“Stick with what I’ve called you to do at the ministry. You can’t give away money but you can give away many other material things to people and churches that could really use them.” God then began to lay out a strategic plan to set up a scholarship fund through our blog community to donate materials (books, CD’s, DVD’s, and event tickets) to those whom God directs. LPM has always actively donated, but setting up a fund like this would greatly enhance what we’re able to give and also add a fabulous dimension to our community.
I immediately went to Linda, our LPM accountant, told her the vision as I understood it from God and asked her if it would work. She gave it a thumbs-up and began setting up the system and, as of right now, it is up and running. Here’s how it will work: We will now have a way for any of you Siestas who are not as financially strapped to give any amount of money the Lord directs to what will now be called “The Siesta Scholarship Fund.” Girlfriend, it can be $5 and we’d be thrilled! Your Siesta Mama is going to put up or shut up, so I want you to know that I brought my checkbook from home and, with great joy, am making the very first ever donation, $1,000, to our new scholarship fund. In fact, let me stop right now and write the check.
OK, it’s written. If you also want to write a check (for any amount, of course), you’ll make it out to Living Proof Ministries just like I did, but you absolutely must designate “Siesta Scholarship Fund” in the memo so they’ll know where to put it.
Mail it to:
Living Proof Ministries
12131 Malcomson Road
Houston, Texas 77070
You can also make a donation to the fund online by using this link below. When given the option in the online form, please designate it “In honor of The Siesta Scholarship Fund.”
I give you my word that these donations (whether by check or online by charge) will only be used for the expressed purpose of giving away materials. I also want you to know that we will always tell the recipients that they have received them as a gift from the LPM Siesta Blog Community.
With these donations, Living Proof will then begin appropriating materials for priority needs that hit the ministry. This is where I really need your understanding. This scholarship fund would not just be by Siestas for Siestas. It would be by Siestas for anyone at the discretion of our ministry based on the needs that we encounter. I fear that if we limited our donations only to Siestas, it could open the door to all manner of challenges (like how we’d choose between one and another) and, worse yet, it could skew our pure-hearted motives and purposes here on the blog. The purpose of our fellowship here needs to remain what it has been from the start: encouragement to walk faithfully and authentically with our Lord Jesus Christ. We have requests for materials and tickets constantly from people in need and, if you’d be willing to trust our discretion, I promise you we will seek the Lord’s direction. We will also make available a report of our ingoing and outgoing donations periodically so you can see for yourself how the money is being handled.
This is a great time for me to tell you that we work very hard at Living Proof Ministries to maintain the utmost financial accountability and, it you glance at our home page, you’ll see our “ECFA Member” seal (Evangelical Council of Financial Accountability). If you give that website a glance, you’ll know that we have to maintain the utmost standards (including an annual audit) to keep that coveted seal.
OK, here’s what I want to do today as a way to launch a spirit of giving in our blog community. In lieu of comments, if you know of a mission church or a small or struggling church that could really use a set of Bible study DVD’s, please post their name and mailing address as your response to this post. (Continental USA addresses please to keep shipping costs from becoming astronomical.) 48 hours after I run this post, we will do a drawing to give away 5 full DVD sets. These will be gifts from LPM and the cost will not be subtracted from our Siesta Scholarship Fund. We’ll then post the 5 winners and send the sets on their way in your honor. I will have a cute card prepared for all materials that go out in your honor and from the scholarships you make possible. I am so excited about this!
Now, listen here. We expect to have this blog and this scholarship fund for years to come SO if you can’t give a single dollar toward it right now, don’t you feel the least bit guilty. I don’t want a single person feeling under compulsion. God wants us to give cheerfully. Even with outright hilarity! So do not give a dime you are not free and thrilled to give. This is the time for those of us not suffering financially to take up the slack for those of us who are. We love all of you so much. Never feel condemned or pressured here.
I can’t wait to share an update with you! I’ll give it about a week and let you know what’s been given so far.
Lord, do Your thing! Edify Your Church and glorify Your great Name!
Leaning Tree Church
2530 Millsap Highway
Mineral Wells, TX 76067
Just had an idea- would LIfeway or LP be willing to allow us to return the materials in good shape as a part of a “loan library” or discounted “used” resources to this new scholarship fund?- I’m often in Houston and could drop off or ship to you our series we have completed, which we have not given away- I have a shelf of your CDs, books etc.- I would be happy to return any of the materials I have not given away- I know you do not want to have capable purchasers using the materials- but thought I’d throw this out as a consideration- I realize this is a profit issue for LP and Lifeway – just wondered if LP could still profit by reselling used materials at a discount in this special Siesta fund-
Redeemer Church
3431 Hamilton Middletown Rd.
Hamilton, OH 45011
Charlotte Keene
[email protected]
Christ Community Baptist Church
P.O. Box 436 Flint, MI 48502
Mission Adelante
22 S. 18th Street
Kansas City, KS 66102
Thank-you, God bless you guys richly!
Megan
Mission Point Baptitst Mission
740 Linwood Avenue
Stonewall, LA 71078
This is awesome I believe that this is the year for we as Christians women will go forth and do God’s work and it will be seen more this year than any other year. I am starting a young women’s ministry at my church. I could really use any material for this journey that I am on for the Lord. The ministry will consist of young women in the age bracket of 17-24. Please keep my ministry in your prayers. We are having our first meeting on Febuary 28th.
Ark Christian Center
3601 Webster
Kansas City,Kansas 66104
Pastor Aubrey Singleton/ Stephanie Johnson
Westminster Presbyterian Church
2303 Double Churches Road
Columbus, GA 31909
706-323-4441
Elizabeth in GA
Immanuel Baptist Church
3620 E. 26th Street
Minneapolis, MN 55406
612.724.2004
I joyfully nominate the sweet, servant-hearted ladies at Immanuel Baptist Church in Minneapolis. They are a wonderful yet small church family with an *annual* women’s ministry budget of $100! Needless to say, they generally borrow Beth’s DVD Bible studies from other churches. 🙂
Linda LaFrombois
This is an amazing outpouring of God’s love to others!
I can not make a donation right now but it will be on my list as soon as we are back up and running. To share the joy of Christ with others- Yes!
My family got me a card and a gift for valentine’s day that is perfect and beatiful! I will cherish it but all I can think about is how that money could have been used else where for the family as a whole.
How we would love this resource for our women’s Bible studies!
North Springs Alliance Church
1702 Chapel Hills Dr.
Colorado Springs, CO 80920
Blessings!
Chris Johnson
Faith Baptist Church
1990 Neptune Rd
Kissimmee, FL 34744
Dearest Beth, I hope I am not too late. There is a non for profit ministry in our community that could certainly use some help. It is called “The Unseen Hands Ministry” and they help people in the community that need food, clothing and help paying bills. The only way this ministry can help people is through donations. The churches (and individuals) in the area donate money, food, used clothes and their time on the second Saturday of each month to help those in need. These people that come for help are ministered to by local volunteer preachers/pastors and given a bible to take home with them. At Christmas they were fortunate enough to help some 230 families (I believe that number is close). In these desperate times I know the number of people in need will grow and possibly the donations may decrease. My husband is a Baptist preacher and he has helped for the past months and he comes home just amazed at the need that is just in our area. It is a very humbling experience and we never know who will be next to be in the line that needs help. He told me today when he got home that there were people already lined up when he got there and he had to park in an adjacent yard. The need is so great. I pray if you could, help this ministry. There have been souls saved at some of these Saturday ministering. Praise God for that!!!!!! That makes it worth it all.
Thank you Beth for doing this to reach out to a world in need.
God Bless.
Here is the address:
The Unseen Hands Ministry
c/o Rev. Jerry McCormick
6065 Thomas Lane
Cumming, GA 30040
What a wonderful idea, sweet Beth.
I would like to nominate my new “home church”. It is an Evangelical Free Church, although I am technically a “Southern Baptist”, but there are not any of those kinds of churches in my area, so the Lord led me to this church instead.
This church only began about 11 years ago, but did not hold their services in a “real” church building until 2004.
And, it does not seem as if any of the ladies have even heard your name, Miss Beth, except for me, of course. I would so much like to be able to share Jesus’ amazing Love with these ladies through some of your Bible studies [even though it would be TOTALLY, POSITIVELY “out of my Comfort Zone” to try to facilitate any of them, but, if the Lord leads me to do so, I will do my best to honor Him and bring Him glory !
River Hills Community Church-
2843 West Court Street
Janesville, WI 53548
Pastor John Swanson
608-758-0943
———————————
In Christ’s awesome Love,
Jennifer Olmstead
Janesville, WI
Christ Community Baptist Church
P.O. Box 436 Flint, MI 48502.
Lifeway Baptist Church
6280 Chester St., Suite 103
Arlington, Tennessee 38002
Pastor Chad Grigsby
Our church has been struggling through divorces, illnesses, loss of infants and other challenges. We’re seeking after the Lord and want to be a light in our community. We definitely struggle to pay the bills, so any educational material to lift up the hurting wives, mothers, and sisters in our church would be an amazing gift.
Thank you for thinking of such a generous gift. I know the recipients will gain so much!
Fork Hill Baptist Church
1125 Fork Hill Road
Heath Springs, SC 29058
803-286-8814
Phil Ellenburg, Pastor
I want to nominate my own church. We’re a new start church with a tight budget. Originally, we received funds from our conference. But each year that has been decreasing. To say “Do or die” would be a good motto right now.
I introduced our first Beth Moore study a year ago. I managed to buy it on ebay out of my own funds. Since that time we haven’t had the resources to do another. So here’s the info:
Real Life UMC
400 Park Street
Waterloo, IL 62298
618-939-1313
Pastor Matt Henson
[email protected]
Christ Community Baptist Church
P.O. Box 436 Flint, MI 48502
we are a group of missionaries in Jordan. we can have a short term missions team bring the materials out
C/o Elaine Mitchell
383 Vick Circle
Trussville, AL 35173
Thanks Beth for everything you do. I don’t know if I will ever get to meet you face to face until we all reach glory but I hope you know how many lives you have (and contiue to) impact. We would be a church that could benefit so we will see what happens
6501 Broadway
San Antonio, TX 78209
Church phone 210-824-9530
P.S We are only into our secnd week of Esther and I all I can say is….. THNAK YOU!!!
Fourth Avenue United Methodist Church
318 West St. Catherine St.
Louisville, KY 40203
Christ Community Baptist Church
PO Box 436
Flint, MI 48502
We found a really neat group of women who have similar desires to know and learn more about our God and we are loving it. Recently after some pretty nasty trials, the mention was that after this study we might have to wait a bit til we can get on our feet financially. Understandable, but not attractive.
I’ve been checking in with the churches around us who are known to have Beth Moore resources but NOT A Single One will allow the borrowing of their materials.
I’ve tried to help in the past tosupply materials for those we know cant afford even a few pennies to spare. We just spent our wad of spending money on purchasing 4 workbooks and a text for these wonderful ladies. We will, Lord willing, continue to help, but even our combined input is meager. With the loss of hours and wages, I myself now make half of my normal income. Other women are in just as tough a boat.
It would be wonderful to have the option of offering some study material to this group – they’d love it and gain so much from it.
BTW, all of the material we’ve had has been loaned to individuals who wanted them. We would continue this practice in the future.
The leader is Bea @ [email protected]
While we are not a church we are women who want to continue in our study of God.
thank you
what a great idea! I will definitely contribute.
Crossroads Church of Long Island
610 Carmans Road
Farmingdale, NY
God bless
Christ community Baptist Church
P.O. box 436 Flint, MI 48502
Cornerstone Bible Church
Middlefield, Ohio
(216) 407-4689
Christ Community Baptist Church
P.O. Box 436
Flint, MI 48502.
Burton Baptist Church
6566 W. Burton Rd.
Show Low, AZ 85901
Yes, this is wonderful and I will contribute – I would like to nominate my son’s church in a small town in west Texas
First Baptist Church
105 Lazy Bend Road
Brock, Texas 76087
Great family church and the women there need some of God’s love through this LPM give away.
Thanks
GG2002
Judy Baggett
Christ Community Baptist Church
P.O. Box 436 Flint, MI 48502
-Ashley Vander Berg
Pastor David Lewis
Harmony Bible Church
337 Spruce Head Road
South Thomaston, ME 04858
Grace Baptist Church of Sunset Beach, 17 Somerset Rd. Pasadena, Md 21122 Pastor’s name Doug Alberts
Coolest, just the coolest idea! I want to add a second vote for Beautiful Feet in Fort Worth TX.
http://www.thefeet.org
BEAUTIFUL FEET MINISTRIES
– P.O. BOX ,6212 –
FORT WORTH, TEXAS 76115 –
PH. 817.536.0505
PHYSICAL ADDRESS: 1709 E. HATTIE – FORT WORTH, TEXAS 76104
Attn: Sarah Meyer
BEAUTIFUL FEET MINISTRIES – P.O. BOX ,6212 – FORT WORTH, TEXAS 76115 – PH. 817.536.0505
PHYSICAL ADDRESS: 1709 E. HATTIE – FORT WORTH, TEXAS 76104
http://www.thefeet.org
Attn: Sarah Meyer
Ooops, I posted the first one under the wrong google account.
Baptist Friendship House
c/o New Orleans Baptist Ministries, Inc.
729 Second Street
New Orleans, LA 70130
Oh Beth,
I’m always so thrilled at the way the HOLY SPIRIT leads and guides you into doing the most interesting things for your fellow pilgrims. I will be contributing! I lived in Houston and was so blessed to do many of your studies at HSB. The blog warms my heart. I’d like to enter:
WELLS BENCH COMMUNITY
CHURCH send to: Joyce Bird
4062 Canyon Creek Rd.
Orofino, Id 83544
It’s a very small church that has a womens Bible study group–they were lent the DVD’s and have started LIVING BEYOND Y…their first Beth Moore study and everyone is so excited to learn about living in the spirit!
GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND MINISTRY!
Cathy Reineke
208-827-0560
Wow, this is a great idea. Here is my candidate church.
New Hope Baptist Mission Church, which is sponsored by First Baptist Church of Marion is located at Lakeshore Estates, a modest mobile home community between Marion and West Memphis,AR.
Lakeshore Estates has about 480 units with a population of about 1,200 people. The average annual income per family is less than $13,000.
They could truly use one of those DVD sets.
The pastor’s name is John Rech.
Here is the mailing address:
New Hope Baptist Mission Church
P.O. Box 6
Marion, AR 72364
My check is in the mail to the Siesta Scholarship fund.
Love,
Mary
First Baptist Church
PO Box 145
Willow AK 99688
They are a small church in a community that is in such great need of Christ. Their budget does not allow them to purchase many materials due to the heavy winter needs that they must support.
Thank you so much Beth!
Here’s a church I would like to nominate:
Don Avenue Baptist Church
1010 Don Avenue
Denham Springs, LA 70726
Christ Community Baptist Church
P.O. Box 436 Flint, MI 48502.
What an exciting opportunity! I would like to nominate my best friends’ church (where her husband is the current pastor and has been enduring every kind of hardship.) The church’s name is Reach Out Christian Chapel. The contact address is 243 N. Rock Island Dr. Eatonton, GA 31024.
Heh siestas….let’s believe God together for some extra donations for postage costs outside of the U.S.. We have some very needy small churches up here in Canada and I know God sees no borders. Love ya all to bits…..
My husband is laid off, but we have food on the table and a roof over our heads, and I have two part time jobs. We are making it. I can donate! Even if its a little! (It is more blessed to give than to receive!)
Okay… I want to enter
Fellowship Baptist Church
1600 N.Old Decatur Rd.
Saginaw, TX 76179
Women’s Bible study leaders are Sherry Gallagher and Reone Peterson.
I have done Bible study with this “home away from home” group of Bible diggers two semesters and last semester the ladies chipped in and bought the curriculum to have the study. There is not an item on their budget for the Women’s Bible study. I do pray the Lord blesses them. THanks Beth and all the Siestas… I will give when we are able… Yes, I will.
If it is okay… Can I add another group of ladies?
Chisholm Trail Baptist Church
P. O. Box 25
Rhome, TX 76078
Claudia Graham, Women’s Minstry Director
Ron Graham, Pastor.
This is the group of women I led for three and a half years in your study, Beth. The church is recovering from some financial setbacks in the last few years. They are blossoming so in the area of women’s ministry especially – busting at the seams. It is a glorious thing to go back and visit – I know they would be blessed by a gift of Bible Study.
Thanks again! Love You.
Soule United Methodist Church
21600 US Hwy 264
Swan Quarter, NC 27858
Faith Assembly of God
P O Box 581823
7500 E 21st St
Tulsa, OK 74158-1823
We highly recomment Christ Community Baptist Church, P.O. Box 436, Flint, MI 48502.
Please consider Christ Community Baptist Church,Pastor Malcolm Brown, P.O. Box 436, Flint, MI 48502. They are a small congregation working in the inner city and could really use the materials.