Found an article this morning on Ethics Daily about the Advent Conspiracy.
Sounds mysterious.
“We celebrate Jesus’ birthday by giving ourselves presents,” McKinley says. “We don’t give him anything.” McKinley is pastor of the Imago Dei Community…[Last year] McKinley and a few pastor friends from around the country hatched what they called the Advent Conspiracy. They challenged their congregations: Spend less on Christmas, give relational gifts and donate the money saved to the poor.”
Three congregations collected $430,000—Imago Dei collected $110,000 on a single Sunday—and gave most of that to Living Water International, a nonprofit project that digs wells in the Third World…
This year, about 491 churches from 10 nations have joined the conspiracy…World Relief, an evangelical mission group, has recruited 500 more churches to participate. About 1,700 individuals have joined on the Internet
And the obvious benefit:
And there was another gift that neither Blakeman nor McKinley anticipated. Families spend more time together as they plan and make gifts. It all becomes relational if people resist consumerism.I’m seriously considering joining the conspiracy.“We’re not asking that you don’t spend money on Christmas,” McKinley says, “just that you do it with the poor in mind.”
Anyone attend a church that’s participating in the Advent Conspiracy? Anybody wish they could get their family to agree to this?
HT: A Guy In The Pew
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November 30, 2007 at 12:46
What a great idea! And it looks like it’s really getting off the ground. I think people often do respond to a good challenge when they can see it is worthwhile. When they can see their gifts will be put to good use, they give more generously and cheerfully.
November 30, 2007 at 19:57
It is a great idea. It’d be tough to overcome the tradition of gift giving, but if that could be done, a lot more good could be accomplished.
November 30, 2007 at 23:41
It is absolutely divinely inspired, what you are saying about Christmas. God has planted that very issue in my heart as well!! We will be abiding in that this Christmas and through out the coming year. God has placed people in need directly in our path. We are to supposed to be HIS hands and feet. I pray that the HOLY SPIRIT will inspire all to be just that!!!
December 1, 2007 at 00:43
If you have no skills but have money, can you still do this?
December 1, 2007 at 21:31
I agree with this idea. I hope more people see the need for looking for blessing the less fortunate among us. This is a need the Lord wants us to respond to.
Matthew 25:34”Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
December 1, 2007 at 22:53
Could you imagine getting a congregation to really do this? I wish ours would. I can’t even get some of my students to go over and help another student in our group move some stuff into there house.
They don’t seem to care.
December 3, 2007 at 14:59
Maybe I missed something… why is this a conspiracy? Sounds more like a ministry to me. Just making sure I didn’t miss anything. If they call it a conspiracy, wouldn’t that just bring about a negative outlook on it?