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Pastor's Page

Posted on December 14, 2007 ...

      A few weeks ago my family visited The Statue of Liberty. We were eating a quick lunch in the food court when a man carrying old rolled up drawings and wearing attire from the 1800's approached our table. My wife caught on first that this man was an actor hired to portray Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, the sculptor commissioned to design the statue. Without ever breaking character he told us about the inspiration, history, and construction of the Statue of Liberty. Part of his tale included how the American people were responsible to build the pedestal and how the fund raising for this effort went slowly. Eventually Joseph Pulitzer (noted for the Pulitzer Prize) wrote an editorial in his paper, "The World," supporting the fund raising effort. For more than five months, beginning on March 16, 1885, Pulitzer beseeched his readers day after day to send in what they could. No reader was too humble, no donation too small; every person who contributed would receive a mention in the newspaper. This incentive inspired a new level of giving, especially among the less wealthy, as people saw how their contribution contributed to the advancement of the whole project. People sent in pennies, nickels, and dimes and they also began buying copies of "The World" to read their name and to keep track of the progress. In time, all gifts necessary were received.
Currently our church is in a special fund raising time for our Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions. I confess that the thought occurred to me to borrow Pulitzer's idea and list the names of all Lottie Moon contributors in our church newsletter. But confidentiality, with regards to church giving, fittingly prevents the use of such a tactic. However, I will say that to date we have received gifts from 52 adults, youth, and children in our church family. If you are among these people, I thank you for this generosity. If you have yet to give, please join the ranks of these others. No gift is too small if it reflects your love for the Lord and your desire to see His message shared among the nations. We need everyone's participation to reach our goal. Jay
Pastor's P.S. Worshippers this Sunday will see something never witnessed before in the Sanctuary of North Cleveland Baptist Church. Do not miss it.