Rise Up In Favor

Though there is no money or glory in giving away food, there is the blessing of God’s favor. The Bible tells us God loves a cheerful giver. Leanna and I have been cheerfully giving to people all over the world for three decades, and I can honestly say, we walk in the crazy favor of God.

The kids were little when our food outreach really started to grow. I was getting more food than I had need for, so I went to one of the largest denominational churches in my hometown and made them an offer I was sure they couldn’t refuse.

“First Big” had a beautiful building with a congregation of respectable, influential people. I admired their reputation so I attended a board meeting and made my pitch: me, Leanna and the kids would bring food to the church twice a month and do a free outreach to the poor. We would wear our First Big hats and T-shirts, and represent them well – no muss, no fuss and glory to God!

The pastor looked me in the eye and told me no. WHAT??

He pointed to the First Big board of directors. “These men are never going to allow that to happen because when you give food to the poor, they want to attend your church. They don’t tithe and generally want and need more. Pretty soon, all the people who do support the ministry and tithe well are gone.”

My jaw hit the floor. I left ashamed, not of me, but of them. God must have been too, because a few years later, I went back to that church. The pastor and board were still there, but the people were not. First Big was not so big anymore.

I walked in and told them, “I’d like to buy this building from you for $200,000, and we’d need you to be out of here by the start of the month so that our church can start meeting here.”

It was a major lowball price. The board was outraged, but the pastor put up his hand to quiet them. “I remember when this man offered us an outreach to the poor and we told him no,” he said. “I can mark, to the day, when God took His hand of favor away, and it was the day we turned this man down. Give him what he’s asking for.” WOW! God’s favor speaks for itself.