A Report From the Benevolent Team

By Pastor Wayne

Recently a woman sat in my office in tears telling her heart-rending story that her husband left, leaving her with the children and all of the bills. We were able to help with utilities and rent, enabling her through the transition into being a single mom. Sometimes we respond to a need with Food For Less Gift Certificates, sometimes with a Gas Card so they can get to work. We see these people go away not only grateful, but with trust in their Heavenly Father strengthened.

The generosity of the Quail Lakes Church body makes all of this possible, and we want to express appreciation to you for giving to the Benevolent Fund. Our focus is to help people when unexpected financial reverses have threatened their ability to meet their basic needs of food, clothing and shelter. Although we do help people in the broader community when they are referred to us by an active Quail person, most of these funds go to people within the Quail Family, based on Galatians 6:10 which tells us to “do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” The scriptures also reveal God’s tender heart toward women without husbands and children without fathers (James 1:27), thus the vast majority of situations we help are single parent families. In order to spread the resources as broadly as possible, we usually can not repeat help within a 6 month period. To preserve the dignity of people, all of the business of the Benevolent Team is confidential.

We believe in helping people financially, but we also offer information about “Good Sense” workshops where they can learn to plan a family budget that will help them stretch their dollars. Volunteer financial advisors are available who can help evaluate spending priorities and teach money management skills.

Seasonally the Benevolent Team sends $500 contributions to major community agencies who help vast numbers of homeless and street people. Some of these agencies are: Gospel Center Rescue Mission, Good Samaritan Service Center, Salvation Army, St Mary’s Family Services, and Emergency Food Bank. Several months ago we also contributed $500 to help ship a container of relief supplies to Samoa where a Tsunami had ravaged the lives of thousands of people.

In 2009 the generosity of the Quail Lakes people provided over $57,000 for the Benevolent Fund Ministry, and the average amount used to help each situation was about $400. The Benevolent Team is fully accountable to the QLBC Finance Commission.

If you know of a need that the Benevolent Fund may be able to help with, please contact one of the Team Members: Marty Kjelson, Chairman, Herb Hemington, Jeff Lee,  Allan Preston, Carolyn Robinson, Margi Schmidt, Rich Sturgill.  Or call Pastor Wayne in the church office:  951-7380.