HOLDING UP THE PROPHETS’ HANDS: KENYA:
OPTIONS for MISSION GIVING In these uncertain financial times, you want to make the most of your mission offerings. Consider these options: • South Sudan Match: A generous supporter has been moved to offer a $14,000 dollar-for-dollar match for “Food for the Body and Soul,” providing famine relief kits, grinding mills and LHF catechisms and devotions for the people of South Sudan. Complete the form on the back of this newsletter and mail to LHF with your gift, or give online at LHFmissions.org/South-Sudan-match.
“The coronavirus situation in Kenya is still worrying. Especially in Nairobi, movement is highly restricted by the police who hinder the operation of key service providers like the nurses and doctors. “All churches in Kenya are in complete lockdown. Only online services have been going on. “But one of LHF’s books that is doing well especially in my own suburb is A Child’s Garden of Bible Stories in the Swahili language. I shared 18 copies to the kids in my neighborhood as a way of keeping them busy as they are at home. To my surprise, they organized themselves into a classroom setting where they read at least three stories a day! None of these kids is Lutheran.” – Rev. George Ondieki, LHF translator
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way out no matter how small or narrow it might be! we are not able at this time to hold normal Sunday services at our visit our members in the refugee camps as we normally do, thanks at the people are receiving comfort and healing through the books e Lutheran Heritage Foundation! re is not just a shortage of food, but also a shortage of books, ess time of the pandemic. We are running out of catechisms, booklets ever Fails,” “Trusting in His Love,” and the newly-published book: den of Bible Stories in Zande. At this time when all the school kids we have received more requests for this new publication than the nted, because it is the first of its kind in our part of the world! ople maintain social distance and isolate themselves during this F books are bringing them closer to God. Praise be to God!”
ter Anibati Abia, Evangelical Lutheran Church in South Sudan/Sudan
Sudan specifically, please see “South Sudan Match,” above right.
• Recurring Gifts: Over time, even small gifts accumulate to great effect. By enrolling in LHF’s recurring gift program, see how the Holy Spirit can make a big impact through your offerings! Here’s how it works: Say you decide to give $10 per month to LHF – books for two families! This amount is securely charged to your credit card or automatically withdrawn from your banking account each month, as you direct. Over the course of a year, your gifts total $120. Now, you’ve shared books about the Savior in TWO DOZEN HOUSEHOLDS! Enroll by giving online at www.LHFmissions.org, and click the box that says “Make this a monthly gift.” Or call the LHF office at (800)554-0723 to request a mail-in form. • The LHF Match: If you haven’t donated to the LHF mission in the past 12 months or more, you’re eligible for the LHF Match. All donations from individuals, churches or groups who haven’t given to LHF in the past 12 months are matched, dollar for dollar, until the goal of $165,000 is met. The maximum individual gift match for this program is $5,000; grants and bequests are not eligible. No extra paperwork is required. Give online at LHFmissions.org or mail your gift using the form on the back. • The CARES Act: Part of the recently-passed federal stimulus CARES Act gave taxpayers an incentive to help religious organizations and charities in need during the pandemic crisis: an above-the-line $300 charitable income tax deduction, available both to those who itemize on their tax returns and those who don’t. This means that anyone taking the standard deduction on 2020 returns (filed in 2021), who gave up to $300 to charities, can claim a $300 tax break in addition to the standard deduction ($12,400 for individuals and $24,800 for married couples filing jointly). As always, consult your tax or financial advisors when making giving decisions. 3
