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From left, Fellowship of Christian Athletes area representative John Luna shakes hands with The Bridge Lead Pastor Patrick Ballington. (Photo/Wayne Hardy) -
Community Care Pastor Cheryl Kennedy (left) gets a hug from Marie Allen of Whispering Angels Youth Ranch. Both groups were among the beneficiaries of the church’s Be Rich campaign. (Photo/Wayne Hardy)
It was “Celebration Sunday” at The Bridge Church in Cleveland, when money collected through its annual Be Rich generosity campaign would be presented to local organizations focused serving various needs of the community.
But after the dollar amounts from Be Rich (as in, “be rich in good deeds”) and other giving efforts were displayed on screen before the congregation, Lead Pastor Patrick Ballington said the celebration wasn’t just for the money given; It is about the lives being changed.
“There are so many things happening everywhere, and we think we’re just this kind of this small in the middle of nowhere – but when we have open hearts and open hands and we’re people of generosity, it’s amazing what can be done,” he said.
Ballington was joined by Community Care Pastor Cheryl Kennedy during the Oct. 10 service as he announced this year’s Be Rich effort generated $47,085 – surpassing a pandemic-adjusted goal of $36,000.
Representatives from each recipient group were invited to the stage to receive checks, as Ballington and Kennedy spoke of their work each one does, such as feeding the hungry, offering addiction recovery or counseling services, supporting the well-being of children and families, and more.
Those benefiting from Be Rich donations included Backpack Buddies, His Hands and Feet Ministries, White County Family Connection, Caring & Sharing, Bridges of Hope, Catalyst Christian Learning Center, Sacred Roots Farm, Whispering Angels Youth Ranch, The Jericho House, Freedom Hill Women’s Recovery, Community Recovery Center, White County Schools, White County High School JROTC, the area Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), Family Promise of White & Habersham, Cleveland Care Center and Northeast Georgia Christian Counseling.
Money was also allocated for other church outreach funds related to foster care, Christmas assistance for families and its “house church” ministry outreach.
Ballington continued with the good news, listing of other giving initiatives for natural disasters in Haiti and Louisiana, peer-to-peer giving within the church and aid to mission partners throughout the world. This, along with Be Rich, came out to at least $129,897 that the church expects to be given away this year.
“But wait, there’s more,” Ballington said amid the applause that followed.
He had decided to take a look at giving amounts since his arrival at The Bridge in 2007 and found a milestone to celebrate.
“This year, because of what we’ve done through Be Rich, we will cross giving away $1 million [since then],” Ballington said.
“You did that. God did that through us.”
As he has in the past, Ballington referenced the letter from Paul in Galatians 6:9: Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
“And the harvest is lives changed. It’s not giving so we can give. It it just giving so that people can find their way to Christ,” he said. “They can find help and they find hope ... the harvest throughout scripture is always people coming into relationship with our heavenly father.”
Along with the figures announced during the service, Ballington added there is more generosity from and among the people of the church that isn’t recorded, but still make a difference.
“We are never more like Jesus than when we love, when we serve, when we give and when we forgive,” he said.