In Exodus 23:16 (New International Version) God tells us to “Celebrate the Feast of Harvest with the firstfruits of the crops you sow in your field.” Now most of us think of harvest in the fall, but God’s harvest is year round. We have already been picking strawberries from our garden and asparagus from the field. God provides us plentiful bounty in many ways.
The Mount Auburn UMC in Greenwood is a witness to God’s bounty and a testament to God’s call. They had a huge goal of adding a family life center, kitchen, gathering mall, classrooms, meeting room and additional restrooms to their existing building. The addition was over 2,500 sq ft and would cost in excess of 2 They really needed the space and this was going to be one big project. Instead of focusing exclusively on themselves and what they could accomplish, they trusted God and believed in what he would accomplish. They dedicated a tithe of the first fruits of their capital campaign toward a church in Uganda.
Mount Auburn gave $100,000 toward building a church in Jinja, Uganda. On March 29, 2009, Trinity United Methodist Church, the first United Methodist Church of Uganda was dedicated, with over 1,000 in attendance. For more information you can go to our website to see a full story on Mount Auburn.
Has your church experienced a “first fruits” moment? Please share your story.
