The Gift of Giving

We know that he who is faithful with little will be given much. We know that God multiplies the gifts that we give. We know that we are blessed when we give generously, sacrificially, to worthy causes.So how do we know if a cause is worthy? How do we know if our money is going to the right place? In the financial world, we want to see a return on our investments. In the spiritual world, we can’t always see the return, but we trust, in faith, that God will use the gift for his glory.There are so many great Christian organizations to give to; how do we choose? I once heard a pastor say that three things are eternal – God, His Word, and people. Therefore, we cannot go wrong when investing our time, money and talents in these three eternal investments.When you give to First Choice for Women, your gift is being used to share the love of Christ, meet physical needs, spread God’s truth, help our local community and save innocent lives.When you give to First Choice, you are likely giving to help save and support innocent lives, but the reality is that your gift goes so far beyond that. Leslie Hatcher has a heart overflowing with love and compassion for young women in crisis. I have had the opportunity to hear her talk about counseling abortion-minded women, praying with and for them, helping them see hope and find a better way. There is no easy option for a woman with an unwanted pregnancy, but once she walks through the doors of First Choice, she is no longer alone on that journey.When you give to First choice, you are also giving to our little shop, which is teeming with infant clothes, diapers, baby food, formula, cribs and mattresses – all available to meet the needs of families who are not able to purchase these things themselves. Eager volunteers work to make this a welcoming space, and there is always a smiling face ready to greet everyone who walks through our doors.When you give to First Choice, you are sending trained educators into the classroom to talk to teens and preteens about choices, about relationships, about their dreams and their futures, about respecting themselves and others and about how much they matter to this world. Some students look at us as though we’re speaking a foreign language. We may be the first people to look them in the eyes and tell them they matter. Without ever speaking his name, God has the opportunity to speak to their hearts. As a result of our presence in schools, girls have broken up with their abusive boyfriends and boys’ eyes have been opened to the very real dangers of promiscuous sex and what it could mean to their health and their futures.When we talk about giving to First Choice, we are talking about an investment in the lives of people throughout Delaware County. We are talking about the Gospel going out, a lighthouse of hope, showing women in crisis the way to peace and community.We want to thank you for your investment in First Choice and pray that you see the depth and breadth to which God will multiply that gift.God’s grace to you and yours.