EVIN DEMIREL
ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE
Inspired by first-century Christians in the Middle East and 21st-century Christians in Memphis, a North Little Rock church on Sunday dished out a “reverse offering,” giving away $5,000 to needy congregants.

The Summit Church worshippers received cash to pay medical and electric bills, buy children’s school clothes, make a security deposit for an apartment, and replace a broken washing machine, said pastor Bill Elliff, who helped found the church 11 years ago.

“We want to become a church where there’s no more need,” he said.
So at the end of each of the church’s three Sunday services, baskets with small bills were laid out at the front of the sanctuary. “I told them ‘We don’t want one dime of this left,’” Elliff, 57, said.

At first, members hesitated.

“I had to really prod the people about that you’ve got to get over pride about walking down here,” he said. “And don’t deprive us and deprive God of the joy of meeting your need.”

After a few minutes, Elliff said, they started coming. “Man, they were just weeping. It was just a lot of joy going on,” Elliff said. “It was pretty incredible.”

Some churchgoers stepped forward, not to take, but to give.
By the time the last service ended, all but $3 had been given away.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009 at 4:45 pm and is filed under Religion. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.