Philadelphia Presbyterian Church of Mint Hill, NC
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Tony Griffin

 

I remember feeling several emotions as Chuck called for volunteers from the congregation. I was excited, nervous and eager. When he presented each of us with God’s $100.00, my mind raced with opportunities. I knew I could figure out how to use the parable of the talents and multiply the money for God. I prayed that night that I would find a way to be faithful to Chuck’s instructions. Those first few days were about what “I could do.” My focus changed after those first few days. What could God do with His money if I listened to Him and became His instrument. It wasn’t about me; it was about Him.
I felt I needed prayer help so I emailed 40 of my friends who are not members of Philadelphia. In the email I requested three things: 1) Pray that God would direct my use of the money and that I would listen and act faithfully; 2) Pray that God would work through them to show me ways to use the money; and 3) Prayerfully consider helping me to multiply the talents for God’s use. I told them that I would match anything I received for the Kingdom Assignment. I immediately received a phone call from one of my friends that said he would do all three. Over the next few weeks I was overwhelmed with the response of friends who said they would pray for me and support the Kingdom Assignment. 
 
To date God has turned His $100.00 into $ 24,529.00.
 
How I used God’s money:
 
$300.00
I asked Julie, Emily, Abbey, Ike and Moses to help me. I also gave Emily, Abbey and Ike $100.00 each and challenged them in the same way Chuck challenged us.
Allegro Foundation - Emily supported the Allegro Foundation – a Champion for Children with Disabilities. The Allegro Foundation is a non-profit organization that combines movement instruction with educational and medical expertise, creating a new vehicle to teach children with disabilities and enhance their quality of life. Emily donated over 60 hours of her time to work with her partner, Adam. Together they performed in the Singing Christmas Tree and at Barnes and Noble. Emily donated her money to Allegro in Adam’s honor. See www.allegrofoundation.net.
Free Wheel Chair Mission - Abbey bought 2 wheel chairs through www.freewheelchairmission.org
Cub Scouts - Ike plans on using his $100.00 to establish a program at Philadelphia to recycle Cub Scout uniforms to Cub Scout Packs that can’t afford to purchase them. He is still working on this. 
 
$5,585.00
Free Wheel Chair Mission - I purchased 115 wheel chairs that will be distributed to disabled men, women and children in third world countries. The chairs cost $48.35 each to make and distribute. I learned of this ministry through a program I participate in called The Master’s Program. 20,000,000 people world-wide are in need of wheel chairs. These chairs are rugged, rough terrain vehicles that allow persons with disabilities to have mobility, dignity and purpose in life. Through a wheel chair, you can share the love of God with someone who may have felt unloved and unwanted. All of this can be done for less than a dinner for two at a nice Charlotte restaurant. PLEASE VISIT www.freewheelchairmission.org
 
 $5,000.00

The Isaiah 6 Project, The Charlotte Eagles - I supported The Charlotte Eagles Isaiah 6 Project (Here I Am! Send Me Is 6:8). The Charlotte Eagles are a Christian soccer team that           competes in a professional soccer league. This money will be used to sponsor bringing a man from Chile, Gustavo Bentos to Charlotte to participate with the Eagles. The Isaiah 6 Project enables players to share their faith with others while participating in soccer. They then go out and share their belief in their home countries. Soccer is the most popular sport in Central America and in the world. Gustavo’s goal is to learn the teachings of the Eagles and then return to his home country to teach Christianity through soccer. Gustavo and his wife, Carolina, will affect countless people by sharing their faith in their home country. They are extremely excited about learning how to share their faith through a medium that touches so many lives in Chile. Please see www.charlotteeagles.org

$100.00

Guatemala Balls and Dolls - I purchased 22 soccer balls and 36 baby dolls. Mark Steffans, Head Coach of the Charlotte Eagles, gave me soccer balls and supplies. I took these to Guatemala on a recent trip and handed them out to boys and girls in 2 different towns. I told the children “Jesus loves you” and “Merry Christmas from Jesus” in Spanish when I gave them the balls and dolls. While the conditions these children live in were horrific by our standards, the smiles on their faces when they received these small gifts from God were truly priceless.

 
 $13,544.00
The Seed Company - This money finished the Bible translation for the Amiya people in Africa through The Seed Company. The Seed Company is associated with Wycliffe Bible Translators. David Reeves, a friend of mine, was a missionary in Indonesia for 18 years. He recently came to work at JAARS in Waxhaw. JAARS provides quality technical support services and resources to speed Bible translation for all people. At a meeting of our Master’s Program David told me he had received my email and had some ideas for the Kingdom Assignment money. Since he had just returned from mission work he didn’t have much money but was going to fast for a day and give me the $5.00 he saved by fasting. What a gesture! He put me in contact with Marty Sanders at JAARS about possible uses for the Kingdom Assignment money. Marty explained that there are 6,900 languages in the world and the Bible has been translated into approximately 2,900 languages. About 200 million people do not have the Bible in their own language. Many cultures don’t even have a written language so translators must go in, learn the language and culture, establish a written language, translate the Bible and then teach the people the written language and the Bible. This process usually takes 10-15 years depending on the translator’s understanding of the language. 
The total cost of a translation project is approximately $150,000.00. The Amiya project was lacking $13,544.00 to complete the translation. There are 2.2 million people in the Amiyan culture in central Africa. David has recently been named president of JAARS. After I told him I wanted to support the Amiyan translation, he told me that he had chosen the day of my meeting with Marty as his day of fasting and prayer. He prayed that God’s will would be to use the money for the completion of this project. This money completes the Amiyan Bible translation project.
 
What I Learned
It truly is “More blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35
I underestimate God’s ability.
I can’t even fathom what is possible with God, but I know my lack of vision limits what God is capable of doing through and for me.
God is Great!!!!
Asking for prayer help shows strength, not weakness.
We are tools, and have tools that are limitless through God.
God can affect millions with $100.00.
The whole working together is greater than the sum of the parts working separately.
I am very blessed.
It truly is “More blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35
 
 
 

Philadelphia Presbyterian Church
11501 Bain School Road
Mint Hill, NC 28227
Phone: 704-545-6172
lcumminsppc@bellsouth.net

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