#533 Project Bread - Success story

In 2020 we launched a project - denominated Bread. The motivation and vision of this project came from seeing struggling pastors not making it month to month. God will never abandon us - we know that. But churches often treat their pastors poorly. Much is expected but often very little is given back in return.

Over the past twenty years, we have seen wonderful ministries go south because churches and leaders were not able to make ends meet. Churches could not pay their bills, and emotionally exhausted clergy, just quit. One recent couple whom we blessed with a free weekend at a nice hotel, said with tears in their eyes, we have not taken a vacation in five years. Thanks to your donors kindness we experienced God's love thru rest.

What they were also saying, we did not have an extra $300 to get away, rest and have some fun. These testimonies are real and daily.

That's how projects bread and rest have been birthed.

Project Rest is an effort to give a pastoral family in ministry a time away over one weekend.
Project Bread is an effort to assist pastoral families with a small side hustle to provide.

Over the past two years, six families have benefited from this entrepreneurial idea. Some have not returned one pennie to the project. They took the money, started their business but ended up eating their profits and capital, ending up with nothing to show. Others are slowly making their payments and are trying. While a few have been very intentional and are the ones we believe understand the vision behind this project.

In the month of October one of the couples paid back their interest free loan. It took them eighteen months to pay back $220. They did it. Their project is about making caramel jelly for bread spread. It's very yummy and they have become quite successful.

We realize how finances are a test for practical stewardship, not just the one you preach from a pulpit, but the one you live out on Monday.

We believe that the next layer to build and strengthen this project will be training families in basic finances and biblical principles about money and how God sees money.

I want to end with this quote from Billy Graham, "If a person gets his attitude toward money straight, it will help straighten out almost every other area in his life"

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