Collective Generosity: The Power of Be Rich

We unleashed a wave of generosity we believe is worth repeating. As years passed, our network of churches grew. And as it did, that wave spread its reach across the globe. Hundreds of thousands of people were inspired to be generous in response to God's extravagant generosity towards them. [00:56:12]

The North Gwinnett Co-Op works to bridge critical gaps for families in need while setting them on the path to self-sufficiency. Specifically with our food pantry, we help with non-perishable. We have a thrift store, and we partner with you to help with special events, such as backpacks. [01:14:21]

Thanks to your generosity, we get to build a second Hope Center right here, and that is a really big deal because that means we get to serve more than 1000 children. It's gonna impact their whole families with empowerment and hope. So from the bottom of our hearts, we want to say thank you. [04:48:08]

The Atlanta Mission started in 1938. So we're 83 years old. Our mission statement is to transform through Christ the lives of those facing homelessness. We do that across four campuses in the city of Atlanta and outside of Atlanta. And our whole heart is to see men, women, and children who are facing homelessness to have their lives transformed. [05:29:29]

Friends, with Be Rich's help, we have been able to rescue thousands of daughter's lives. We have been able to save hundreds of those daughters from being taken away from the countries of Nepal. And now, not only been physical rescued, they've spiritually been saved as a matter. [08:21:43]

According to Jesus, and when he said this, originally the people in his original audience had no idea the magnitude of this. He was looking way into the future. I guess he was looking at us and he says, you know, we call it the Sermon on the Mount. He looks at this very disenfranchised, confused oppressed group of people who had some interest in following him. [10:07:11]

And he said, "You are the light of the world." And they thought, "No, we're not. We're not the light of anything." Little did they know that that little spark 2000 years ago would ignite a fire that really would create a light in a very dark world. And the world will always be dark. [10:36:23]

And there's a sense in which Be Rich is how we, in the words of Jesus, let our light shine before others, that they might see our good deeds and not glorify us. And not say, "Wow, what a great church and what nice generous people." But they would see our good deeds and ultimately look up and glorify or look up and connect with and understand that there really is a Father in heaven. [11:06:28]

And honestly, that version of generosity, you know, there's a need, meet it. There's a need, meet it. Here's a need, give some money to it. That's not an exclusively Christian way to give. That is kind of an American way to give. But what maybe you don't know is that it was influenced by a Christian ethic of generosity. [12:42:61]

And then along came Jesus and introduced a different way of thinking, and consequently where Christianity flourishes, and I know some of you are kind of anti-Christian or you're watching. It's like somebody is making you watch, or they're buying you lunch, or the whole Christian thing wigs you out. I get it. But here's what's undeniable. Where Christianity flourishes, people flourish. [14:33:01]

But giving spontaneously, giving spontaneously, to help immediately, which is what Be Rich is. And we're always gonna do that, and we love doing this. I call that giving 1.0. That's giving when asked to meet an immediate need. And all over our society, there are opportunities to give immediately to meet, to give spontaneously to meet an immediate need. [15:46:04]

But what makes Be Rich possible is those of you, the thousands of you, who are what I call the 2.0 givers. You don't wait to be asked. Your planned percentage priority givers. You've already decided ahead of time that you're gonna give, and you choose a percentage off the top and you just give it before you even have an opportunity to save it or spend it. [16:17:03]