FAMILIES UNITE TO PROVIDE CLEAN WATER
By: Denise Boiko, Staff Writer
On Sunday, December 20th, hundreds of Calvary members left their pews and walked to the stage to drop an offering into plastic water containers. These weren't normal weekly tithes; these financial gifts went towards the Advent Conspiracy. By simplifying our often-materialistic Christmas and donating to the Cambodian water well project, they were providing pure water for suffering people. Behind each person was a story
- for many, that story was life-changing.
Prompted by the theme of pure water, one Calvary member realized that the $35 per month spent on Arrowhead spring water could be used to provide clean water for needy people. “To hear of the horrible situation in these villages really impacted my heart. I had to do something to help.”
For another member, who lost her grandmother, a long-time Sunday School teacher and missions supporter, this year, “giving one less gift” came in a heartfelt way. “She would be happy to know that the money I usually spent on her gift is helping people in Cambodia.”
When Janice added up all the small "trinket" gifts for her co-workers at a Christian school, she realized that she frequently spends over $60. When she shared that she decided to use the money for the Cambodian well project, her friends received the idea and suggested participating in a similar project next year.
One man approached Bob Witters, our church administrator, with an elegant Tiffany & Company box. Instead of the gift he buys every year for his wife, he explains, he and his wife decided to donate that money. Inside the box were two checks for the water well project.
Our children, too, are learning the meaning of sacrifice. In one family, the children collected toys from their toy chests, sold them on eBay, and donated the money to the Advent Conspiracy project. The toys were purchased by a woman who gave them to children in need!
After a year of financial struggles, another family had already explained that Christmas would be smaller this year, with only one gift per person. Truly catching the spirit of the season, their seven-year-old son announced that he would give up his only gift so that the family could donate more money to the Advent Conspiracy project.
May the giving spirit of this young boy inspire all of us this Christmas!
Share Your Advent Conspiracy Story >
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Be sure to set your dials and tune in this week to hear our very own lead pastor, Bob Thomas on the radio. Pastor Thomas interviewed with the CEO Show this week about the Advent Conspiracy and other ways Calvary is reaching out to the community, such as the House of Hope and the AIDS Walk. Bob's interview will air next Tuesday, December 29 at 7pm & 10pm on KLIV 1590 AM radio. 
