Ministry Fulfills ECFA Fund Raising Standards
In the last Beacon we shared that the Ministry is now part of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability. This voluntary membership is a way for the Ministry to demonstrate our commitment to financial transparency and accountability. This month we are glad to share the ECFA Standard for Charitable Gifts.
1 - Truthfulness in Communications
In securing charitable gifts, all representations of fact, descriptions of the financial condition of the member, or narratives about events must be current, complete, and accurate. References to past activities or events must be appropriately dated. There must be no material omissions or exaggerations of fact, use of misleading photographs or any other communication which would tend to create a false impression or misunderstanding.
2 - Giver Expectations and Intent
Statements made about the use of gifts by the member in its charitable gift appeals must be honored. A giver’s intent relates both to what was communicated in the appeal and to any instructions accompanying the gift, if accepted by the member. Appeals for charitable gifts must not create unrealistic expectations of what a gift will actually accomplish.
3 - Charitable Gift Communication
Every member shall provide givers appropriate and timely gift acknowledgments.
4 - Acting in the Best Interest of Givers
When dealing with persons regarding commitments on major gifts, a member’s representatives must seek to guide and advise givers to adequately consider their broad interests. A member must make every effort to avoid knowingly accepting a gift from or entering into a contract with a giver that would place a hardship on the giver or place the giver’s future well-being in jeopardy.
5 - Percentage Compensation for Securing Gifts
A member may not base compensation of outside stewardship resource consultants or its own employees directly or indirectly on a percentage of charitable contributions raised.
Each gift you place in the care of Western Carolina Rescue Ministries is treated as a stewardship. Stewarding your gift is a process of asking God about the best way to serve others on your behalf. We enjoy knowing our donors and welcome you to visit the Ministry for a personal tour or to share a cup of coffee and conversation. Thanks for your generous demonstration of love through giving!
True Self Esteem
“Where I grew up, kids would head out to the river to swim, ski, and shoot the rapids. There was always something to drink there, and with it so available I started drinking at around thirteen. In our little town I knew the guy behind the counter, and I was buying my own alcohol by sixteen or seventeen. It got so bad that by eleventh grade I was drinking by breakfast and buying a biscuit at Burger King to cover up the smell before I got to school.”
“One day I got in trouble for smoking pot in the smoking courtyard at my school, and everything changed. Really quickly the rumors turned my little joint into a big bag, and I went from being a nerd to being very cool.” Drugs didn’t fulfill like alcohol, but acceptance was even more fulfilling, so he saw no reason to set the story straight. I had become fully addicted to alcohol by the end of high school. I was kicked out of my house by sixteen, and because I had gotten a steady job, I went ahead and dropped out of high school two weeks before graduation.”
Matthew moved to Atlanta at twenty-one and worked just to party and drink. When he out drank his money, he would take advantage of his friends to keep things going. “In ’98 I started going to AA meetings and my sponsor was a believer. I didn’t believe God existed, but my
Restored
The combination of grief and shame led Marcus through four years that “seemed like so much longer.” Marcus was raised by a single mother, and his dad played a significant role in his life. However, when his mother died from cancer in 2005, Marcus didn’t know what to do with his grief. He had never caused his family trouble, and because he wanted to be the strong one in the family he bottled his emotions.
Shannon’s Story
“Let me just start with how I got here,” Shannon began. “On December 28, 2009 my wife died in an apartment fire. We were both abusing Xanax and since we had just run out I decided to go to the hospital to score some more. She didn’t want me to leave, but I gave her a hug and a kiss, and left for the hospital. While I was out, she must have gotten hungry and put food on the stove. They said the Xanax must have made her sleepy and while she rested, the house caught fire.”Win-Security
“Because I was always worried about what people thought about me, even the good things in my life worked against my ultimate success.” Watson grew up in a respectable family in a town where having the right last name can lead to a man’s success. When he was younger he used athletics and friendships to prove his worth, and as he grew older the new measuring stick became women and professional success. Adding alcohol to the mix gave Watson a way to ignore what he was feeling inside. Relationships made him look better and drinking made him feel better.
News Categories
- General
- Giving
- Restoration
- Testimony
