Non-Traditional Giving

Tired of buying toys that break, sweaters that are never worn, and cookware that is returned because it doesn’t match what someone already has too much of? Consider giving non-traditional Christmas gifts this year. The joy of giving can be magnified when the gift truly impacts the lives of others. In this article we will consider gift options within and without the United Pentecostal Church, International that make an impact on the lives of others. 

The Apostle Paul taught the church in Ephesus the importance of giving in Acts 20:35, “I have shewed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Do your Christmas gifts support the weak or simply satisfy the wants and wishes of family and friends? Do you find yourself giving out of obligation or out of compassion? While there is nothing wrong with giving gifts to family, we must be mindful to not overlook the necessity of giving to those less fortunate. It is vital that we heed Paul’s words and look for opportunities to not only support the weak but to teach others to do so as well. 

How often have you given a gift on behalf of a loved one? Giving gifts on behalf of others not only blesses recipients but can also connect loved ones to the mission of the church. Use Christmas giving as an opportunity to teach your children how to be benefactors with purpose. Let your children know that, instead of receiving the newest game, they can provide an orphan with a safe home or a village in Africa with water. It might be hard for them to understand in the moment, but parents can trust the Word of God to be true as children learn the true meaning of giving. 

Within the UPCI family, gifts can be given to the North American Missions’ Christmas For Christ offering, in sponsorship of a child at Tupelo Children’s Mansion or Lighthouse Ranch For Boys, to a SeedSprings water-well project through the United Pentecostal Foundation, or to future AYC trips through Mission Possible. All gifts to these programs can also be made on behalf of others. After extending the gift, create a present to be opened with pictures of the program or of a child that was blessed on behalf of the one opening the present. This will allow the recipient to stay connected to the mission because it puts a face or a place on the gift for them to see the impact of well into the future. 

Individuals, families, and churches can look for opportunities beyond the organization and into local communities, local churches, and even internationally through effective non-profit efforts. The giving season is a great way for churches to demonstrate compassion within a community which builds relationships and fosters church growth. 

The following list of ideas are common giving opportunities in most communities: 

• Foster-Children Christmas parties
• School back-pack programs that allow gifts to be placed alongside food items
• Salvation Army’s “Coats For Tots” 
• Neighborhood Adoption Programs through the Community Care Councils
• Shop-With-A-Cop
• Christmas Wish Programs
• Hospice organizations can also deliver presents to widows in the community 
• Deliver baked goods to first responders, police officers, and community care workers. 

Romans 12:13 instructs us to distribute to the needs of the saints and to give ourselves to hospitality. In response to this verse, churches can organize anonymous gift distributions for children and others in need. Widows and shut-ins would gladly welcome gifts of fellowship, not just material possessions. Consider the needs of a smaller church in your section and develop a plan to demonstrate compassion for them while also building unity in the kingdom. 

A very nontraditional idea is to give the gift of farm animals to families and individuals in developing countries through Heifer International. A flock of chickens can be given to a family for only $20. This program also allows a donor to create a gift on behalf of someone else who will receive a card that explains the impact of the gift made in their honor. 

The wisdom of Solomon declared, “Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.” (Proverbs 3:27 KJV). It would be easy to question whether or not someone is due a gift. However, we must consider the manifold grace of God by which we received the gift of the Holy Ghost. Compassion is never a judge of worthiness. It is always an act of grace; a gift that continues to give even when it is undeserved. With this challenge in mind, let us move beyond the norm and discover nontraditional ways to impact the lives of others through our giving this Christmas.