2 Corinthians Series: Charity, Part Deux Series

2 CORINTHIANS SERIES

Charity: Part Deux

2 CORINTHIANS 9:1-15

#2corandmore

PERSON FROM CONGREGATION READS 2 CORINTHIANS 9:1-15

Now it is superfluous for me to write to you about the ministry for the saints, 2 for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year. And your zeal has stirred up most of them. 3 But I am sending the brothers so that our boasting about you may not prove empty in this matter, so that you may be ready, as I said you would be. 4 Otherwise, if some Macedonians come with me and find that you are not ready, we would be humiliated—to say nothing of you—for being so confident. 5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the gift you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction. 6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 9 As it is written, “He has distributed freely, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.” 10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. 13 By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, 14 while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. 15 Thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift!

INTRODUCTION… blog.charitywatch.org/some-of-the-worst-charities-in-america-2024/

Today we are going to continue (from last week) talking about “charity,” money, and giving which made me wonder about some of the more infamous charities in the United States. I did some reading with CharityWatch about charities that might not be the best… I guess I was looking up the worst because I am a pessimist. I also happen to think that donations and charity is a fertile place to manipulate folks and take advantage of willingness to do good.

* Front Range Equine Rescue is a Florida-based charity which spends donations on overhead spending and keeps the rest. They get an F rating according to CharityWatch due to the amount of assets the charity holds in reserve which means they could continue to operate for 7.3 years without raising another penny of revenue. Basically, they get your money and don’t help any horses. On a related note, Dreamchaser PMU Horse Rescue and Rehabilitation, a Missouri-based charity, is no better and also gets an F rating.

* Committee For Missing Children, a Georgia-based charity, spent only 9% of its cash expenses on its programs and a whopping 91% on overhead. I imagine this means they don’t find a lot of children.

* Feed The Children is a charity whose former leader appears on CharityWatch’s Charity Hall of Shame for the numerous scandals that took place under his leadership. Feed the Children, according to CharityWatch, is the “Most Outrageous Charity in America.” While the charity is now operated by different management, its financial efficiency has not improved earning it a D rating because it keeps 59% of donations and uses marketing firms where board members have controlling interests.

* For The Troops, a California-based charity, spent only 36% of its cash budget on its programs and the remaining 64% on overhead. That means they are paying themselves to do good work. They earn an F rating from CharityWatch.

I found that there are a lot of ways charities can appear solid and working for the good of others when in fact they are just lining their own pockets. As I continued my digging, I noted that in the “Hall of Shame” was a group that I used to do ministry with and for… Angel Food Ministries run by the Wingo family of Georgia. They used their church and ministry to steal and launder money, buy cars, and fraudulently buy a plane.