really covered

"don't worry, I got ya covered".....

That's a common saying in our culture, wouldn't you agree? You hear it from your coworkers when you've forgotten your wallet and you're in front of them trying to buy lunch. You hear it when a friend wants to go to dinner and you don't have enough cash on you and not enough time to run to the ATM. Sure, some times "i got ya covered" means "you're in my way...hurry up". But remember how it felt when someone came in when you were really desperate and took care of you? There was a peace, a calm...you caught your breath and you were saved from the moment.
Well, that's what happened the other day at our church...and let me tell you, how it was done was absolutely amazing!
God calls us at all times to be faithful, and to let Him worry about being successful (2 Sam. 10:12) so I cast a vision that I was given and here is what happened. I was urged by the Holy Spirit to run a rather unique tag sale...honest!
I walked through town (with my daughter in the stroller) and asked to put up signs for our benefit tag sale. Each person I spoke to I was given the opportunity to share the joy of the abundance of Christ, and talk of the plight of those who live in areas devastated by malaria. These signs not only advertised our sale, but a number of folks called or just came by with donated goods to assist us. Everyone who gave us us money was given this short little track

A little goes a long way!
……Here’s where your little went today! Each dollar you spent will travel to Tabora, Tanzania in East Africa. That’s over 8,000 miles away from where you are standing. That’s a long way…..

Each dollar will help three children be tested for malaria, and if needed to be treated. The thirty five cents they don’t have to spend will buy food for days….that’s a long way

In rural Tanzania many don’t have the money to pay for testing or treatment…thanks to your help, they do now. Hope came from this little town in Connecticut….that’s a long way…

Every 30 seconds in Africa a child dies from Malaria. There is no need for this at all. Death can be prevented by testing and treatment when they are sick, and illness can be avoided by a simple $5 mosquito net. But for thousands a day, that small bit of hope is too far away…until today. Thank you. The little you spent today reached
__________________ Kids

Why did we run this event? God gave us a little child, Jesus, to bring us a long way back to Him.

In the blank space we calculated how many children could be treated by multiplying what they spent by three...

I wish you could have seen the faces of the hundreds of people who read this...many came back after they had walked to their cars and put more money into the donation jar, many held up the constant line we had and asked more questions. And I am sure, that all went home with a deeper understanding of how much they had, and how thankful they should be for the providence of God...

So what did we raise in our "little" tag sale...

We cleared just over $2,000...that's enough to test and treat 6,000 people...and that is the estimated number of people who die each day in Africa from untreated malaria...

So our little tag sale, in effect, covered the entire continent of Africa for a night... how good is God!

...let us never forget, that it is only by the blood of Jesus that we are covered. God gave more than spare change, He gave his very life.

blessings to you all

...in the love and mercy of the Overseer of our Souls

b