Give Away Yard "Sale"

**forHISglory** · 10-22-2008, 09:58 PM

Does your church do fund raising? What is your church's policy on making money?

Our church's policy is that we never sell anything, never charge admission for anything, etc. We believe that the church members should be responsible for the finances of the church and not solicit "outsiders" to pay our bills.

Our church recently held a give-away yard "sale". I put "sale" in quotes because nothing was actually sold. It looked like a yard sale, but everything was free.

Anyway, members brought gently used items and some new items to give away. We set up tables, handed folks papers bags to put stuff in, helped them carry their stuff to cars and gave them refreshments. We set up a little play area for the children and some of our teen aged kids watched them.

It was wonderful! Some people said they thought churches were just around to make money, and this showed them that we were not interested in making money. Others said that they had not been treated very kindly in church, and it was nice to be treated with respect. It was just a great way to reach out to the community.

We hold other activities that are open to the public, also, and again there is no charge for any of it. We hold a dinner theatre and the tickets are free. We put on a passion play in the spring, and again it is free. We do a drive thru Christmas nativity..... free. We provide a safe trick or treating for kids..... free. We do a mother's-day-out progam, and there is no cost.

I'm really proud of my church for stepping out in faith this way and reaching out to others around us. The only thing that we charge for is our school. People have to pay tuition for the children to attend, although work-study and scholarships are available.

**Jamauk** · 10-22-2008, 10:05 PM

KUDOS to your church!! I feel that is the way it should be for churches.

I know a lot of churches around here will have "sales" but nothing is priced. You make a donation of your choice (or none at all) and take what you like. To be honest, I spend more at those "sales" because of the way its handled. I usually give the kids each a dollar to put in the pot when we walk into the sale and then I gather the stuff I'm interested in. I figure how much I'd be willing to pay at a regular yard sale and then I add a few more bucks onto it.

**Ceashels** · 10-22-2008, 10:27 PM

What a great way to reach out to the community. The Church we play at does do active fund raising toward the building fund and years ago the bell choir had a dinner so we could purchase another octave. We have a slow growing Church and had great aspirations for a new fellowship building a few years ago. Then the new Minister took a look at the plans and realized we would dig such a big hole of debt that we got a lovely new parking lot and updated the kitchen in the Fellowship Hall instead. It was a very wise choice. I'm sure we will continue to slowly grow and the active fund raising will help, but one day I would like to see our Church reach out to the community "free of charge."

**forHISglory** · 10-22-2008, 10:47 PM

When we set up our yard "sale," we were thinking of the very poor in our community, and thought it would be a way to let them select needed clothing for their families, furniture items, dishes, etc. We knew that the not-so-poor would also come, but we didn't try to distinguish between them. That wasn't our place nor job. We just want to provide a dignified way to help the less fortunate.

Ceashels, your church was wise to determine to stay out of debt. That is honorable.

Jamauk, I understand completely your feeling toward this kind of "sale.' There's a sense of appreciation there. We have had people want to make donations, but we ask them instead to just pay it forward.

**sunshine** · 10-22-2008, 11:08 PM

Our church has the same stance on fund raising -- all money is to come from the members.

We've also done the give away yard sale too --it wasn't a huge hit in our tiny town. This December, we're offering free gift wrapping service for senior citizens, a mom's day out for shopping, baking or just a break, and a free Christmas concert (it helps that the retired band director is a member of our church - and so organized a concert band from our members)

**cmr3399** · 10-22-2008, 11:11 PM

Wow thats amazing...its so good to see people helping one another and those in need......

**Luv2BeFrugal** · 10-22-2008, 11:18 PM

Wow! That is so neat!! I've never heard of a church doing that! Cool!!

**prftstrngr** · 10-23-2008, 07:45 AM

Wow thats an awesome thing to do for the community. Our local churches are so lacking in funds it seems we are always being asked to *fund* something. After awhile it does make you wonder if there isnt a better way of handling things....

**Dancing Lotus** · 10-23-2008, 07:55 AM

That's sounds wonderful, but I wonder how does your church make end meet?

**forHISglory** · 10-23-2008, 10:52 AM

Hi AnnK!

You asked how a church makes ends meet if there is no fund raising. My answer may seem too simplistic, but it works. And it's the same principle which Hubby and I use on our finances.

Members of the church are asked to tithe 10% of their income (that's income before taxes). No one keeps track of whether or not people do, and no one has to sign a pledge card or anything like that. But all it takes is 10 tithing families to pay a pastor's salary. And let's say another 5 tithing families to provide upkeep on the church. And maybe 2 tithing families to provide supplies. You get the idea.

We are also invited to contribute to special funds (we call this an offering, as differentiated from a tithe). These might include some disaster relief for folks in the community, help for a missionary, a family devasted by illness, holiday gift boxes for children of prisoners, etc. Members of our church always contribute far more than what was asked.

When a church joyfully tithes and gives offerings, there is more than enough. I really believe that God blesses a generous spirit.

I mentioned that Hubby and I also live by this principle. We tithe and give offering beyond the tithe. God has blessed us with enough. I can't explain it in terms of pure logic and reason; guess that's why it's supernatural.

**katybug** · 10-23-2008, 11:52 AM

WOW that it outstanding, your church is really leading by example, you SHOULD be proud! I remember watching a T.V. show kind of based on the "nickle and dimed" book. Of course the two couldn't afford anything, but they did visit a thrift store, run like your "sale" everything was free. They had household items, furniture, kitchen items, etc. The girl in the program cried.

It is SO nice to see things like that happening, it warms my heart. If we had a "thrift store" like that in town, I would totally donate to it!