Paying With Love
Stories
Lectionary Tales For The Pulpit
Series IV, Cycle A
Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments, "You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet"; and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, "Love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law. (vv. 8--10)
A group of women in Stillwater, Oklahoma, operate a resale shop called Elite Repeat. The store carries a variety of items, including clothing, books, toys, and furniture. The store was birthed and incorporated through an unusual process. One of the store managers, Marie Hesser, explained that a group of friends who met regularly for lunch decided to open the shop. Twenty--seven women were involved with forming the business, with five in management positions. Every decision was made by voting - including the name and the downtown location.
In its first year of existence, the store grossed more than $140,000. Not bad for a new business.
However, what is truly amazing is that the Elite Repeat resale shop was not conceived for profit. None of its 65 employees - including the five managers - is paid. After the rent and bills are paid, the rest goes to help two charities - Habitat for Humanity and the Stillwater Community Action Agency. From the first year's profit, about $45,000 went to each of the charities.
Elite's donations have had such an impact that one Habitat house in Stillwater was named the "Elite Repeat House." The cost of the house was close to the $45,000 donated.
The money donated to Stillwater Action was used to repair the roof on a wing of its building, which is used for transitional housing.
Hesser explained the rationale, "Both of them are strong organizations. They have a good thing going and have a good program set up, but they had no cash flow. This gives them a cash flow."
Elite's donations are expected to make up about half of the funding for Habitat's Stillwater affiliate for the fiscal year ending June 30, treasurer Dale Alspach said.
President of the Habitat board in Stillwater, Kathy Dorr remarked, "I was amazed at the success. They've been invaluable to Habitat for Humanity. They're a wonderful group of people."
Dorr realized how successful the business had become when she purchased a pair of pants for her daughter, who lives in Tulsa, only to find out that her daughter had donated the pants a few weeks earlier.
While the success can be credited to dozens of volunteers, Shirley Brassfield who has been a volunteer since the beginning of the project, gives the highest praise to Hesser. She calls Hesser the "guiding force" behind the group. Brassfield says, "She is one of these people that just gives of herself to her community all the way."
Hesser is an example of loving her neighbor as we do ourselves. She lives Christ's law of paying love with love.
(From an article in the 05/12/03 Daily Oklahoman.)
A group of women in Stillwater, Oklahoma, operate a resale shop called Elite Repeat. The store carries a variety of items, including clothing, books, toys, and furniture. The store was birthed and incorporated through an unusual process. One of the store managers, Marie Hesser, explained that a group of friends who met regularly for lunch decided to open the shop. Twenty--seven women were involved with forming the business, with five in management positions. Every decision was made by voting - including the name and the downtown location.
In its first year of existence, the store grossed more than $140,000. Not bad for a new business.
However, what is truly amazing is that the Elite Repeat resale shop was not conceived for profit. None of its 65 employees - including the five managers - is paid. After the rent and bills are paid, the rest goes to help two charities - Habitat for Humanity and the Stillwater Community Action Agency. From the first year's profit, about $45,000 went to each of the charities.
Elite's donations have had such an impact that one Habitat house in Stillwater was named the "Elite Repeat House." The cost of the house was close to the $45,000 donated.
The money donated to Stillwater Action was used to repair the roof on a wing of its building, which is used for transitional housing.
Hesser explained the rationale, "Both of them are strong organizations. They have a good thing going and have a good program set up, but they had no cash flow. This gives them a cash flow."
Elite's donations are expected to make up about half of the funding for Habitat's Stillwater affiliate for the fiscal year ending June 30, treasurer Dale Alspach said.
President of the Habitat board in Stillwater, Kathy Dorr remarked, "I was amazed at the success. They've been invaluable to Habitat for Humanity. They're a wonderful group of people."
Dorr realized how successful the business had become when she purchased a pair of pants for her daughter, who lives in Tulsa, only to find out that her daughter had donated the pants a few weeks earlier.
While the success can be credited to dozens of volunteers, Shirley Brassfield who has been a volunteer since the beginning of the project, gives the highest praise to Hesser. She calls Hesser the "guiding force" behind the group. Brassfield says, "She is one of these people that just gives of herself to her community all the way."
Hesser is an example of loving her neighbor as we do ourselves. She lives Christ's law of paying love with love.
(From an article in the 05/12/03 Daily Oklahoman.)
