One Donor's Story
Taste ... and See -- that the Lord is good!
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"Then the King will say to those on his right, ... 'I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
...'Lord, when did I do these things?'...
'Truly, I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'
Matthew 25:34-40
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We were first called to “taste and see” DSM literally—at a BBQ in Norcross, GA. While the food that day was terrific, the opportunity allowed us to take our first step of faith in support of DSM’s walk with God toward holistic transformation for inner-city neighborhoods. Since that day, by sharing with the ministry God’s blessings to us and getting involved personally in DSM’s work, we have experienced God’s grace in three distinct ways.
First and foremost, we have seen God’s goodness in the eyes of the children impacted by DSM, whose circumstances can change forever through the opportunities that the ministry provides to personally know Jesus and His hope for their future. Our lives have been forever blessed and changed through knowing several of these young men and women, and seeing God’s glory in their futures.
Second, God is using DSM’s ministry partners in cities across the Southeast to love their neighbors as God commands us. These modern day heroes of faith ‘act justly, love mercy and walk humbly’ with God and their neighbors to address poverty and its many socially impacting limbs – crime, drugs, abuse, etc.
Lastly, we have tasted God’s goodness through the DSM staff—and not just from food often served from a local ministry-encouraged restaurant, although their sweet potato pie is especially amazing! The DSM team shares God’s heart for the poor and for those who don’t have much voice in social and spiritual needs. We have seen the impact they have with the partner ministries, and in the lives of the children in these neighborhoods. By getting involved as donors as well as in hands-on ministry, we have truly tasted God’s goodness by trusting Him on this journey. While we personally strive (and too often fail) to follow Matthew 25:34-40 as a daily guide, we have the great opportunity to taste His amazing goodness!
(Note: Names and identities changed and withheld to protect privacy.)
