NORTH WEBSTER — They say a committed group of people each doing a little bit adds up to a lot.

The good folks at North Webster Church of God proved that again this Christmas season.

In the church’s second annual three-week Be Rich “generosity campaign,” congregation members dropped their spare change and folding money into designated boxes, swiped their debit and credit cards and wrote checks, all to the tune of $81,300.

One couple ponied up $22,300, the full purchase price of a 15-passenger van for Rose Home North in Syracuse.

DRIVING IT HOME — Rose Home North Executive Director Cara Burnham, left, and Board President Tammy Cotton beam smiles of gratitude from the front seat of the ministry’s new 15-passenger van paid for by a couple from North Webster Church of God during the church’s second annual Be Rich generosity campaign. (Photo provided)

Congregation members also donated 6,000 pounds of food, divided equally among the food pantries in North Webster and Syracuse and Our Father’s House in Warsaw.

BENEVOLENT LINEUP — Members of North Webster Church of God donated three tons of food during the church’s annual three-week Be Rich Campaign. (Photo provided)

Lead Pastor Jeff Boyer and Executive Pastor Tim Jones presented the challenge during three Sunday morning services in November.

“We challenged everyone to give $39.95,” said Boyer. “I told them some could give $399 and some could give $3,995 or even $10,000 or buy the van.

“The couple told me, ‘Pastor, because you challenged us and were open and honest with us, my wife and I said we were going to buy that van. Thank you for being obedient to what God told you.’ They appreciated the specific target.’”

Jones started interviewing viable recipients in August. Church leadership culled the prospects to six (listed with the donation amounts):

• Boomerang Backpacks, a program helping to nourish low-income elementary students on weekends ($10,000)

• Fellowship Missions, a Warsaw-based homeless shelter ($10,000)

• Our Father’s House, a relief organization supplying food and clothing to needy individuals and families ($10,000 and 1
ton of food)

• Rose Home, a recovery and transitional home for women recovering from drug and alcohol addiction ($5,000 and the van)

• Design Outreach’s Life Pump ministry, which develops sustainable technologies to help alleviate global poverty ($10,000)

• Mission of Hope Haiti’s home build program, whose mission is to bring life transformation to every man, woman and child in Haiti ($13,200 to build two houses at $6,600 each)

THAT DESERVES A HUG — A grateful recipient gives Executive Pastor Tim Jones a hug on stage after receiving a check made possible by the congregation’s involvement in the church’s annual Be Rich generosity campaign. (Photo provided)

Last year’s effort raised about $20,000, which was split among Rose Home, Boomerang Backpacks and Fellowship Missions.

This year’s amount exceeded everyone’s expectations.

“As lead pastor, I am blown away how, when we present a clear and defined need within our community, the people at North Webster Church of God are more than happy to be involved and try to make a difference,” said Boyer, who also praised Jones for his efforts. “He did a phenomenal job orchestrating the campaign, putting the team together and making it happen for our congregation.”

“One thing it did for me personally was it forced me out into the community to find out what each charity’s passion is and what it is committed to,” said Jones.

Boyer said the congregation experienced a momentum of “‘look what we can do together with God and us.’ Our hope is that people see the positive of the church. We don’t want the limelight. God gets the glory.”

“Imagine if other churches got involved,” said Jones.

Be Rich is a national organization invoking the precept of 1 Timothy 6:18, “Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.” Since 2007, participating churches have raised more than $42 million for 610 charities worldwide.

For more information, call the church at (574) 834-4281 or visit www.nwcog.org, www.facebook.com/northwebstercog or www.berich.org.