Anadarko project yields $10,000

Seed money yielded a harvest of $10,000 at Anadarko-First UMC. Perhaps this report about the fund-raising will plant ideas for other churches to grow financially in the new calendar year.

The church’s council held a brainstorming session, and the Finance Committee challenged the Anadarko congregation to find ways to overcome money challenges. Thus was born "As We Sow."

On a July Sunday, there were two offerings. The unusual one involved the church giving $5 bills to the people in the congregation—an assortment of ages. Accompanying each bill was a packet of seeds or a packet of Kool-Aid drink mix.

"God has blessed each of us with different talents, interests, and hobbies," reported Don and Carolyn Riffel. "The instructions were to use the seed money toward a project to help raise money for the church."

A family talented in photography took a picture of the Anadarko-First congregation posing on the church steps, and sold copies for $10 each.

Children sold Kool-Aid at church dinners and at a series of Saturday Markets held in the church’s Landes Family Center.

Varied products at the markets raised funds, too. Among the items were fresh farm eggs and produce, wooden figurines, quilts, homebaked goods, UMW tote bags, and used books. Manicures were available. Cooked on an outdoor grill, breakfast burritos, Indian tacos, and barbecue sandwiches were served.

A churchwide garage sale was organized.

On an October Sunday, Anadarko-First celebrated a bounty of more than $10,000.

"We sang praises to God, and the Finance Committee smiled," the Riffels wrote.