The space in my diary has created time and energy to think differently about this year and how to share that good news of Jesus coming amongst us. Our front doors may be closed but we can think imaginatively about how to be generous, to bless our neighbours and to give in this extraordinary time.
On 28 October 2019, there was a terrible road accident in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. A Rocha CEO Chris Naylor and his wife Suzanna were killed, along with Miranda Harris, one of A Rocha’s founders. Her husband Peter was critically injured and a year on continues the slow journey of recovery and grief.
Whatever Boaz may have gone through in the time of famine, he was doing well as a landowner when we meet him in the Bible, despite the frequent wars and political upheaval of the time.
The pandemic has left some of us in a strangely better financial position than before: people who have been able to keep jobs but have far less expenses. Covid-19 has drawn even bigger gaps between those who are comfortable and those who are struggling and it can be overwhelming to see so much need around us.
There’s a queue outside the school gate. It’s an orderly queue, with a vague 2m between adults, children in neat uniforms that have received their yearly iron, faces both excited and slightly overwhelmed to see friends again. Hand sanitiser is at the ready, face masks are in pockets (just in case) and admiring nods are given to the vigorous signage announcing the one way system around the school.
But then, there is a cough…
The Global Rapid Response Campaign (GRRC) is an international response to Stewardship’s recent Rapid Response Fund, which raised and distributed almost £5 million to 88 UK churches and charities within 100 days of lockdown. Lockdown may be easing here in the UK, but the rest of the globe is still feeling the pain of the pandemic.
This pandemic has been a strange experience. Whilst some of us are struggling more than ever financially, others of us find that we have more at our disposal. No more train fares, no more filling up with fuel, no more sandwich lunches in the local café, no more impulse purchases, no holiday, no theatre or cinema tickets – for once we have more money than month; our bank balance is actually going up!
Imagine having fifty-eight prom dresses hanging up in the wardrobe. Mostly strapless, with full skirts and embroidered with crystals and sequins, they come in all the colours of the rainbow and are one hundred per cent concert-ready. Their owner was too until the pandemic hit and she watched all her work disappear overnight.
I believe that people give because they carry the image of God – they have in them a divine piece of DNA which radiates grace. Rationally, it seems foolish for people to give £30,000,000 to a commercial fund-raising site because Honorary Colonel Sir Tom is walking up and down his garden. But when we see a need, and are inspired by a person, our default is an urge to give. Even if we often find reasons not to give, (I’ll do it later, I haven’t got enough myself, I don’t know how to give) there’s something in us that wants to join in with the generosity.
The onset of coronavirus has exposed our world’s selfishness, but it’s also acted as a catalyst for an outpouring of generosity. It’s human nature to be concerned about our own well being, but as Christians, we want to continue to live out God’s word to love our neighbour as ourselves and attend to the needs of others.
blogs by the Stewardship team and selected guest writers.
Stewardship is the operating name of Stewardship Services (UKET) Limited. Established in 1906.
Registered charity no. 234714, and a company limited by guarantee, registered in England no. 90305.
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