What is the Benevolent Fund?
You might not be aware that our church provides support to members of our church family and the community through our Benevolent Fund.
What your giving does
Giving that is designated "Benevolent" provides food, prescriptions AND at times a small payment to keep the power, financial bridging for rent when a shortfall is experienced because of an unforeseen expense or to help with a damage deposit so someone can get into housing. We have opportunity to get individuals to medical treatment in places like Saint John and to connect individuals with much needed Christian counselling.
How our community receives support
All of this is achieved by those needing assistance coming to the church to meet with Doug McAllister, our Benevolent Coordinator. Doug welcomes, listens, records the details of the individual situation/need and offers to pray with our guest before they leave (all but one have welcomed this offer).
He then submits his summary to our Benevolent Committee (email makes things very efficient) and Sandra McMullin, Lera Beers and Deacon Sally Crawford prayerfully consider the need, discuss possible responses and then, often, Doug does the follow up with our guest. All of this is carried out with sensitivity to the confidential nature of such needs.
How you can help
If you regularly give to the Benevolent Fund, we thank you. You are making a practical difference in lives and we thank you for it. If you are not a regular giver to the Benevolent Fund, can I ask you to consider making a contribution by marking your gift "Benevolent Fund"?
A one time gift or repeated giving make a difference. This fall, the opportunities to help have been numerous. With Christmas coming, the Benevolent Fund is positioned to provide encouragement to church families while the Starting Local campaign will largely assist those outside our church family. Both worthy causes.
This ministry works quietly in the background, we only come to the congregation a couple of times a year to make this opportunity known. Thank you for considering this opportunity to give.
Pastor Greg
Pastoral Support to the Benevolent Committee
