422CHURCH Puts Love Into Action

Online, November 9, 2010 (Newswire.com) - Ever feel like too much of religion is about itself, or more talk than action? Pastor Ed Crenshaw, of 422CHURCH.COM, begins a new sermon series entitled, The Hole in Our Gospel, from a book by Richard Stearns of the same title, on Sunday, November 21st. But 422CHURCH.COM is not leaving it there. They are starting a fund called The Love Offering to actually do something for the poor, hungry, and diseased both in this country and around the world.

Coming off a 40 Days of Love campaign Crenshaw is aiming at putting that love into action with The Hole in Our Gospel. "Stearns' book inspires us to reach higher, do more," Crenshaw reflects. "We feed the homeless twice a month in two locations in Norristown. We just concluded a food drive and are currently collecting coats for a coat drive. We offer many opportunities for people to get involved both personally and financially in helping others but, like Stearns, we can do more."

Stearns was the president and CEO at Lenox, Inc., when he felt compelled to do something more about his faith. He is now president of World Vision, one of the largest nonprofit organizations in the United States. After a quarter-century business career, he joined World Vision in 1998, guiding the Christian relief and development organization to unprecedented growth and calling on the American Church to respond to the global AIDS pandemic.

"We are a big supporter of World Vision," notes Crenshaw, "and a significant portion of our Love Offering will go to it. But giving to The Love Offering is giving to both domestic and foreign initiatives that help others. It's kind of like an international version of one of the charitable fundraising agencies - except there is no 15% administrative costs to it. All contributions will go directly to agencies."

"Another way to look at The Love Offering is that it's like a charitable mutual fund for investing in the God's work. You can sow seed into a number of projects with just one gift," observes Crenshaw. He says that people can give online at the 422CHURCH.COM website, mail in a check so designated, or "Come by for a visit!"

422CHURCH.COM has doubled in size in the past year, Crenshaw says, "because we share the heart of God loving people. This year I think it appropriate to give Jesus a birthday present, The Love Offering. Don't you?" He welcomes those outside the church to give as well as come by for the sermon series.