IN ALL THINGS GIVE THANKS TO OUR HEAVENLY FATHER IN CHRIST JESUS NAME

September 19, 2007

Dear Partners:

I try and be conservative in my pleas for funding, but we have reached a financial crisis that I need to let you know about, both for prayers as well as to ask you to help us out financially.

Typically, giving tends begin to fall off through the summer months all the way until the end of November. We have been very blessed not to encounter any financial needs thus far since this season began. In fact, I believe decisions that I made back at the beginning of the year have contributed significantly to this. Our budget for 2007 is more than 25% less than it was for 2006. All of us, who God has called to this ministry, are now sharing expenses that were once being paid by Widows Harvest.

A wise man told me a number of years ago that you don't wait until you are in a financial crisis to begin finding ways to cut back, instead, you look for ways to cut back on an ongoing basis so that when you are in financially difficult times the strain will be much less. This wise man's father came to this Country in the early part of the last century with the clothes on his back and a suitcase filled with pots and pans. He soon opened a merchantile business in downtown Savannah, Georgia and by the time the rest of the Country was feeling the effects of the depression, he was financially secure. So much so, that he was able to send all of his sons to either Harvard or Yale business school. All of his sons, after graduating, returned to Savannah and took over their father's business. In only a few short years, though, they had completely bankrupted his business (which had been worth millions). Since their father was uneducated, and they had received such superior educations, they did not listen to the very sound and practical business advice that he had tried to instill in them over the years.

This story was told to me by one of this man's surviving sons. He was in his eighties at the time. This was, perhaps, some of the best advice I have ever received (and it wasn't even being told to me as advice). Carrying it out has become a deep conviction of mine ever since.

Our success cannot be measured in the amount of our budgets, the building(s) we own, or the number of staff, to name but a few of the things we tend to use as gauges for the assessment of such things. Rather, success should be based on the number of lives that have been significantly transformed and impacted for the kingdom.

Next week an area business, the Rug Rack, owned by Miriam and Mike Thompson, are having their annual truck load rug and tapestry sale. A percentage of the proceeds are going to be donated to Widows Harvest. This came about because both of the Thompson's daughters were volunteers with Widows Harvest through the community outreach program at Chattanooga Christian School. According to Miriam and Mike, the widows their daughters served had such a great impact on them that they were led to both promote Widows Harvest as well as raise some support for us as well. Even if you don't buy a rug from them they will also be taking donations on our behalf. Miriam has had a puzzle made with 99 pieces in it. She will be selling each piece of the puzzle for a $25 donation. My understanding is that some puzzle pieces will have prizes attached to them. When all of the pieces are put together a picture is formed. That may be a surprise, so I won't say anymore about that.

This sale also coincides with our own Project 100 fundraising effort. We are seeking 100 individuals, business, churches and corporations to make a one time $500 donation in order to help out with the ongoing home repair needs of widows. To date $14,000 has been raised and we will continue to post not only the amount but also the donors on our web site.

Just as a note, this Friday, which is also payday, we will have approximately $5550.00 due in bills and payroll, with what we are already in the hole for (over $5000) this will mean that our deficit is actually well over $10,000.

Blessings and Thanksgiving,
andy mendonsa
widows harvest ministries

"Who we are is mostly others who have been long forgotten."