“If I can help even one person, I think it would be worth it all.”

In 2022, Kathy was prompted to reach out to FBC and share her personal story of adoption. Her heart behind it is summed up perfectly in her remark above - helping others. In recent years, Kathy has unfolded the intricate story of her biological family. Realizing the position her mother found herself in before giving birth, Kathy made it a personal life mission to love and help young girls who find themselves in a similar place. We were thrilled to share Kathy’s story in our services on Sanctity of Life Sunday (January 22). It’s an honor to help Kathy reach others with the beautiful testimony of what God has done, and of His sovereignty, love, and purpose for each human life. If you know someone who may be encouraged by it, please consider sharing!

During our conversation with her, Kathy shared two passages that the Lord has written on her heart during her journey:

Jeremiah 1:5a (NIV)

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart…”

Psalm 139:13-16 (NIV)

13 “For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
    when I was made in the secret place,
    when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
    all the days ordained for me were written in your book
    before one of them came to be.”

We’re already seeing an abundant response to this year’s Season of Generosity launch, and we’ve only just begun!

You’ve probably heard about the two main ways to get involved:

1. Giving of your time and energy by participating in one of our local service opportunities

2. Giving of your financial resources to bless one of our local or global ministry partners

We encourage you, first and foremost, to spend some time asking God to lay some of these opportunities on your heart. As you are drawn to certain serving initiatives or financial needs, you can jump in by signing up to serve, or by giving to our “Season of Generosity” fund.

Maybe you’ve already chosen some serving opportunities to jump into. Maybe you’ve thought about what it could look like to give extravagantly. That’s amazing!

If you’re looking for ways to go one step further…or to lean in a little more intentionally with your kids about what generosity looks like…or to carry Season of Generosity into your home and your routines…we’ve got some ideas.

Below, you’ll find a list of 10 ULTRA-PRACTICAL (and creative) ways to infuse your everyday life with generosity in this season.  

START HERE…

• Grab a mason jar and a handful of popsicle sticks and write down the names of our FBC Missionaries and Season of Generosity Partners on the popsicle sticks. Before each meal, have someone pick out a stick at random, and then pray for that missionary or organization.
  

• At the beginning of the week, write the name of an FBC missionary or Season of Generosity partner on the bathroom mirror with a dry erase marker and pray as often as you see it.
  

• Take a “prayer walk” around your neighborhood (solo, with a friend, spouse, or your family) to pray over our local and global ministry partners.
  

• Pick out one of this year’s 3 global partners and make a recipe from the region where they serve. (Think Middle Eastern, Indian, or Chilean Food!) Pinterest is brimming with international recipes you can make with common ingredients! Before you dig in, pray for the corresponding missionary.

  • Bassam Banoura - Middle East

  • Abraham Thomas - India

  • Alejandro Armijo - Chile
    

• Invite a new friend or a neighbor to serve with you. Serving together is a great way to build connection and bless our community at the same time!
  

• Check out products that support this year’s ministry partners. Most are made locally!

  • Church Community Services | Soup of Success Products

  • The Crossing | Micro-businesses: Spark Candles & X-Treme Tree Services

  • Trail Life USA | Featured Products
    

• Follow the social media platforms of the organizations we partner with to stay connected and informed.

  • Cultivate Culinary | Facebook | Instagram

  • Church Community Services | Facebook | Instagram

  • Faith Mission | Facebook

  • RETA | Facebook | Instagram

  • Ribbon of Hope | Facebook

  • Michiana Biblical Counseling Center | Facebook

  • The Crossing School of Business & Entrepreneurship | Facebook | Instagram

  • SPA Women’s Ministry Homes | Facebook | Instagram

  • Trail Life USA | Facebook | Instagram

  • Fresh Paint on the Road | Facebook

  • Time to Revive | Facebook | Instagram
    

• Treat our service opportunities as springboards. Ask ministry leaders if there are ways to continue volunteering in the future. Keep “spreading the cheer” by delivering boxes of donuts or Christmas cookies in your own neighborhood.

• Next time you’re at the store, allow one of your kiddos to pick out a toy to donate to RETA’s November Toy Drive, or take advantage of a sale at the grocery store to pick up something extra for Bristol Food Pantry’s November Food Drive. (For the full experience, allow your kids to personally drop off the donation in the big boxes in the Commons on Sunday morning!)

  • Check out RETA’s Toy Drive List here.

  • Check out Bristol Food Pantry’s List here.
    

• On your way to serve, leverage the car ride to talk to your kids about the “why” behind the “what” that they’re about to do. How will it bless the recipients?  

Have some additional creative ideas? Share them below!