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Post by stillfocused on Oct 28, 2008 15:02:32 GMT -5
I have been sitting here trying to find a way for a single Mom of 2 to find the assistance that she needs to keep her lights and apartment. Having exhausted all avenues..she really doesn't know what to do. To add to the stress she is expecting another child..and lost a week of work due to complications..as she was ordered to bedrest. Out of vacation and sick time her check will be really short this week. If I had the funds I would take of them for her. I have been wondering if how come the body of Christ doesn't step up and assistance the many like this young lady..many give tithes and offerings..yet, when a need such as this arises...the storehouse is empty. Or if there is something in the storehouse..the gift comes with a string attached in the form of evangelism. It just makes me wonder why those cry the loudest about abortion are the very ones who won't lift a finger when young ladies like this one chooses to keep the child. This young lady is in a desperate situation..any suggestions ? As her lights are due to be disconnection on 10/31..with 2 small children..
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Post by livinganewlife on Oct 28, 2008 15:57:17 GMT -5
And many ask if God is pleased with us tithing but yet won't help our brother and sister whom we see everyday......
Pray for her and hopefully those on your job or in your church or community will rally together to help this sister out....
Also preach a quick "sermon" to my sister on birth control....and please let our sister know that there is a reason why God ordained marriage first and then children.......
Because the responsibility of the family is placed on the father and not the mother.....
(and please my above post / comments are not a knock to any single person who had to raise children alone) it just that God has an order and it is an order for a reason........
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Post by ybrown on Oct 28, 2008 16:09:30 GMT -5
SF, she should have her doctor fax a letter over to the company regarding her condition. A lot of utility companies offer a grace period up to 30 days in situations where there is a medical reason. The bill will eventually have to be paid but at least it could offer a little breathing room until she can work out some kind of payment arrangements.
If I find something else I'll let you know.
You are being the church to her.
Blessings,
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Post by stillfocused on Oct 28, 2008 17:34:43 GMT -5
Thanks..ladies !! LANL...there was no need of the sermon..she was already beating herself and afraid to tell her parents as her youngest..isn't quite 2 yrs. old. I can only extend Christ to her in way that brings her a piece of mind. She had long ago given believing that there was any good people in the world..she trusts me with alot and all I know is this I just want to see her return back to that place she was in Christ.
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Post by stillfocused on Oct 28, 2008 17:40:21 GMT -5
thanks..ybrown !! I will call the utility company on break..
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Post by kitty on Oct 29, 2008 9:02:00 GMT -5
It disgust me that in the time of million dollar salaries for Pastors these are the situations for most people when they need help...
Kitty
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Post by keita on Oct 29, 2008 12:47:38 GMT -5
God Bless your heart, sis sf.
If you can't get any help from the utility companies directly, try contacting the public uitility agency that governs them. In PA, It's called the Public Utility Commission and they can and will almost always successfully intervene at least one time, for practically anyone.
They officially stop termination proceedings and establish new payment arrangements for most utilities.
Also, if there is (some version of) a Catholic Charities agency in your area, contact them. They are known for assisting needy folks in all types of ways, no church membership required.
For emergency housing needs and issues, I would suggest contacting the Urban League. They usually have some government funds and programs to help.
Now, as for folks "paying tithes" and yet finding all those empty "storehouses", and contrary to most current teaching and practice of Mal 3:8-10, there are many who would say that both GOD's question and commandment was spoken specifically to the priests, not the people.
Selah.
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Post by Jasmine on Oct 29, 2008 14:22:09 GMT -5
Also, contact your local social services office. They will pay your rent, and power bill, however one must be unemployed.
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Post by anointedteacher on Oct 29, 2008 20:22:05 GMT -5
Before I criticize any ministry.... I want to know did she actually went to the church, she is a member of or any church and asked for help and follow their procedure to get help... Many ppl do not like to follow certain procedures in getting help... I have witness ppl refuse to full out paper to get their rent and light bill paid by the church. The church is non-profit organization... They have to have paper fulled out and signed before they financially help any person... They are not allow to put cash in anyone hand that's over ten dollars (that was the rule years ago).. So give us details on how she approached the ministry for help.... Many churches will assist ppl, but they must inspect the stuation.... because there are a lot of scam out there ripping churches off. I know there are churches that will love to help this sister.
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Post by Jasmine on Oct 29, 2008 21:59:11 GMT -5
Honestly, annointed I think thats irrelevant. As the body of Christ is our duty to help people. Whether this sister attended church once a year, or 365 days a year, the fact that she was requesting assistance should have prompted some type of help.
While, most churches don't keep cash, they are able to write checks to the local power company and, or they could have even had her call the power company and performed an electronic check service over the phone.
Now after saying all that, I was a church secretary for several years. There are those types of individuals who will try to have you paying for anything that requires payment, but not once do I ever recall having to turn away a lady with two small children that needed her light bill paid. Not once.
If the money never came back, if she never said thank you, it is still our duty to help, and assist. If she attended this church 365 days ayr, they just lost a faithful sister, if she attended once a year, she won't ever return.
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Post by anointedteacher on Oct 29, 2008 23:09:10 GMT -5
Honestly, annointed I think thats irrelevant. As the body of Christ is our duty to help people. Whether this sister attended church once a year, or 365 days a year, the fact that she was requesting assistance should have prompted some type of help. I am asking did she seek help from the church... first from the one she a member of and then from another church... Yes... they do write out church directly to light company or rent office, take the individual shopping for food.... But they are not allow to give a person cash over $10.00 ... Not once they said anyone turn her away.... We don't know if she actually went to a church for help. Many ppl will go to individual in the church for help and get turn away, and than blame the church. But they do not go the the pastor or the adminstrator of the church. Nothing is say that she seeked help from the church.... The church is being criticized, for the lady condition, when the church probably don't know anything about her condition. Many chruches are just keeping their head above water, because many members do not pay tithes or give a good offering... to keep the storehouse full... |
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Post by Nikkol on Oct 30, 2008 6:32:17 GMT -5
Side Note question: I was actually thinking about something on the lines of what AT mentioned (shocking, huh? j/k lol) Anyways, I do know that everything must be documented of funds that leave the church. However, would any funds given from an organization also be eligible for taxes? (as a form of extra income)..... just wondering. My husband and I personally try to help ppl via our own funds so I'm not sure how taht works....
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Post by stillfocused on Oct 30, 2008 11:16:05 GMT -5
No is critcizing ministries..the truth 2 were contacted. I am still waiting to hear from one..and the other..well !! And my question is why do they have to be members to get the assistance they need...church is not a club where we gather together on Sunday and Wednesday nights and pay our membership fees to be part of something...oops I am sorry that's exactly what we do. That shouldn't matter and no one is blaming the church for her condition...yet, the church should be the first place to extend what they can..no matter what.
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Post by anointedteacher on Oct 30, 2008 11:29:25 GMT -5
Side Note question: I was actually thinking about something on the lines of what AT mentioned (shocking, huh? j/k lol) Anyways, I do know that everything must be documented of funds that leave the church. However, would any funds given from an organization also be eligible for taxes? (as a form of extra income)..... just wondering. My husband and I personally try to help ppl via our own funds so I'm not sure how taht works.... A small one time contribution to an individual don't have to be taxed, but an on going contribution, yes... it count as income. If your ministry is going to help ppl.... opening an separate account, something a mission account. Do a estimated budget and see how much you can deposit into that account every month, or ask your congregation to make small donations, separate from tithes and regular offering, every month. Try to build up that account. Lay-out rules and procedures in receiving funds, especially if your ministry in small with limited in funds. Side Note all guest speakers should full-out a tax form W-9... I remember one minister that help ppl in need... Her church is in West Palm Beach, Florida about 30 - 45 minute from Miami. PPl from all over So Florida come to their ministry for help. This one young lady came to her church on a Sunday, right when service was being let out.... The lady said she came all the way from Miami, (not far) to caught up with her (the pastor) and her husband (the apostle) to ask for money to pay her rent.... This lady who needed help, had hair was freshly done (professional waved), that probably cost about $150.00+, nail beautifully done , $50+, and had on an $1000.00+ worth of gold.... The Pastor told the lady to sell her jewelry and paid her rent ;D... |
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Post by anointedteacher on Oct 30, 2008 11:45:43 GMT -5
No is critcizing ministries..the truth 2 were contacted. I am still waiting to hear from one..and the other..well !! And my question is why do they have to be members to get the assistance they need...church is not a club where we gather together on Sunday and Wednesday nights and pay our membership fees to be part of something...oops I am sorry that's exactly what we do. That shouldn't matter and no one is blaming the church for her condition...yet, the church should be the first place to extend what they can..no matter what. You can't sit and wait for them to get back with you.... You need to take that young lady to those churches an request for funds in person. They need to see and talk to the person they are going to help. There are a lot of scam out there... I read of two incidents were the person went to several ministries collecting money for rent. they got caught and was arrested.... No... you don't have to be a member (although members come first), but you need to be vet... They need the light bill and rent (letter from the landlaw) in their hand. You have to work to get what you need... it don'tcome that easily... that mean pull on those churches. |
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