Fundraising proclaims your values

Imagine an arena full of hundreds of Mennonites, singing Praise God to Whom All Blessing Flow in four-part harmony, a cappella. It’s not a church service, it’s a moment of celebration in a fundraising auction. The feature quilt had just sold for $20,000 (video here) and this amount was matched by the family of a long-time volunteer. (Read more about the quilt here)

If you’re a southern Ontario Mennonite, you were probably there. If not, I’ll explain. On Saturday, I attended the New Hamburg Mennonite Relief Sale. It’s an annual fundraiser for MCC (Mennonite Central Committee) supporting relief, development and peace in Ontario and around the world. The sale is famous for its quilt auction - now with online bidding! - and the food. My son wondered how many deep-fryers were involved. French fries, spring rolls, tea balls, roll kucken, poposas and much, much more.

Fundraising proclaims your values.

The atmosphere in the quilt auction was electric. I can’t think of another setting where Mennonites go public with their generosity in quite the same way. It’s clear that supporting the work of MCC matters to people. Fundraising proclaims your values. Let’s unpack that.

Circle of Grace model of giving

The Circle of Grace model of giving below informs my stewardship work. Gracious action from people to people (yellow writing) makes the relief sale go round: volunteers onsite and the many people who donated their time, talent and materials to make the quilts. The people making the food. The people spending money for a good cause. The people who set up, and then took down, all those deep fryers!

People respond to gracious action with praise and thanksgiving to God (pink writing). While people cheered and clapped after the winning bid, the praise and thanksgiving was directed to God, the source of every good gift.

Many Mennonites support MCC out of gratitude to MCC helping them or their families in the 1920s through WWII. They thank God for the help they have received and want to help others. Christians give in grateful response to a generous God. Do we tell our stories of grace received? I think right hand side of the circle - the green writing - the gratitude for God’s grace, sometimes goes unsaid.

It’s sometimes hard to voice gratitude for what we’ve received from God. We are tempted to think we’ve earned what we have. Gratitude enables hospitality and generosity. What are you grateful for? Why are you generous?

Generous God,

Thank you for the gift of this day.

Thank you for the people we’ve complained about recently.

Forgive us for thinking we did it all ourselves.

Help us to be generous, as you have been generous.

Amen

P.S. Undercurrents podcast features a short interview with Calvin Jutzi, auctioneer and bid-taker at the famous “Threads of Africa” quilt which sold for $42,000. Calvin volunteers his services on a day when he could be hosting auctions as part of his work. Clearly a wise and generous man, he advises: “Please give a little more than you expected.”


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Generosity as Spiritual Gift: Part 1 - The moisture meter speaks truth!

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The spirituality of digital giving