[In my best Moses impression and courtesy of AI], “Now is the time to give!”

Not because there is a tax-deductible end-of-year deadline, or an opportunity for a matching gift, but because there is a critical need at this moment in EA’s 13-year history.  Which brings us to Moses…

Years ago, I was directed to Exodus 35-36, where God gives instructions at Mt. Sinai for the tabernacle to be built, via a free-will offering from the people:

“And the people came, everyone whose heart stirred him, and everyone whose spirit moved him, and brought the Lord’s contribution to be used for the tent of meeting, and for all its service, and for the holy garments.” (Ex. 35:20-21)

The phrase, “whose heart was stirred,” literally means whose affections were set on the work.

“And they received from Moses all the contribution that the people of Israel had brought for doing the work on the sanctuary. They still kept bringing him freewill offerings every morning.” (Ex. 36:3)

The detail that they continued bringing to Moses freewill offerings every morning, reinforces the fact that even willing hearts need to be told, “Now is the time to give!” Moses let them know, and the people responded.

“[The craftsman] said to Moses, ‘The people bring much more than enough for doing the work that the Lord has commanded us to do.’ So Moses gave command, and word was proclaimed throughout the camp, ‘Let no man or woman do anything more for the contribution for the sanctuary.’ So the people were restrained from bringing, for the material they had was sufficient to do all the work, and more.” (Ex. 36:4-7)

The late theologian G. Campbell Morgan commented on this passage, “When the heart is truly stirred, and the spirit makes willing, giving ceases to be calculating. Nothing is too precious to be given; no amount is too great.”

So, as you are able and your heart is stirred, please consider partnering with us financially in order that EA might have the resources “sufficient to do all the work, and more.”