Many of you who read this column know that Bob Russell Ministries focuses on encouraging pastors. This includes conducting pastors’ retreats, one on one coaching, and speaking at pastor’s conferences. This vital ministry has sufficient funds, and I’m deeply grateful for dozens of faithful supporters who have given, without prodding, to undergird it. 

However, another area of my ministry is not as well known. It began rather unpretentiously a decade ago and has developed into a big-hearted assistance program to the needy.  I was approached by a generous, wealthy businessman who confided, “Bob, I have a heart for benevolence. The Lord has blessed me beyond measure, and I want to help people who are struggling. However, when I give to humanitarian organizations or even when I designate my check to the church ‘for benevolence.’ I don’t know where the money goes or what percentage is used for overhead. If I gave to your organization, could you see to it that it went directly to people in need?”    

I thought about it for a little bit and concluded I could. We contacted the ministers who had attended one of my mentoring retreats and informed them of this rare opportunity. (We’ve conducted over 100 three-day retreats, with approximately eight ministers attending each time.) I asked them to submit the name of someone in their church or community who was under severe financial stress and beyond their church’s ability to assist; and to provide a paragraph describing their situation. We promised them that, if approved, we would send a check for $1,000 to be given through their church, in the name of Christ, to help that person through tough times. In most situations, $1,000 is not going to solve all their financial troubles, but it’s a significant enough amount to help and remind hurting people God cares for them.

This uncomplicated effort soon developed into the most effective, most efficient benevolence program I know of anywhere. The pastor’s request, which cannot be a family member, is emailed to the BRM board for approval. Once approved, a check is immediately sent through the National Christian Foundation.  The turnaround time is normally less than ten days. No money is deducted for buildings, publicity, or staffing. While NCF charges a 1% fee to manage the fund, 99% of the donated funds goes directly to help struggling people. All funds for the benevolence ministry are kept in the NCF, totally separate from my ministry to pastors.

Over the last ten years, more than $5 million has been distributed through this fund!  Isn’t that thrilling? We have helped hundreds of needy people, and always in the name of Christ. The grateful responses from both pastors and recipients have been heartwarming.

I’m making this fund more public today because recent requests for assistance have skyrocketed due to the current economic disaster.  We have received 151 applications in the last two weeks! We usually would get around 35 requests in the same period. The recent shutdown of the economy is really hurting a lot of people, and we want to respond to their needs as quickly as possible. However, unless we have new outpourings of generosity, we will soon have to turn down many desperate requests.

Jesus instructed His followers to respond generously when we see a brother or sister in need. If you are already helping benevolently through other means, that’s great. But if you are looking for a way to directly impact brothers and sisters in Christ who are currently in anguish, I invite you to contribute to this streamlined fund. Help is needed now!

If you want to give online, you can do so directly through the National Christian Foundation here.  

If you prefer to give by check, simply make it out to National Christian Foundation and put Bob Russell Ministry Fund (#2717630) on the Memo Line. Mail it to National Christian Foundation; PO Box 175; Lexington, Kentucky. 40588. It is a tax-deductible gift.

Please note:

We consider requests for grants only from the pastors who have been through Bob Russell Ministries retreats.  We know there are lots of legitimate needs, but to be consistent and to assure the integrity of this fund, we accept requests only from retreat graduates.

“If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

(I John 3:17-18)

Thanks for caring,

Bob Russell

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