Inspiring Generosity
Inspiring Generosity
Ministry-in-Place
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We’d be sitting on the front porch and someone would stroll by shouting out their thanks for the sign. Someone even dropped off an anonymous note: “Your kind words are rays of sunshine to us all during this dark time…Keep spreading the joy!”
Most poignant was a Sunday conversation I had with a stranger. She walked by with her French bulldog and read: “Imagine…riding a Ferris wheel, licking an ice cream cone, hopping like a kangaroo.” She laughed at the words and then proceeded to tell me – from the sidewalk to my front porch – that she was not doing well with the pandemic. She was a teacher who missed the interaction with her students. And then she started to cry. She kept saying “I can’t believe I’m crying to a stranger!” And I kept saying, “There’s no shame. It’s understandable.” As she was walking away, I asked her if it was OK if my Tuesday night church book group could pray for her – and she replied “Oh yes, please do.”
That was the day that I realized that this sign – which had originally been done just for fun – had become a small ministry…our Stay-in-Place ministry.
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Cesie Delve Scheuermann (pronounced “CC Delv Sherman,” yes, really) is a consultant in stewardship, development, and grant writing. Over the past fifteen years, while working as a volunteer and part-time consultant, she helped raise over three million dollars for numerous non-profit organizations. She is glad to know that the Adventures of Olive and Mabel continue. She is available to consult with churches. You can reach her at inspiringgenerosity@gmail.com or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/inspiringgenerosity or at CesieScheuermann.com.
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Cesie Delve Scheuermann
Cesie Delve Scheuermann is consultant in grant writing and stewardship/development working with the Conference. From 2008-12 she was the Conference Lay Leader for the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference.