Pastor Ken Kettlewell writes: When...
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Pastor Ken Kettlewell writes: When I was in high school, I received word that someone in my congregation had paid my way to go to a youth missionary conference. Would I like to accept that gift? Indeed! I was excited to go to it.
But I did wonder who had paid my way.
Then the thought came to me. Perhaps it was Dr. and Mrs. McCleary. I mowed their lawn and did some yard work for them. They had been missionaries in Africa. Yes, that's likely who it was, I decided.
I wrote them a letter stating that I thought they were the gift-givers, and that I wanted to thank them.
Back came a letter that I have kept all these years. Dr. and Mrs. McCleary explained that they had prayed about it and God had led them to provide a way for me to go to the conference. They believed that giving should not be announced and talked about, and that givers should not seek praise. That's why they had not made their names known.
I never think of the McCleary's without recalling their example of giving in secret.
But I did wonder who had paid my way.
Then the thought came to me. Perhaps it was Dr. and Mrs. McCleary. I mowed their lawn and did some yard work for them. They had been missionaries in Africa. Yes, that's likely who it was, I decided.
I wrote them a letter stating that I thought they were the gift-givers, and that I wanted to thank them.
Back came a letter that I have kept all these years. Dr. and Mrs. McCleary explained that they had prayed about it and God had led them to provide a way for me to go to the conference. They believed that giving should not be announced and talked about, and that givers should not seek praise. That's why they had not made their names known.
I never think of the McCleary's without recalling their example of giving in secret.
