For our 25th anniversary, Sue and I decided that instead of gifts, we would ask our friends and family to make donations to a homeless shelter we visited on the Crow Indian Reservation in Montana last April. On the reservation, which is larger than the state of Delaware, there is 50% unemployment. When our anniversary party was over and the money was counted, $735 was collected.

A few days later, I called the shelter merely to confirm the address we would be sending the donation to. A pleasant lady answered the phone. When I told her why I was calling, she asked, “Do you mind if I ask how much you’ll be sending?”

“Over $700,” I told her.

The next thing I heard from the other end was crying. She could barely speak. Finally, she was able to share some of what they were going through this winter.
“Montana is very cold in February, but still, we have not been able to stay open overnight. We have been getting people out of the cold during the day, but we can’t afford to stay open nights. We’ve tried to bring the people to the hospital, but they don’t want to take them. The politics here is awful. Even if they’d take them, sometimes we can’t afford the gas to transport them.”

She thanked me repeatedly on behalf of the clients, many of whom struggle with alcoholism and addiction to meth. I was blown away that God had put this specific ministry on our hearts just when they needed it most.

I was also blown away by how He could use our anniversary, and the kindness of our loved ones, to make such a big difference. Thank you to all who gave.

I would encourage anyone reading to look for opportunities when gifts are normally given to ask, instead, for funds to help the poor. What if school teachers all asked that, instead of end-of-the-year gifts, students gave the money they would have spent to rebuild a school in Haiti? What if, at Christmas, families decided not to exchange gifts, but instead use the same amount of money to buy a car for a missionary? What if, instead of raising money for the next retreat or concert, youth groups raised money to sponsor a child in a third world country? What if, instead of doing things the way we always have, we asked, “What would Jesus do?”