Opportunities
Prayer Updates
Stories
Projects
Africa Europe
A Pair of Shoes and an Umbrella
by Dr. Denise Ward, Ethiopia
18 December 2008
     
  little girl holding her umbrella  
     

The evangelist had just finished preaching on how God was a God of blessing, and now the people were bringing their offerings to God.

In the congregation, one person after another was standing and pledging his gift to God. Some were pledging money from 150 birr to 5 birr (8 birr is a laborer’s daily wage); others were pledging 30 kilograms (66 pounds) or 60 kilograms (132 pounds) of their coffee … literally the first fruits of the harvest.

One girl, having no money to give, walked up to the front and placed her Sunday shoes on the table as her offering; she returned to her seat — barefoot. Another lady placed her umbrella on the offering table.

As the pledges continued, the pastor asked who would buy the shoes. The shoes were sold auction-style to the highest bidder. The man strode up the aisle to the front to pay the price and collect the shoes. He took the shoes and walked to the girl, and he gave them back to her, so that her feet would no longer be bare. The umbrella was sold in the same fashion — it went for 60 birr — three times its original price! It too was collected by the purchaser and then returned to its original owner.

As the 3 ½ hour service neared an end, the church was filled with singing as the choir, complete with choir robes, led the congregation. Above the singing, I could hear many ladies making “joy cries.” (An African joy cry sounds a bit like an Indian war cry, but higher and much happier.) How encouraging to see people give their best to God and then to rejoice with them afterward!

As the Christmas season approaches, I am reminded of all that I have — including the many pairs of shoes. I’m also reminded that like the umbrella and the shoes, when we give up what we have to God, God blesses the gift and multiplies it.

Give

Find a project in the SIM Gift Catalog and give a gift to God this Christmas that he can multiply for his glory!


Donate

Resources

Sign up now
Sf Close