From Sampler to Sower

A family helped by Heifer International

I’ve been giving my youth group a Christmas gift for about as long as I’ve been doing youth ministry.  Honesty, I only vaguely remember what most of them were.  I remember having to shop carefully to find something that I could afford to give each of my teens on a youth pastor’s salary.  And I remember some pretty cheesy gifts that I hoped would have some meaning.  I remember candy canes one year (complete with a card explaining the “significance” of candy canes for them to ignore).  I remember apple Christmas tree ornaments, and an explanation of the origins of the Christmas tree tradition.  And I remember some bookmarks, though when it comes to what they said, I’ve no clue.

And while I have only vague recollections, I secretly suspect that I’m the only one with any memories at all.  My teens have long forgotten the gifts I so carefully selected.

But there are two gifts that stick out.

Two years ago I gave them a goat.  Well, not them, per se.  But a needy family somewhere in our world.  We were teaching about the revolutionary message of Christmas that year, and I made a donation to Heifer International in honor of my students.  And last year I made a donation to the clean water project our youth group was raising money for.  And while I imagine the bookmarks and apple ornaments have long been replaced, somehow I don’t imagine the goat in Africa or the well in Haiti suffered the same fate.

I remember when the thought first crossed my mind.  Heifer animals have been on my Christmas list for a few years now, but I never gave one to someone else.  And then as I was working trying to come up with a meaningful gift, it was like God spoke.  Why pay money to give them something they don’t really want and certainly don’t need?  Why not give that gift to someone who really does?

And I chose Heifer Int’l.  Why?  I like their sense of mission.  And I like the way they go about it.  I especially liked the thought that the gift of one animal would actually become a gift that is given over and over.  I love Heifer’s “Pass it On” program.  Here’s a video about it:

I don’t know about you, but there’s something about hearing Moses Ngobi say “I received a pass on and now it’s my turn to pass on the gift” that really gets me.  That means one person’s gift has now transformed the lives of at least three families.  That’s why I like Heifer.  One gift keeps giving.

So this year I’m going to give another animal.   What will you give?