Mary, when told by the angel Gabriel that she would be the mother of the Son of God, asked how it would be possible since "...she knew no man"? The angel responded by saying that "Nothing is impossible with God." I believe, the crucial phrase in that response which most of us miss or take for granted is "with God". Left to ourselves, we are limited. Though there are many things we can achieve with our talents, much much more are not achievable. As creatures we can only do so much. But "with God", everything is possible!
Recently, our community in St. Alphonsus were faced with the task of raising about 7M in funds to complete our church. Ten (10) months ago, we launched our final fund raising activity to raise 25M. It was called "10-10-25"campaign. It means raising 25M in ten months in ten (10) ways. We set voluntary contributions ranging from as low as 100 pesos to 50,000 pesos by every person which they have to give per month for the next ten months. Nine (9) months and twenty four (24) days later, we had raised "only" about 18M pesos. So, we need to produce the last 7M in six (days)!. Many did not believe it is possible. On the Sunday before the deadline, I went up and appealed in all the masses rallying the people that it is possible. One simple computation helped convert many that it is possible; 7000 people to donate 1000 pesos. Surely, a thousand pesos is not hard to raise in a week. But that is not enough, I told them that if it is the will of God that our church will be built, then, the raising of the money is not an impossibility.
As a testimony to our belief, we had set the dedication of our church in a month. The architect and the contractor committed to its completion as long as we can provide the funds. So, the stage is set for the miracle to happen on June 30. Since my appeal on Sunday, many people had flocked our office giving their donations in various amounts. On the last day, donations poured without let up that those (wo)manning the receipt could not take a break anymore. We stayed till midnight of June 30, as promised and after the last donor which came about fifteen minutes after midnight, we were just 1.9 M pesos short! Meaning, we were able to raise 5.1 million in 7 days!
The next day, Sunday, people could not believe what happened, They thought it cannot be done. On that Sunday, another 800 thousand pesos more were donated! Many thought that by the end of the week, we will have our 25 million.
But we did not have our 25 million on June 30th? Yes, we did not have the miracle we expected. But we got something better; God had made us closer, dedicated and united as a community. Everyone exerted his best effort to raise the money we needed. It had become more than the money. It had become more of being community! And, community, we were and had become!
God called us to unity through the building of our church. We all responded. The miracle happened! Indeed, WITH GOD, anything is possible!
Recently, our community in St. Alphonsus were faced with the task of raising about 7M in funds to complete our church. Ten (10) months ago, we launched our final fund raising activity to raise 25M. It was called "10-10-25"campaign. It means raising 25M in ten months in ten (10) ways. We set voluntary contributions ranging from as low as 100 pesos to 50,000 pesos by every person which they have to give per month for the next ten months. Nine (9) months and twenty four (24) days later, we had raised "only" about 18M pesos. So, we need to produce the last 7M in six (days)!. Many did not believe it is possible. On the Sunday before the deadline, I went up and appealed in all the masses rallying the people that it is possible. One simple computation helped convert many that it is possible; 7000 people to donate 1000 pesos. Surely, a thousand pesos is not hard to raise in a week. But that is not enough, I told them that if it is the will of God that our church will be built, then, the raising of the money is not an impossibility.
As a testimony to our belief, we had set the dedication of our church in a month. The architect and the contractor committed to its completion as long as we can provide the funds. So, the stage is set for the miracle to happen on June 30. Since my appeal on Sunday, many people had flocked our office giving their donations in various amounts. On the last day, donations poured without let up that those (wo)manning the receipt could not take a break anymore. We stayed till midnight of June 30, as promised and after the last donor which came about fifteen minutes after midnight, we were just 1.9 M pesos short! Meaning, we were able to raise 5.1 million in 7 days!
The next day, Sunday, people could not believe what happened, They thought it cannot be done. On that Sunday, another 800 thousand pesos more were donated! Many thought that by the end of the week, we will have our 25 million.
But we did not have our 25 million on June 30th? Yes, we did not have the miracle we expected. But we got something better; God had made us closer, dedicated and united as a community. Everyone exerted his best effort to raise the money we needed. It had become more than the money. It had become more of being community! And, community, we were and had become!
God called us to unity through the building of our church. We all responded. The miracle happened! Indeed, WITH GOD, anything is possible!
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