The students are leading the way here at Indian Creek. Check this out!

About two months ago, I was approached by three of our students, Jessika, Jennifer, and Caleb.  Their agenda: they wanted to put on a production as a fund raiser for YouthFront's "Feed the Hunger" organization.  Our student ministry has been building a relationship with Feed the Hunger since the beginning of this summer, starting with camps, then Middle School Mission Camp, and most recently with our Fall Retreat this past October.  In brief, Feed the Hunger is all about giving students an opportunity to package and pray for meals that are sent to malnourished families in Tanzania.

For whatever reason, our students have fallen in love with the Feed the Hunger organization, and they wanted to do something to help the cause.  Because we are in a message series about generosity, it made total sense to give them a green light on their idea of doing "The Canterville Ghost" last Saturday night (November 14) and selling tickets so that 100% of the proceeds would go to Feed the Hunger.

About 70 people came out Saturday night to their performance.  I was blown away by the quality of their production.  There was a full set, beautiful lighting, and special effects including a fog machine and sound effects.  After the performance, they counted the proceeds and discovered that they had raised $655 for Feed the Hunger.  They were so excited about what they had done!  And I was so proud to see how students realized they could be generous with their time to do something so great for others.

But the story doesn't end there.  Yesterday in Middle School Journey Live, one of our adults was so inspired by the generosity of our students who took the time to make this production, that this person decided to contribute an extra $100.  And by Sunday night, there was another donation of $50 toward the cause.  Generosity was inspiring generosity!  By the end of the day, students had raised $805 for Feed the Hunger.  Here's where it gets amazing:  that amount translates into 2012 meals that will be sent to families in Tanzania!

Way to go guys!  I am so proud of you!  You are catching this generosity thing and setting a great example for others!

Gary Kendall

For over ten years I've dedicated time on Saturday night to pray for Indian Creek. Belinda is a faithful participant and now there is a community group of us praying together at 6:00 p.m. We pray for anything we feel led to pray about but our expressed purpose is to pray for Jesus to lead Indian Creek Community Church. We pray for the services coming the next day on both campuses. And inevitably we pray for the Church in Kansas City. Usually we pray until 7:30 p.m. but people come and go according to their schedule.

We invite you to join us. We are praying for a move of God. We are praying for revival. Take ten minutes and watch this compilation of revival messages overed by those privileged to participate in a move of God. And remember, they all start the same way--by people praying.

This is Tim Stout's story

Kristin Levitt talked to me about going to China with Project Partner to shoot video on the first Sunday of Crazy Generosity at Indian Creek. (great timing, right?) I thought I'd throw out a fleece. I had just come back from South Africa shooting a documentary "Call Her Momma" and I was guessing I had about $5k to pay off for the movie based on my budget. I knew this going into the shoot but felt strongly that it was God's will. So my fleece was that I would get a call about freelance to help pay the bill which would make me feel better about spending money to go to China.

When I got home from church I had an email about a large freelance video job.  So I felt that confirmed the China question. 

Friday night I finally had time to sit down and compile all my receipts from the South Africa trip. I put them all in a spreadsheet and divided by the exchange rate. And then I double checked because according to the numbers instead of being $5k over what was in the movie account, I was about $1.5k under. I couldn't believe it. I mean I might have forgotten a meal or something but nothing close to that much.

So now Aid 2 Orphans (movie crew) is going to buy shoes or some other Christmas gift for the Kwa-dick orphans that Indian Creek supports. I shouldn't be amazed. I believe in an amazing God that knows and supplies all our needs. I guess I am amazed and humbled that God uses me in a small part to supply other's needs.

Way to go Tim! Thanks for sharing. We're going to China together buddy!

Even the teens at Indian Creek are getting generosity:

You never know if  your teenager gets it.  When we had the reverse giving Sunday, Nicholas was sitting in front of us.  When it was time for the offering,  Marianne and I where up to do prayer partner so I was going to give Nick some money to put in the offering.  When I tapped him on the shoulder, he turned and had $5 dollars out.  It was $5 I had given him for lunch.   I asked him what he was doing with his lunch money and he said, I do not need it, someone else does.  So he gave his lunch money for someone else.  It may have only been $5, but that was all he had.   I praised God for letting me know, HE GETS IT!!  Rick Keaton

I heard two great stories yesterday. Keep trusting God and let Him give you your own story.

Gary Kendall

In case you didn't get to make it to Indian Creek on Sunday here is a link to the message if you'd like to read "Consumed" which is week two of Crazy Generosity:  Download Consumed

God is doing a new thing among us and it is divine. Let Him have his way :) If you want to watch the media from last week you can find Part One here and Part two of the message  "Pursuit" here. Give it some time to load, it is worth the wait!

Our theme this month is, we are learning to let our heart lead our head. There are some spiritual lessons we can only learn if we practice this level of trust. Let's learn together.

Gary Kendall

All week long I kept hearing and reading of ways the generosity is flowing at Indian Creek. God is moving in divine ways! And Wednesday Belinda had an experience that continued the string.

We were at Citywide Prayer early in the morning when someone pressed a $100 bill into Belinda's hand. She was shocked and grateful at the same time. It was like God saying, I see you and I love you!  On the way back to Indian Creek to work Belinda shared with me that she had someone in mind that she wanted to help with $100. We discussed if we had the money to do so and decided we did. Now we had an extra $100. So we were able to pass on $200 to help someone else! Isn't God great! Love it!

Gary Kendall

I can't remember a time I've received more stories about God's generous provision. Here is another.

My name is Marianne Friedli. I was raised in a Christian home, attended church camp in my earlier years and have drifted away from and re-given my life to Christ more times than I can remember. I’ve attended Indian Creek a handful of times since I moved here in 2003. I’m a single mom of two. [Recently I] decided to have my 6 month old son dedicated. I said a prayer asking for forgiveness and ask God to use me daily in His purposes and to guide me down the path He planned.

I got online and saw the “Single Moms” group. I knew that is where I was supposed to be. I met a group of women who shared the same struggles as a single mom that I was experiencing and I was grateful that God led me to them.

One Sunday morning the message was about blind faith, trusting God’s path even if it doesn’t make sense. It just so happened that earlier that week, I had an issue with my apartment and I owed rent the following week or I would be evicted from my home. My bank account was low and I had one $20 bill in my wallet. With tears in my eyes, I tithed that $20, praying that God would somehow give it back to me. “Ok God,” I thought, “Let’s try this blind faith thing. I trust you.”

The following Wednesday at my Single Moms group my heart was heavy with worry. I needed to come up with this money somehow in a few days and I wasn’t sure how I was going to do it. I shared my concern with my group and felt much better after I did. Over the period of the next week God would show me just how good He is and that putting my trust in Him was the right thing to do. The moms from my group, along with members from the church pooled together the money for my rent. I was able to hand over my rent on the final day before eviction and go to bed with a peaceful and grateful heart that night.

I know I will not be able to pay anyone back financially any time soon, but I pray that God will show me a way to pay it forward to someone in need. The goodness of His love is alive and well and I completely trust that His path for me is good. Thank you Indian Creek for your help. And [thanks] for opening your arms to my family, and welcoming us into your church. We feel very much at home here.

Gary Kendall

It seems like every day this week I hear a new story of someone trusting God for crazy generosity. God is amazingly faithful! Give Him a chance in your life. Here is Mike Gee's story from Sunday.

I normally don't carry cash on me and have always tithed with a check.  I had some cash left over after driving to Topeka last week (to pay the tolls) and had left it on the kitchen counter.  As we were heading out the door to go to church, I felt compelled to take the money with me.  I now know that this was God speaking to me.  When I heard Gary talk about the reverse offering I remembered the cash in my wallet ($17) and figured I could throw in the two one's, because I had plans for the rest.  Then I heard God say, "Throw in the five," so I did.  It was only $5 so I wasn't expecting anything in return - especially after hearing Rick Keaton's $200 story. Anyway, in today's mail was an envelope from OIathe Medical Services which I thought was another bill.  Nope, it was a $40 check for an overpayment they discovered during an internal audit! 

Keep the stories of God's generosity toward us coming. And remember, He gives back because He loves us and He wants us to trust Him in every way. He wants us to find the joy He's found in serving the needs of others.

Gary Kendall

Gary,

Here is part two from the story where Rick felt led to give $200 to a complete stranger. Here is Kevin's story:

Rick:  Well Gary, as you can see God was at his usual best.  To see how God worked out this whole reverse offering, wow! The reverse offering done on Sunday had effects all the way to Brazil.  To know a Children's ministry was involved brings tears to my eyes.  I know that he also received money from the offering so this is one of those stories that will be told for ages about God's provisions.

Thank you for doing the reverse offering.  To know this far reaching effect strengthens ones faith. 

Gary Kendall says, Wohoo!  How true!  Praise God! Keep the stories coming.