On December 19, 2004, about 20 of us went caroling in a local Bealeton neighborhood.  We also went to the Sheetz gas station.  It was a freezing evening, sleet and snow was coming down, but our caroling group was warm with excitement.  Why?  Through donations of members of Soul Purpose Church, we placed $20 in each of our Christmas cards we handed out.  We only asked that the recipient “pay it forward” through any creative means they desired.

We did not get to see the responses of the recipients because most did not open the card while we were there.  However, while we caroled at Sheetz gas station, one lady had opened the card in her car.

She came out with an anxious “who gave me this??”  We told her Soul Purpose Church had done so.  She proceeded to tell us what a blessing the money was because she just moved to the area, since her house had burned down in another state.  This holiday season was so tight financially for her!

We also received an email from one of the recipients.  They were very pleased with receiving the money and decided as a family, to give to missionaries this holiday season.

While we were visiting a local church, a family told us that they had relatives in Bealeton.  We recognized the neighborhood as the one we had caroled in.  When the lady heard that, she asked, “Are you the church that gave money out for Christmas?”  We said, “Yes, that was us!”  She told us that her brother who’d received the card was so excited he called his mother instantly to tell her of a church that handed out money!  He also called family members to find out ideas on how to “pay it forward.”