April's BIG GIVE

Just an update on the big give from the Clark's. We were finally able to find a worthy candidate for gifting. A gentleman in need of financial aid for a heart operation. Thank God and Cornerstone for providing the opportunity and the willingness in spreading of His word.

Better late than never. My $5 from the Big Give is going to a young man from Haiti named Peterson St. Pierre. In December 2006, his father finally managed to (legally) bring his wife and five children to the US to live. Peterson is the oldest son. On May 30, Peterson will be graduating from High School with a 4.0 average. This was an accomplished while also working two days a week at Animal Kingdom. His goal is to become an engineer. He is a fine Christian gentleman and a wonderful example of what can be done with a life, even though the benefits we enjoy in America were not available to him in Haiti. Bringing the family to America was an expensive process and his father also managed to get his mother (Peterson's Grandmother) her papers and she was able to come here in February of this year. There is not much money left over for college but I know that the Lord will provide for him in some way. the church's donation plus some of mine may not make a big impact financially, but I am sure that it will in the way of encouraging him to meet his goals and walk in the Lord's footsteps along the way. - Nellie

Recipient: Elderly Publix employee who always is polite & cheerful. He didn’t look to see how much it was. ($20)

When we ask God to show us who to give the $15. Out of the blue a friend called. She has raised a retarded daughter all by herself for 24 years. Now she is out of work, needing a good job. God answers!!!

While checking out at Wal-Mart, the lady in front of us became very upset with the clerk because she made a mistake checking her out. The woman took out all her “I hate Wal-mart” frustrations on this poor girl who didn’t say a word and tried not to cry. We gave the clerk the envelope with a note that said God loves you and we do too. She thanked us and started to cry.

At a stop light after I gave a homeless man $1 he started praying, thanking God for what I gave him. I called him back over and witnessed to him& God led me to give him the $5.

I met Trudy in the grocery store. Trudy has been out of work for 2 years and told me she really didn’t know how she & her husband would make ends meet. They are Christians and took the tract that I gave her to pass on to someone who didn’t know the Lord. Praise God for His mercy.

Dear Pastor Joel You may or may not remember me, but I attended your church with Bob and Claudette Gast on the Sunday you passed out the envelopes with money to share with someone who does not attend. Not knowing anyone there, I brought it back to Maryland with me and have been waiting for God to show me where it would do the most good. A year ago our youth went to Puerto Rico to help build a church. They are now doing a fund raiser so they can go ahead and finish some work they didn’t get finished before. I decided to take the $5.00 that was in my envelope and add some more to it and give it to them for this very worthy cause. Hope this will bring a harvest of souls. Sincerely, Evaleane Huskins.

I came across the “Relay for Life” yard sale and thought this would be a great way to help cancer patients. Just maybe with God’s help we helped save someone’s life. ($20) – Marty & Beth Cool

I received $50 in my envelope for April's Big Give which I have to admit I was a little intimidated about. I kept praying for the right opportunity and even asked coworkers and the office worker in my subdivision for ideas in the hope of helping someone who really needs it, but the one thing I couldn't get out of my mind was the children at Give Kids the World Village. The Walmart I work at regularly raises money to donate to this charity and I had hoped to deliver some surprise gifts for the children in the form of ball hats and autograph books to take to the parks when I volunteered to serve breakfast there with some coworkers last Saturday, April 19. Unfortunately, owing to the fact that I am not used to getting up at 4am, I forgot to take the gifts with me to that event and had to settle for giving them to a GKTW representative at a different event, but I am happy to have participated in that breakfast anyway. The one thing I noticed the most is that I went to the park with the intent of serving and blessing the children in some way, but they blessed me so much more. The biggest thing I observed about those children was that even though they have all known more pain and fear because of their illnesses than some adults, not one of them looked worried or sad. Every child there had big smiles on their faces and looked forward to going to the parks. I'm disappointed that I ended up delivering the gifts through a middle man and can only hope that I used the money in the way it was intended, but I'm truly grateful that April's Big Give got me to go their even once and I hope I can learn that same child-like faith.

At a stoplight after I gave a homeless man $1. He started praying, thanking God for what I gave him. I called him back and witnessed to him & God led me to give him $5.

I came across the Relay for Life Garage Sale and thought this would be a great way to help cancer patients. Just maybe with God's help we helped save someone's life. - Marty, Beth and the Kids

I met ______ in the grocery store. _______ has been out of work for 2 years and told me she really did not know how she and her husband were going to make ends meet. They are Christians, and I told her to give the tract I gave her to someone who did not know the Lord. Praise God for His mercy.

While checking out at Walmart, the lady in front of us became very upset with the clerk because she made a mistake checking her out. The woman took out all of her "I hate Walmart" frustration on this poor girl who didn't say a word and tried not to cry. We gave the envelope with a note that said God loves you and we do too. ....Then she started to cry!!

We pooled our funds and gave them to a homeless man in Haines City in the Name of Jesus.
- Jim and Shari Boone

My husband has been unemployed since last summer. We moved to FL to be near my daughter and there are more job openings here than up north. Unemployment ran out at the end of February/Mid March. I have been working two jobs and he has been going for countless interviews. I fear what has made my trust in the Lord stronger has made his weaker. The Lord laid a burden on my heart to give toe money to my husband. It was a real struggle for me because I thought I was being selfish. By Thursday morning, the look of sadness and hopelessness on my husband's face. I knew then I had to give it to him. The Lord kept reminding me of Philippians 4:9, so I wrote it on the envelope and gave it to him. Again the Lord blessed later that evening when we discovered we'd be getting a tax refund instead of paying. The Lord is Good! I just pray that he will start relying on what the Lord can do instead of what he can do himself. Please pray for him.

(anonymous)

P.S. Last week was my first time here.

I passed on the money to our assistant grounds keeper, along with a note on one of the church's business cards. - Kathy Boss

We combined our gifts, and I took the $30 and went to the Kangaroo Quick Store @ 27 & ronald Reagan. There I "blessed" 6 people as they paid for their gas by adding $5 to what they gave the clerk. The clerk caught right on to what I was doing and she told the customers that I had shared my blessing with them. It took a few seconds for the receivers to figure it out, then they were all very thankful. It was a wonderful 40 minutes for me. - Don and Stephanie Jordan

I prayed for God to show me someone to give the $5 to before I left for Phoenix. He did.

After receiving inadequate directions from the Davenport Post Office to US 27, I was in an unfamiliar location. As I prayed for God to show me the way, I saw a man walking and stopped to ask his help. He gave me directions, then said "I have a big favor to ask. I'm a man out here on the street and I need money." I gave him the envelope and told him it was from God, not me. I believe I also said, "God loves you." he thanked me and said "God bless you." Although I don't believe I followed his directions correctly, I did find 27 and at the exact intersection I was seeking. Isn't God wonderful! - Judy Coleman

We put our 5's together and added it to a gift card we gave our neighbors. Their house burned down last Wednesday. I told them that we were praying for them. - Roy and Suzie Holland.

While getting off I-4 we saw a man with a sign saying that he was traveling. We combined our gifts and gave all of it to him.
- Ed & Tammy Conrado

Okay! I've got it! I've been blessed! Here's the story.

I went to get gas after work on Tuesday. I was approached by a man that looked like he just got off work, and said that he ran out of gas, had no money, and his two credit cards would not run. He needed to get back to Sanford, and needed 3 gallons of gas. I told him I would not give him the $10 but God would. He said that he was also a Christian. I prepaid his pump for him. And he said it must have been a thing of God that we meet. - Seth and Christy Knorr

Dear Pastor Joel,

The fellowship has spread! Here is what we did with the money.

Gary, myself and Stephanie decided to pool our money together. Collectively we had $15.00. We have an elderly neighbor, D_____, who lives alone with only her dog Caesar for companionship. Caesar has been in dire need of a grooming for quite some time. The poor little guy couldn't see as the hair was covering his eyes, he had bathroom problems and stickers were being matted in his fur faster than we could bathe and brush him.
Gary and I could not pay to have the poor dog groomed and neither could our neighbor D______. She was devastated she could not care for the pet she loved.

We went straight from church to D____'s house and gave her the $15. I explained although it was only half of what she needed I wanted to help with the money entrusted with us from the church. She broke down in tears and made me cry too. They say animals can't show emotions, but I swear to the day I die that dog cried too over D_____'s happiness.

Shortly thereafter D____ was walking Caesar and another neighbor, N____, asked D_____ why she had tears in her eyes. D______ explained the gift. N______ then contributed the other half of the money needed and offered her a ride to the groomers.

D____ wants me to send you an overwhelming thank-you to Cornerstone! I believe we might see D_____ at church next week.

Sincerely, Jennifer