The Rev. Glenn Ethridge, the pastor of Wesley United Methodist Church in Evans, went to services five weeks ago bearing 500 small, white envelopes.
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Each held a $20 bill from an anonymous donor and a card with a verse from Philippians 4:19: "And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Jesus Christ."
Wesley's name and address and the name of the outreach, Random Acts of Christian Kindness, also were printed on the card.
Members were told to watch for an opportunity to give the envelopes to someone in need - anyone but a family member or an institution - and there was no time limit, the Rev. Ethridge said.
About $9,000 was distributed from the donor's original $10,000 gift. No one has called the church yet to say "thanks," as far as the Rev. Ethridge knows, but that is beside the point, he said.
"Giving is as transforming as receiving the money," he said. "In giving, we are brought in touch with our own need to be in ministry."
Several people took an envelope with a $20 bill, then asked for extra envelopes without the money. The church dubbed the envelopes "leaded and unleaded," the pastor said.
People wanted envelopes without $20s so they could put in their own money. Wesley had to print extra cards to fill the requests.
The church invited people to post their experiences about helping others on its Web site, www.wesleyumc.net. About a dozen members have, but most have not. Telling their stories was not a requirement, just a way "to try to make the event more contagious," the Rev. Ethridge said.
"Our goals were to directly involve our people in ministry to people in need and to give them 'permission' to talk to people directly" about that need, he said.
The best part of the Random Acts of Christian Kindness outreach to him is not the funding, but that the idea came from an individual, he said.
"Our laity, led by God, design the ministry, and the church helps make it happen," he said. "This is the perfect model for us."
For more information, call 869-0888 or visit the Web site, www.wesleyumc.net.
Reach Virginia Norton at (706) 823-3336 or virginia.norton@augustachronicle.com.
