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New Life Christian Church of Warsaw is working to bring the love brought within its walls to those outside of them as well. Though many church’s would utilize the $30,000 the church set aside in honor of its 30th anniversary to benefit the church directly, New Life Christian Church instead opted to utilize the money to give people in the Warsaw community a sense of hope, belonging and love.

According to Pastor John B. Lowe, the idea to utilize the church’s anniversary fund as a “reverse offering” was one that simply came to him as any other idea would. Though Lowe did admit he and others had thought of many uses for the funds, when the idea to split the money up into $130 increments that would be given to people in the community came up, it gained unanimous support from church leaders and goers alike.  

“We wanted to make the anniversary about our community and people instead of about the church,” stated Lowe. “We decided the best way to celebrate was to save $30,000, which we did over time, and then disperse that throughout the congregation and gave them a certificate that they could find, and pray and give to someone. We wanted to say to the community that Christianity isn’t about us, Christianity is about you.”

Each family would be given an envelope containing a voucher redeemable for $130 cash at the church to be given to any individual the family felt God had placed on their heart to receive the gift. Though the concept was simple, to ensure fairness, the church placed rules on who the gift could be given to. The gift could not be given to a family member, could not be used as a tip or way to help pay for a service rendered, could not be given to anyone within the church and had to be given locally. The church encouraged families to take 7 days to pray and ask God who it was that they were meant to give their envelop to.

“If nothing else, I get tired of hearing that the church doesn’t do anything,” explained Lowe when asked what he hopes the reverse offering will accomplish. “This kind of kills that whole concept and shows that this church, and other churches in the community, are really helping other people have a better life in Kosciusko.”

As families began to venture out to give their envelopes, the church noted a myriad of reactions of those who entered its doors to cash in their vouchers.

StaceyPageOnline.com was able to spend a day visiting the church as men and women alike brought in their envelopes. Many noted that they felt the gift was almost too good to be true and seemed fearful of some hidden catch as they handed their voucher over to the smiling face at the counter at New Life Christian Church. But the fear was quickly replaced with a myriad of emotion as visitors were given their gift freely and warmly.

When asked what he would say to those who fear strings may be attached to the gift, Lowe stated, “The only strings attached to this is that we love you. We can’t follow up with the individual because we take no pertinent information. All we ask them to do is sign their name to prove they came and received the money. The only thing I can tell you is take the leap of faith. This is free money because God put you on our heart 30 years ago when we started New Life Christian Church.”