FUNDING THE FAITH - Kelo

While most churches aren't expecting any increases in giving during these tough economic times, one Sioux Falls congregation was challenged on that and the results were nothing short of miraculous. "The challenge was take this 100 dollars, see if you can multiply it. Remember it's God's money not you're money and in 90 days come back and tell us what you did," said Rev. Kip Roozen of Asbury United Methodist Church. Reverend Roozen passed out a thousand dollars of his church's money; 100 dollars each to 10 people. The idea was based on a parable in the Bible from Matthew Chapter 25. "This is a perfect time to do it. There are so many people in need. And so the challenge is if you're given a hundred dollars how can you expand it and use it for the good of God's kingdom. How can you help people with this?" said Rev. Roozen. Parishioner Connie Kolbrek answered the call. "When I took the $100, I had no idea what I was going to do with it," said Kolbrek. But it didn't take long for the Whittier Middle School Counselor to figure something out because every week she helps distribute backpacks of food from the food bank to children for the weekends; children who may otherwise go hungry. "It gets pretty heartbreaking to tell the kids, I'm sorry we're all out," said Kolbrek. So Connie took her $100 added $25 of her own money to it and sponsored a weekend of backpacks filled with food for a school year for one child. Then she challenged others to do the same. "All it does is take one person to get started. Challenge other people to meet the need, let them know what the need is and ask them to join," said Kolbrek. In all Kolbrek was able to get people to donate an additional 92 backpacks- which translates into $11,500. "We were able to meet our waiting list and give to another middle school and give to neighboring elementary schools,” said Kolbrek. The church's pastor says it's just one case in point that giving, even in a recession, never goes out of style. "We're naturally fearful and cautious, but I see Asbury and other churches in the community, they're about helping other people. So I don't see that the giving is going to go down. I see people's awareness increasing there is need out there. And it might be a challenge of how we're going to meet that need, but I see churches all over the community rising to the occasion and wanting to help," said Rev. Roozen. Kolbrek wasn't the only Asbury parishioner to have success with the challenge. In all the thousand dollars the church handed out grew to $20,585 for various causes and organizations. It's interesting to note that during the Great Depression, church attendance actually went down, not up. Angela Kennecke © 2009 KELOLAND TV. All Rights Reserved.

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