World Fast Letter

[MustardSeed]

Recently a viral video went around of a popular televangelist “demanding” his watchers open their wallets to The Lord during this times. You can imagine the scorn it has received. 
 

this Sunday I’m more than happy to participate in a unifying fast for the world.  I just read the letter- I have to admit that the request for money poked my suspect button.  In truth, I have no fear that any one person is to gain from donations, but in light of current events, my feelers are up for funny business.  Let me be clear that I trust the church to manage it well, but what I’m saying is that I see how it looks when churches overtly ask for money right now.   Heck, how it looks when anyone appears to be profiting off of the needs of people related to COVID.

 

Edited to add the video that turned me off:  

 

 

Edited March 24, 2020 by MustardSeed
add video

[JAHS]

Here's a letter I got regarding a unifying fast:

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

We extend our love to you and want you to know we are praying for your safety and well-being.

The next few weeks and months will likely be a time of significant challenge and economic struggle for many as efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19 continue. We assure each of you that our Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, are mindful of us and our individual needs. We can turn to Them for peace and comfort.

Sunday, March 29, 2020, is a fast Sunday. It is also the weekend just prior to April general conference. As an Area Presidency, we invite you to join us in a special day of fasting and mighty prayer. The purpose of this fast is five-fold:

To ask the Lord to bless and inspire our Church and government leaders and their efforts to protect the health and well-being of all people and to find solutions to address the challenges we are facing in all nations.
To pray for all those who are suffering the physical, emotional, and economic impact of COVID-19, that they will be blessed according to their needs.
To pray that the hearts of people everywhere will be softened and turned toward the Lord in humility and that faith in Jesus Christ will increase on the earth.
To pray for spiritual strength to overcome fear and anxiety, for inspiration to protect ourselves and our families, and for the awareness and ability to minister to those in need.
To pray for increased understanding and personal revelation in preparation for general conference and the prophetic guidance and messages regarding the bicentennial of the Restoration.

Like the prophet Enos, we too can turn to the Lord in mighty prayer in behalf of ourselves, our families, our nations, and those in need. He will hear and answer our humble prayers.

We hope you will invite others of faith to join with us in uniting our faith and prayers. As you do, please consider a generous fast offering and, based on your personal circumstances, a donation to the Humanitarian Fund. As an Area Presidency, we will be looking for significant and meaningful ways to address the immediate and growing humanitarian needs of our Area. We encourage you to listen to and share President Russell M. Nelson’s recent media posts on hope and love with your family and friends.

We invite you to join us in a special day of fasting and mighty prayer and to unite with others as we pray for heaven’s help and blessings.

Sincerely,

The North America West Area Presidency

[MustardSeed]

Yes.  It’s a great letter.  I’m all in.   I’m hyper sensitive right now. 

[Rain]

11 minutes ago, MustardSeed said:

Yes.  It’s a great letter.  I’m all in.   I’m hyper sensitive right now. 

I get it. I didn't know anything about the other thing so I don't have the feelings you do, but I can see why you would 

[MustardSeed]

21 minutes ago, Rain said:

I get it. I didn't know anything about the other thing so I don't have the feelings you do, but I can see why you would 

Thank you for making me feel human LOL!

I added the video in my original post, for context. 

 

For the record, I'm still paying tithing and offerings. 

Edited March 24, 2020 by MustardSeed

[Amulek]

Even though fast Sunday is coming up, our stake elected to hold a special fast for the same this past weekend. With the way our ward conference fell, that brings us to three fast Sundays this month. Not a common thing to be sure, but not something anyone has complained about either. 

 

[The Nehor]

I love that that idiot doesn't even know what tithing is when he insists on people continuing to tithe on no increase. Don't worry though. He is hard at work healing people of this "weak strain of the flu" through their TV screens. Is it wrong that I hope he gets a bad case of it?

[boblloyd91]

6 hours ago, The Nehor said:

I love that that idiot doesn't even know what tithing is when he insists on people continuing to tithe on no increase. Don't worry though. He is hard at work healing people of this "weak strain of the flu" through their TV screens. Is it wrong that I hope he gets a bad case of it?

Apparently some of his pals prophesied that the coronavirus would magically disappear yesterday...

https://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/steve-strang-and-cal-pierce-decreed-that-coronavirus-would-leave-earth-today/

[LoudmouthMormon]

I don't know what happens in other faiths, but I know what happens with LDS fast offerings.  I consider it one of the best ways to do charitable giving.  A true flow from individuals and families, to church members in financial need.  In my 5+ years as finance clerk, I've had a small part in helping temporal blessings flow to those who need it.  Fast offerings funds aren't part of the 100-billion-now-less news we heard about in months past.  It doesn't go to keep church lights on, or fund ward socials.  None of it goes to line anybody's pockets.

I hear the government is about to start sending checks to folks who didn't ask for it and don't need it.  If you're looking for something good to do with it, I heartily recommend sticking it in fast offerings.  It will enter the economy like it should, in the form of paid utility and medical bills, unforeseen expenses of widows and widowers as they get their feet under them, an occasional counseling bill for troubled individuals and families who need to get better.  Church welfare is short term, paired with principles of self reliance, geared towards the recipient earning or giving back in some way, and always with a goal of ending the reliance.  It's a good way that some members encounter, for the first time ever, notions of budgeting and making sound financial decisions. 

Do I sound like a brochure, or something you'd hear over the pulpit if the church was giving a sales pitch to increase funds?  Nobody has directed me to say anything, I've just seen the blessings of this program so long, I've turned myself into a walking billboard for the program.

 

[Calm]

10 minutes ago, LoudmouthMormon said:

hear the government is about to start sending checks to folks who didn't ask for it and don't need it.  If you're looking for something good to do with it, I heartily recommend sticking it in fast offerings

I like this idea.  Excellent thought.

[Robert F. Smith]

4 hours ago, LoudmouthMormon said:

I don't know what happens in other faiths, but I know what happens with LDS fast offerings.  I consider it one of the best ways to do charitable giving.  A true flow from individuals and families, to church members in financial need.  In my 5+ years as finance clerk, ........................

My experience as a financial clerk as well.  People truly in need get substantial help, and some members are amazingly generous with fast offerings.

[Robert F. Smith]

14 hours ago, JAHS said:

.........................

Sincerely,

The North America West Area Presidency

Why is it that they don't list their names?  I am always kind of curious about that nameless Area Presidency.