What Are The Results Of Giving?

Time and again the Bible’s story suggests that when we give not only do we find that God uses us to meet people’s needs, but we also open ourselves up to God’s goodness.

Here is a story from someone in our community:

“From the beginning of our marriage, my wife and I committed a proportion of our income to the church because we believe that the bible says you should. Neither of us had regular work and were temping. Our outgoings exceed our income but mostly because of our choices - take aways, wine, etc.

We wanted to go to Australia to get to know her family a bit. There was no way on our earnings, even without the odd indulgence, that this could happen, so we never really talked about it. In truth it was on her heart but not really on mine.

On her birthday, she received a card from a member of our church. The sender was, and is not, wealthy in financial terms. The card contained a £500 cheque and explained that it was a deposit for a trip home to Australia. The card also said that God had directed the gift and refusing it was not an option.

Out of the blue God enabled us to visit Australia 5 months later and my wife was able to visit her Dad for the first time in 13 years (he had been over here twice in that time).”

Where does my money go?

Everything that happens in bristol vineyard is funded by the giving of the members of the community. We are an entirely self funded body. This means that all the stuff we do is paid for by our giving. It also covers those who are salaried by bristol vineyard and the running costs of the office. bristol vineyard also seeks to give away at least ten percent of our income: to our community, to other projects in Bristol and those based nationally and internationally.