Wrapping God’s Family Around Our City and Beyond…One Family at a Time
At the beginning of summer 2022, Pastor Randy challenged Westsiders with an extraordinary assignment. The church entrusted each family with an envelope containing $40 with the explicit instruction to bless someone.
You read that right. The Westside gave cash to every family in attendance that day.
The back story of this extraordinary event began with an anonymous Westsider who wanted to bless others. They came to the church leadership with a significant gift and an idea to use as a means to wrap our family around Kansas City in a tangible way. So, as families received the envelopes that fateful Sunday morning, Pastor Randy encouraged them to talk about it and pray about the responsibility that had come into their hands. How, and who, and when would they choose to bless? Well, that was up to them.
For some, it was immediately apparent. For others, it took a little longer to identify. Perhaps a few are still hanging on to their envelope, waiting on God.
Several of you wrote in during the last few months with your reverse-giving stories. You cared for orphans, children, parents, widows, elderly, and disabled people. You paid for gas, over-tipped, and simply gave to others who looked like they could use a pick-me-up. Many of you even added to the $40 you gave.
Danica:
Listening
I like to get to know people. I assume they will think I'm being nosy, but I like to ask questions casually and I genuinely care for people and the journey they're on. I pick up on subtle words, body language. I recently signed up for a new pest control service & the tech came over to do the first treatment. I started chatting with him. I could tell he was about 15 years younger than me, recently out of college. He talked about his 3-year-old son & how he couldn't wait to get home to him. As he worked, the Holy Spirit moved me to give my envelope with $40. Without letting him know it was money, I told him my church gave it to me to bless someone with & I wanted him to have it. Later in the evening, he texted me that he opened it, thanked me, said he appreciated it, & it would help them more than I knew. My heart is full & I love giving.
Dave and Gay Scanlan
Serving Servers
Back when Dave Ramsey was here for Financial Peace he told a story about the server at a restaurant that works on the holidays. That just really touched us as there was a time in my life that I always worked the holidays to get time & a half. Since that time, we have been over tipping when we go out to eat & recently secretly purchased a meal for a family. So, with the $40 from Sunday we knew exactly what we would do since the holiday weekend was at hand. We went for a meal on Memorial Day & gave our server the $40 with a message of Jesus' blessings. She had tears & was very thankful!! Oh & of course we over tipped as well!!
Linda
Helping the Homeless
As a Local City truck driver, I come face to face with the growing Kansas City homelessness. Though I wish I could take them all under my wing and bring them comfort and a success story, I know in reality, it's not possible. I do have a heart for the homeless. Always have. I do give money and bottled water when possible but honestly for the past 6 month or so... it has been on my heart to start handing out "Care Packages" throughout my workday. So, with gratitude and a thankful heart; to our generous WFC member and their donation. Your generosity inspired me to do what I've put on the back burner for way too long. I took the 40.00, added to it, and purchased items for "Care Packages." Thank you!
Shirley Hartley
Caring for Seniors
Sandy and Delbert, both 86 years, have been neighbors of ours ever since we moved to the neighborhood 10 years ago. They have battled cancer several times throughout their lifetime and both are currently fighting cancer again. They drive to the plaza for treatments in an unreliable vehicle without AC and have even been towed home or picked up several times because their car gave out on them. When Pastor Randy said there was an anonymous donor and to come up and get the pink envelope I immediately thought of my sweet neighbor, Sandy. It was all I could do not to cry through the rest of the service; I wanted to find Randy and give him a big hug! I worry and pray for my sweet neighbors all the time and have helped them myself. Sandy is the light of my life and even though her health and age prevent us from doing things together, we do visit and pray for each other. Every night she never fails to send me a good night email of hearts or angels and tells me how much she loves me. If she does happen to miss a night, I become concerned that something has happened to her. I love this lady so much and we both thank God for putting us in each other lives. She makes me feel loved and special--something that was lacking in my childhood. I just wish I could have met her sooner and hope I make her feel loved and special, too. She has such a tender heart and always feeds the birds and rabbits or whatever comes in her yard. Thanks again to the anonymous donor for the money, it was a delight to give the cash to my special and lovely friend Sandy.
Jenny Bartman
"Thank you for your service"
This morning we were told about the reverse giving. I had no idea who or what I wanted to give to. My dad a Vietnam USMC veteran and I took a day trip down to Pittsburgh KS to decorate my grandparents’ graves. We took his motorcycle, so he was wearing his leather veteran vest. He had a lady thank him for his service when we made an early stop. On the last portion of our day while getting gas, a man thanked him and shook his hand. He then said that his son was a USMC veteran who was shot in Afghanistan. I said that he raised a hero. As he was leaving, he handed me a flyer about a fund raiser for a nonprofit organization that his son started called Talon's Reach Foundation. I knew that this was God's way of nudging me. Their foundation’s goal is to offer our nation’s SOF (Special Operations Forces) warriors an opportunity to find sanctuary, mindfulness, and access to the tools and resources necessary to accelerate their path to recovery through their carefully tailored TRF Program nurturing personal growth and self-discovery.
Jodi:
God’s Timing
Our family discussed giving to our local food pantry. But I prayed that God would put someone directly in our path. That very day, leaving the grocery store there was a man with his family at the corner asking for help. I was able to look him in the eye and tell him God loves them as I handed him the cash. He was grateful. (We did give to the local food pantry also).
Taylor Young
Big Tiny Gifts
Our family decided to add money to the envelope from church and we ended up giving a family $300. Their son was born 13 weeks early, at only 1lb 6.6oz. He was in the NICU for 102 days before finally getting to go home with his parents. He's a little fighter and is getting stronger every day. I can't imagine what their medical bills will be but this family is more than deserving. The appreciation they felt from this donation was overwhelming and they were so shocked and grateful. It was an honor to be able to reach someone in need through the church and my family combined. Thank you for the opportunity to help make someone else's life better.
J.D.:
Patiently Paying Attention
I’d been patiently hanging on to my reverse giving money and asking God to show me who. A few times I almost gave it away but something held me back. Last week we went to Springfield to take our son back to school. When we checked into our hotel room the woman at the front desk was just finishing a phone call, clearly angry and trying to reel it in. When I saw her shaking I knew something bigger was going on in her life. Later that evening, I noticed she was back at the front desk and something in me nudged me to go get that envelope from my purse in the hotel room. I told my husband and he at me with surprise and said "Well, if you think that's who, then go do it."
I went back down to the lobby and approached her. Awkwardly, I told her about the task - and that I’d been hanging on to it for 2 months. I said to her, "I think you are supposed to have this. I noticed when we arrived earlier today that you were having a tough day. I hope it makes your day a little better." She cautiously took the envelope as I finished talking and then she let me in to her world. The night before, she and her 2-year-old son had been kicked out of their apartment by her boyfriend. They had no place to go and the hotel had been kind enough to let them stay for a night or two. That afternoon - shortly before we arrived, her ex-boyfriend showed up with a tow-truck to have her car towed since the title was in his name. She was leaning on the kindness of others and was clearly afraid and uncertain. She asked if she could hug me and I asked if I could hug HER and pray for her. She cried. God is amazing....
I've thought about her (and prayed for her) quite a bit in the past week, wishing I could have done more in those moments...but how amazing is it to be part of the chain that God places in someone's life to remind them that He in fact has his eye on them, sees it all and hasn't forgotten. Grateful for this opportunity which has taught me I need to be more aware and available to others.
Annemarie Murphy:
Westsider Unknowingly Gives to a Westsider Who Gives to a Veteran
My daughter was in the hospital the Sunday the $40 was given out. I watched online excited for this adventure only I lacked the $40 to give. Two weeks later I return to work. I help a customer and small talk of my daughters hospital stay and how it's been a rough year for us. She shakes my hand and tells me I can't refuse. I say thank you not knowing how much she just gave me, stick it in my pocket and continue on my day.
I was having car trouble so after work I stop at the auto part store. As I'm waiting for assistance I remember the money given to me earlier. I reach in my pocket to find its $40. I instantly think of my Westside family and it's very possible a Westsider gave it to me. As the auto guy and I talk he asked about my day. I explained I was exhausted and it's been rough year. He said I know what you mean. He said I would tell you my story but you don't want to hear it. I said please share.
He preceded to say he had just left the military after two tours. He wanted to come home and be a husband and father to his children. However, when he returned home his wife had left with the kids and drained the bank account. He ended up on the sofa of a friend and had just got this job as he tries to pick up the pieces. As much as I could use the $40, I knew God passed that $40 to me so I could fulfill the Westside giving to someone else. After he changed my battery I shook his hand thanked him and passed him the $40 in which that handshake turned immediately into a thank you hug from him. God is good!
A.T.:
Blessing Teachers
I gave this gift to a teacher I work with. I know her family struggles financially at times. Teaching has become such a difficult career for so many reasons but she maintains a positive and fun attitude. She loves Jesus and is thankful for everything she has. She has three kids, one of which is autistic. I know there's not a lot of extra money to do things, so I encouraged her to use the money to do something fun with her kids! She was so thankful!
Bill Hansen:
Transportation Compassion
I added $10 to the $40 gift we were blessed to share. Then asked my co workers if they knew of anyone in need of this gift. Someone had met a person who was having to walk to work every day while saving up for a car of their own. So this gift is being forwarded to her with the message that God loves them. I want to thank both the donor and the WFC leadership team for giving us (& trusting us for) this opportunity.
Thank you, Westside! You are making a difference in Kansas City and beyond by Loving Like Jesus, Sharing Jesus, and Becoming Like Jesus!
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