Beltline Church of Christ of Decatur, ALBenevolence means kindness, compassion, generosity and goodwill. The goal of our Benevolence program at Beltline Church of Christ is to show kindness, compassion, generosity, and goodwill to those of our surrounding community who need help. The Beltline Benevolence department is open most every Wednesday Night from 5: 3. Program\Church Benevolence Policy.doc 10/30/2013 Respite Benevolence Policy. Benevolence programs are provided to bless those in need. The intention should. Benevolence means kindness, compassion, generosity and goodwill. The goal of our Benevolence program at Beltline Church of Christ is to show kindness, compassion. Business Management Does your church need a benevolence strategy? By Gwen Bagne How does your church effectively meet the monetary and practical needs of those in. 2010 BENEVOLENCE. This year we assisted more that 60 families financially with their utilities, rent and other necessities. After the May flood, the Churches of. BENEVOLENCE: THE RIGHT HELP GIVEN THE RIGHT WAY Frank Sommerville, JD, CPA Churches are in the charity business. They are commanded by God to help the. Define benevolence. benevolence synonyms, benevolence pronunciation, benevolence translation, English dictionary definition of benevolence. n. 1. Stonebriar members, regular attendees, and people in our local community may apply for short-term financial assistance from the Benevolence fund.
The majority of our clients come from Morgan County. However, we have assisted individuals from Lawrence, Cullman, Limestone, Madison and other neighboring counties as well. We assist most often with food and clothes. However, we do assist with rent and utilities (most assistance is limited to approximately $3. We do not assist individuals on a “regular” basis but hopefully until they can provide for themselves. We also assist periodically with the following: Local Free Clinic with prescription medication purchases. In churches and other nonprofits, benevolence programs are established to identify and meet the needs of under-resourced individuals—people who are unable to meet. Burnout victims (food/clothes/lodging for one or two nights and furniture/appliances)Transient assistance (lodging/food/gas)Furniture and appliances (as we have them available or donated to us)Congregational are (for members of our congregation as needed)Local Area Churches in providing clothes to Haiti and the Appalachian region of Kentucky. We are in contact with the Decatur Housing Authority, Decatur Utilities (and other local utility departments in the area), Social Workers with Decatur General Hospital, other local churches and many other local agencies on an almost weekly basis. These agencies (and many individuals in the community) refer those in need to us based off of our reputation in the community as being a Caring group of Christians. All requests are handled on a case by case basis with personal attention and love. In addition to being opened on Wednesday nights to assist those in need, we also have different projects that we coordinate throughout the year such as: School Supply Drive. Coats Because We Care. Christmas Toy Give- Away. All the activity described above is only possible thru the generosity of our congregation and individuals in the community. Currently we are divided into four “night crews” (we are closed if there is a fifth Wednesday in the month) and two “day crews”. The two day crews work every other Wednesday during the day to sort/wash/arrange for the night crews; and the Four Night Crews interview and provide assistance with clothes and food and funding. If you are interested in working in this ministry or if you have any questions, please contact Allen Orman. School Supply Drive. In June/July of each year we begin our annual School Supply Drive. We coordinate with Decatur City Elementary Schools for a “basic” list of supplies needed for the upcoming school year. We ask that these items be donated by members of the Church and then before school starts, our children package these supplies into individual “sets,” and we deliver them to the elementary schools. We also keep on hand a supply of these items for children outside Decatur City Schools and provide them as requested. Coats Because We Care. Each year Beltline Church of Christ, Decatur City Fire Stations, and U S Cleaners on the Beltline collect new and good used coats for distribution to those in need of winter coats. U S Cleaners, each Fire Station, and the Church act as collection points, and we collect coats through October and have our Annual Coat Give- Away on the first Saturday of November. Church members provide encouraging notes which are put in the coat pockets encouraging these individuals and letting them know they are loved and thought of. In 2. Coats. Christmas Toy Give- Away. Throughout the year we collect good used and new toys. The first Sunday in December we have our annual Christmas Toy Give- Away for children 1. The congregation is always supportive of this activity and we help over 1. Families provide Christmas for their children. Many church members come and assist in this project on the Day of the give- away. Parents bring proof of the child’s age and we provide Christmas gifts and stocking stuffers for as many children as our supply allows. Caring programs in the Church. Every church seeking to serve the Lord should have caring programs established to help their own needy, the needy in their community, and the needy in the world. The surpluses that the church must have in order to minister to the needy are always available. Too often, Christians are consuming or wasting them. Every church needs a regular program of sharing the biblical principles of managing money (in the home) and practical courses on planning (budgeting, insurance, housing). Once God's people learn God's plan for their finances, the funds will be available to meet legitimate needs. Statistics prove that about 2. In the churches we have surveyed, in which a consistent program of teaching God's principles of finances has been established, the percentage is over 8. The average American family spends over $2,0. If they can just be shown how to become debt free, a church of 1. Benevolence. Every church should have a benevolence program to help those who have legitimate financial needs. However, a benevolence program should not be a "give- away" program. There are definite biblical guidelines for those we are going to help. Every member of any local church should be able to look to the fellowship they attend as an extension of God's provision. They should feel the freedom to share their financial needs as freely as they would physical or spiritual needs. Too often a local church's benevolence program amounts to the pastor directing the secretary to write someone a check for food, gas, or rent. That is usually the worst thing to do. Without any controls or follow- up, giving more money is like pouring gasoline on a fire. Also this system doesn't help those who have long- term needs due to illness, layoff, age, or the like. Benevolence is not an event, it is a vital part of ministering within the body of believers and requires several coordinated ministries. Benevolence Committee. This committee is primarily made up of laypeople who will meet and evaluate needs presented within the church. Often this requires emergency action by one or two members to evaluate needs that result from "drop- ins" at the church office (or parsonage). A well- coordinated committee will free the pastor from the pressures of some emotional appeals. The most effective benevolence committees usually have members with varied spiritual temperaments. Resource Ministry. To meet the needs of families, resources must be accumulated in advance. Examples are food and clothing, but it should not stop there. The church should have contact with businesses that can provide part- time or temporary work. One of the most effective ways to test the spirit of people who can't find work is to help them find it. Other resources include the availability of legal or accounting advice, medical and dental care, and a number of well- trained financial counselors who will work with these families. Accountability is an essential part of any good benevolence program. In Conclusion. No successful benevolence program will happen until God's people in the local church decide to get involved and make it happen. Because of the proof given by this ministry they will glorify God for your obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all" (2 Corinthians 9: 1.
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