Homeless People Sacrifice to Help Other Hungry People

Each year the Green Mountain Baptist Association collects the Borders Mission Offering in May. This special offering is used for different projects each year. This year, due to the economic crisis that has devastated the nation, most of the offering is being directed toward helping pastors with emergency needs and also to help support three ministries to the homeless and hungry that churches within the association sponsor. A smaller portion is also being invested in a new church plant in St. Albans. While many churches gave generously, the economic situation was such that the association only collected half of the original goal of $5000. Terry Dorsett, GMBA Director, sent out an urgent plea to the churches asking them to reconsider their giving and sacrifice for others and help meet the goal. While a number of churches have said they plan to give, the most powerful response to this urgent plea came from five homeless people who are part of the ministry of Restoration Baptist Church in Burlington. These five people, who themselves are in great financial need, went out and collected bottles and cans and used the money from them to give a total of $109.36 to this special offering. That is an average of $21.87 per person. Dorsett said, "How many people with comfortable jobs and nice homes gave far less than each of these five homeless people. Every person who hears of their sacrifice should be willing to step up to the plate and at least match their gift!"

Gifts may be sent to:

Green Mountain Baptist Association

30 Jones Brothers Way, Suite B

Barre VT 05641

Write "Borders Offering" on the memo line.

(To respect the privacy of the 5 homeless people involved in this powerful story, a stock photograph has been used above. It is not intended to represent any of the five individuals and any likeness to them is coincidental.)