The Jubilee By: Joy

What an amazing feeling it was to be given the opportunity to help someone in need! My six year old daughter Jasmine just happened sit in church with me that Sunday instead of going to Sunday School and she helped me and my other two children decide what to do with some of the money. We recently went to Wal-mart and ran into an old co-worker of mine who happens to also be a single mother. As we were standing behind her in the check out line she was telling me about her recent medical problems and medical bills, knowing how hard it can be I was trying to help her feel better when Jasmine tugged on my shirt and said "Mom we should give her some of that money from church." WOW! I thought, it is amazing that my six year old thought of that before I did! So we used $100 to purchase the $42 in groceries she had and had the cashier give her the change. It was amazing to do something like that and to witness the disbelief on her face when she said "You have no idea how much we needed that! Why would you do that?" and I responded "Because God loves you." I know we were able to touch the heart of that woman that day but I believe we also touched the hearts of the several people who gathered around us who shocked that we were able to give so freely.

The Jubilee By: Aaron and Sheri

My sister, who is disabled, has been out of work for a long time. Her unemployment benefits recently ran out. I said to Aaron, "If she wasn't my sister, we could give the money to her."Of course, we came to our senses and helped her out with a particular bill. We're still looking for the right thing to do with the rest of the money -- I have a feeling God has a specific place for it to go.Sheri & Aaron Levisay

The Jubilee By: Art and Cheri

We talked about all the people we know that need financial helpand SO had many ideas. We finally decided to help a single mom that I work with on budgeting because she was in the most helpless spot. In November 2008 she found herself $300 behind at the daycare her daughter was attending because the father had lost his job 4 months prior and was not paying child support. The daycare said that she would not be able to bring her daughter any longer if she did not pay the bill the next day. WELL………. She went to a title loan place and became one of their victims! She received a little under $300 and satisfied the daycare, but the payments were $120 a month which she could not afford in the first place., so she quickly became delinquent and was beginning to sink. Long story short, by the time we stepped in her payoff was $780.00 (not to mention the $480 she had already made in monthly payments) and they would have repossesed her car soon. After MUCH discussion, we were able to get them to settle with a payoff of $600 so we just paid the whole bill to get her car title back. She just kept saying thank you and I cannot re-pay you! God definitely made an impact in the life of this family. Art and Cheri

The Jubilee Helps People Out of Work

I used my Jubilee money to help fund Latin American child care. I also made contributions to out of work people. I found this to be a thought-provoking exercise.

The Jubilee By: Elaine

I finally came to a decision on what to do with the $500.00. I am giving it to the Food Pantry today. This will help a lot of people instead of one or two. Elaine Perry