Q&A: Donations?

Many people ask me about donations or what they can do to help support me in teaching what Jesus Christ said was to be taught, so let me begin by sharing with you what Jesus Christ teaches in regard to giving, and what God has directed me to follow. Jesus instructions are as follows…

Mat 10:42 And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.

Mat 25:35-40 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Notice first Jesus saying these things to the righteous…(those that desire to do what is right according to God). Jesus speaks of who is to do the giving, who it is that it is to be given to then, what is to be given. Meat, (food), drink (water), took me in (lodging), clothed me, (clothing), visited me and came unto me (fellowship).

Next, Jesus then specifies who it is that it is to be given to, “as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me”, “whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones”, “only in the name of a disciple”. Jesus instructs the righteous to give to those in the name of a disciple… my brethren.. which we read in the bible are those that do the will of God, that are Jesus’ brothers and sisters, and mother as well.

Mat 12:49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!

Mar 3:34 And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!

Luk 8:21 And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.

According to the teachings of Jesus Christ, it is only to a disciple of Jesus Christ that the righteous should give to … and it is only what is specified by Jesus that should be given. Some of you are probably at this point asking about giving other things or why only this. Let me remind you that a disciple of Jesus Christ is one that first has forsaken all that he has to be a disciple.. so the things that Jesus mentions is all that a disciple of Jesus Christ would have need of to begin with.

Luk 14:33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

If we look a bit further, we will see that it was the Holy Spirit of God that lead those that believed in Jesus to sell all they had and bring it and lay it at the feet of the disciples of Jesus Christ who had been sent out.. (apostles).

Act 4:37 Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

So, in accordance with the teachings of Jesus Christ, I accept donations of food, water, lodging, clothing, & fellowship and funds to provide those things. I ask you to be lead by the Holy Spirit and give in accordance to the teachings of Jesus Christ, as God directs you, and to give to those that are themselves followers of Jesus’ teachings and in accordance with the will and purpose of those teachings.

Let me share with you some additional information:

1.We are not a part of any denominational, or association affiliation so your donations are not used for membership dues, association fees, etc.

2. We do not build churches, places of gatherings, schools, worship centers, or family life centers.
Jesus instructed his followers to go into the “nations”….and did not mention the need for building buildings, etc. Jesus taught and had fellowship in the homes of those that he encountered in the streets and mountains, and in the synagogues already built, and we do likewise.

Millions of dollars are spent each year supporting, building and maintaining buildings when those resources should be used by those that follow the teachings of Jesus Christ to meet the needs of the disciples of Christ, and those that “suffer lack”.

3. We use what ever is donated to meet our needs and the needs of people where God sends us!
The people that were lead of the Holy Spirit of God to believe in Jesus Christ and His message sold all they had or brought what they had and put it at the feet of His disciples. (those that had forsaken all they had, and were disciplined followers the teachings of Christ).

The disciples were the ones that God directed others to give to, so that the distribution of what was “laid at their feet” was distributed to those that”suffered lack” and wasn’t used for any other purpose.

Jesus said that “a worker is worthy of his keep”. “Keep” includes the day to day needs of those that are followers of Jesus Christ, the disciples.. and does not include elaborate clothing, expensive cars, houses, airplanes, elaborate travel accommodations, etc, and we do not utilize any donations for such purposes.

4. We trust God to lead you to give according to the teachings of Jesus Christ.
There were people in Jesus’ day that gave all they had, as well as those that gave of their substance, and we know that some of you have been directed by God to sell all that you have and give, and come follow the teachings of Christ, and others of you to give of your substance to see that the needs of the disciples of Jesus Christ and the people are met! Either way, the point is for you to do what God instructs you personally and directly and in accordance with the teachings of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit of God will never lead you contrary to the teachings of Jesus Christ.

5. We do not limit giving to “money” only!
What we want you to understand is that it must be done in accordance with what God gives you to do…and the teachings of Jesus Christ. If you are lead of the Holy Spirit to give money, it will be used only in accordance with the teachings of Jesus Christ… and if you are lead of God to give food, drink, lodging, clothing, or fellowship it is accepted.  The key here and what my focus is, and what I encourage to be the focus in all things is “as God directs to be done”.. and for all of us to “live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” to each of us!!!

We simply want you to know that no matter what it is that God directs you to give, we encourage you to do what God has directed, in accordance with the teachings of Jesus Christ! We know that whatever you are instructed to give, God has a purpose and plan for it, or He wouldn’t have directed you to give it!

6. We are NOT a non profit charitable organization.
We see nothing in the teachings of Jesus Christ that supports being a Non profit charitable organization or being restricted by the government of any nation in teaching the commandments of Jesus Christ, or having governmental benefits provided, such as tax exemptions, for doing what one knows to do as a follower of Jesus.

We encourage people to be lead by God, and to give according to what Jesus Christ instructs, not for a tax benefit! There is no where that we can find in the scriptures where giving was to be done by those seeking tax benefits or those that were disciples of Jesus Christ had “tax exempt organizations”. Jesus says that those that give to those in the name of a disciple shall in no wise loose their reward.

7. We encourage you to ASK GOD and take your direction and instruction from God alone.
Don’t base what you give on what God told someone else, or what you have been told by others that God expects. We encourage you to simply ask God, and then do whatever it is that God directs you!

Jesus has already provided the instructions, as to who it is to be given to, and what is to be given… but it is God that directs WHO is to GIVE!

Jesus made it clear… that anyone giving as much as a drink of water to one of the least of these in the name of a disciple, shall in no wise loose their reward!

Ask God, Hear God, and Do as God instructs you in accordance with the teachings of Jesus Christ!

For more on Donations see the article titled “Making a Donation”!