When I was young, my grandmother would give me and my brother and all our cousins a birthday card with a $2 bill in it, every year, until we were teenagers. It was only recently that I learned she did this because her father used to give her children, my dad and his sisters, a $2 bill on their birthday.
Two dollars in my dad’s youth bought him a comic book and a couple of candy bars. Today, it might cover the cost of a small candy bar, if that. But when my grandmother died in 2013, shortly after her death, my aunt found a stack of $2, and there was one for each of the great-grandchildren at that time, including my cousin’s baby girl that had only been born a few months earlier.
Two dollars doesn’t seem like a lot, but it’s a tangible gift. It’s also a unique gift, one we don’t forget. Two dollar bills are not in circulation anymore, but when you do see one, you tend to hold on to it because it’s such a unique and special gift.
It’s a new year, and it’s now the second month of the year. In honor of February being the second month, I’d like to ask you to consider giving $2 as a gift to the American Baptist Churches of Wisconsin. Last month I shared with you the many resources we as a region provide all of our churches, our ministers, leaders, and partners, resources that include:
- Supporting churches in changing neighborhoods and contexts with tools and training for rediscovering their mission and vision to do Christ’s work in their community and beyond
- Providing resources for our immigrant congregations on their rights and responsibilities as well as training for all our churches on how to help the most vulnerable in their communities
- Advocating for justice for our Burma congregations and members, speaking out against religious nationalism, and being a united voice for our churches across the state
- Helping churches in pastoral transition
- Providing ministers with continuing education opportunities and grants
- Supporting lay leaders with education and training including a new partnership with Central Seminary, including three offerings this spring that will be announced soon
- Supporting Next Generation ministries with scholarships and opportunities locally and nationally for leadership development, fellowship, and growth in their relationship with Christ.
- Retreats and camps through our Outdoor Ministries and Camp Tamarack, helping us connect to God our creator and God’s creation
- Connecting congregations, ministers, and leaders with our denomination and other organizational partners
- Grants for New Ministry opportunities through New Wineskins
And so much more!
All we’re asking for is $2 for this month of February. Please give by going to our website abcofwi.org and click on Donate under Mission Giving, or scan the QR code, or send us a check to the region office. If even half of our members give $2 this month, we will be able to do amazing things to support our churches, ministers and ministry partners in the work Christ has called all of us to do. Show your support in this unique way by donating $2 or more to the American Baptist Churches of Wisconsin. For we are Diverse Members, United in Christ. We are, all of us together, the American Baptist Churches of Wisconsin.
