies, especially the seriousness with which people took their task in waiting for just the right "God moment" that I decided to do it with you! I was not visiting on the day of the "bless back", but shortly after, I was able to bless a friend who had actually given me an entire day's salary to help fund my mission trip. She had left an un-godly workplace on a leap of faith and was struggling, had moved in with a friend, phone being cut off, etc. I was able to pay her cell phone bill; a single woman does not need to be without a phone! Thank YOU for the inspiration to be His hands to someone.
May you be blessed with God's very best!
A friend
I have started a non-profit to encourage people to use a partner system, buddy system when they go on hiking or bike rides. I encourage people to be aware and not to have both ears listening to ear buds. I encourage people to use www.justyellfire.com because I wrote a murder mystery called Murder On The Silver Comet Trail. Just like The Shack, if we make it harder to be a target, we are rescuing two people. The target, and the person who is damaged enough to hurt. http://www.murdertrail.blogspot.com
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