Benevolence ministry is not easy. 

We meet with people weekly who are in crisis.  Within the hour of our time together, we hear people’s stories and life circumstances that have brought them to a place of asking for help from complete strangers.  We often are all in tears at some point. We are overwhelmed by extreme hardship these men and women have faced; abandonment by husbands/fathers, assault to children, severe lifetime health issues stacked with a stage 4 cancer diagnosis, debilitating grief over the loss of a parent. Often, it’s not one thing, it’s multiple blows that leave people in a position of need.

Benevolence ministry is rewarding.

We get to meet incredibly resilient people.  We get to hear how grateful they are that we care enough to meet them in person and hear their story. We get to share how Jesus loves them just as they are.  We get to relate to their stories by sharing our own.  We get to pray with them. And we are privileged to bless them financially because God has blessed this church through each of you. We are honored and humbled to come alongside them in their journey, continuing to connect and share life’s ups and downs, continuing to point them to Jesus for true hope for the weeks to follow.

Benevolence ministry is a commandment.

• “There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land” (Deut. 15:11)

• “Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality” (Rom. 12:13).

• “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us know love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.” (1 John 3:17 )

• “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’  The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31)

Benevolence ministry is a call to action for the whole church.

• How can you live out the commandment to love your neighbor as yourself?

• Would you be willing to pray for specific participants in the Love One Another benevolence ministry?

• Do you want to receive an email from us when there is a practical need for somone within or outside of the church?

• Would you like to be notified when meals are needed for someone within the church?

• Is your heart being pulled toward using your spiritual gift of serving in this area?  Would you like to have a conversation with the Love One Another benevolence team to learn more?

• Do you, or someone you know, need assistance?

Take action now by replying to this email or letting us know here.

As we seek to love our neighbor as ourselves and ‘Love God by helping people follow Jesus’, we thank you for your financial support, words of encouragement, involvement when needs are made known, and most importantly for your prayers.

In His Service,

Trista Sutherland & the Love One Another benevolence team (Maegan Erb, Polly DeLapp, Robin Knutzen, Gary Warne)


P.S. - We have a specific need for a wonderful single mom we have known for quite awhile.  She is looking for housing in the Sumner school district as well as a job in property management, an area in which she has years of experience.  Please let Trista know if you have any ideas or connections.