Bucket Brigade

There was a time in America before fire trucks and hydrants that neighbors fought fires as a bucket brigade. All willing men and women would come running with buckets in hand and take their places in line to pass water hand to hand from source to blaze. Their efforts were pretty anemic, but they did what they could.

A little over a year ago we introduced our own bucket in the Sunday School class, with the idea of doing a little bit to help supply water to villages in Africa. The intent was that all willing men and women would drop in a dollar--just a dollar--as they wanted to . . . no pressure, no weekly announcements. Over the year we raised about $150, all of which went to BloodWater Mission.

Over the past six months, however, the bucket has gotten pretty lonely. Many weeks went by without any dollars going in at all, so for the past two months I just left the bucket in its hiding place. But with your permission, I would like to bring it back.

WorldVision, and a number of other trustworthy Christian organizations, offer programs to sponsor children and feed the poor around the world. I propose we use our bucket for this purpose--to sponsor a child. If we raise more than the sponsorship amount in a particular month, we'll provide it to the ministry to help others.

If the class supports it, I will put the bucket out in its spot near the door. Then as we all feel led, we'll drop in a dollar or so a week and see how it goes.

Every bucket has at least one hole in it--in the top--where stuff goes in. One person and one bucket can't do much, but a whole brigade can change someone's life.

Give me your thoughts,

Bill