Results 1 - 6 of 6
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Fundraising raffle vs gambling | Heb 13:17 | Masie | 153866 | ||
I have an issue that is quite controversial and I am seeking a biblical answer. I am hoping that you may shed some light on the subject. I have a non-profit organization called Thandiwe Children's Trust. We are dedicated to the welfare of orphaned and abandoned children and other children in crisis. We are in the process of starting up a children's foster care home. My husband and I started this charity through a God-given vision. We do not have much money of our own and we are initiating different fundraising projects. Our current project is a fundraising raffle ticket. We have a weeks holiday donated by RCI resorts and we have 16 different smaller prizes. The raffle tickets cost R10 each. There are 10 tickets in a raffle ticket book and those taking a book will donate R90 and get one free ticket. I wanted to tell our congregation at our church, about the raffle and request that they support us by buying tickets to help us raise funds. We also were hoping that they would take a couple of books each and sell tickets to their friends and family and so on. We are totally reliant on donations and if we desperately need to get funds in in order to pay our bond and other running costs. Our pastor and one other leader discussed it and decided that it is not appropriate as it constitutes gambling. They do not want me to tell the congregation about it. I was quite upset about this as it is a simple fundraising for charity. They say that it is a fine line and quite a grey area. To me a raffle ticket incentivises someone to donate. The winners are determined by a draw. They will not receive money in exchange, but a prize. It is a process of chance, but is that so wrong? If I remember correctly, the apostles had a draw to determine who the new apostle was going to be after Judas' demise. I would appreciate it if you would consider this problem and let me know what your deliberation is. In the Lamb Mandy Geerdts Thandiwe Children's Trust South Africa Tel: 27 01 787 6072 Fax: 27 01 447 1090 Email: mandy@lighthousecreative.co.za |
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2 | Fundraising raffle vs gambling | Heb 13:17 | DocTrinsograce | 153867 | ||
Dear Masie, Often God leads through those in authority over us. Imagine how wonderful it will be when, after waiting on His leading, God provides for this ministry in an ethically unambiguous way! In Him, Doc |
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3 | IS A RAFFEL TICKET FOR CHARITY GAMBLING? | Heb 13:17 | Masie | 153868 | ||
Dear Doc I have no problem with those in authority in my church. My question again: is a raffle ticket fundraising drive considered gambling from a biblical perspective? Is it wrong to ask the congregation to donate towards my charity in this way? Masie |
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4 | IS A RAFFEL TICKET FOR CHARITY GAMBLING? | Heb 13:17 | DocTrinsograce | 153869 | ||
Dear Masie, Yeah, I'd say it was an issue -- as the Lord indicated through your elders. I wouldn't want my church participating in such a thing, nor would I participate myself. Further, I'd be loathe to contribute to an organization that used such methods for revenue. Wouldn't the Lord be more glorified by His children contributing from sheer love? Are you afraid that God is unable to provide for the ministry? Frankly, the lack of funds might well indicate that it is not in God's timing. In Him, Doc |
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5 | IS A RAFFEL TICKET FOR CHARITY GAMBLING? | Heb 13:17 | Masie | 153885 | ||
Dear Doc The doctrine is correct, the word of God is absolute. I will follow my leaders guidance regarding how it affects the church, but the raffle is already under way in the secular world. I will let it be God's will one way or the other. Most people don't care to give without getting something back. Even in the church, there is not enough love, the church hardly gets in the tithes required. (I am talking about the world-wide church). Most people sit back and say 'shame' to those in need, 'how terrible' but are quite happy to let others like myself do the work. I know that if it is in God's timing He will bless this work or He will not, I'll take my queries and concerns to Him in the future. He will not be so discouraging, He will treat me with love, kindness and gentleness. Thank you for your consideration and input. In the Lamb Masie |
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6 | IS A RAFFEL TICKET FOR CHARITY GAMBLING? | Heb 13:17 | DocTrinsograce | 153896 | ||
Dear Masie, God owns the cattle on a thousand hills. He will provide in His own time. Perhaps He will even bring conviction to His own through the need that you make clear to them. After all, who would want funding from those who do not see that what they have is from the Lord? You might want to read the biography of George Mueller. He was involved in a very similar ministry. Here are some rules that this mighty prayer warrior set regarding these rules for himself and his ministry: 1. "I would just observe that we never contract debts, which we believe to be unscriptural (according to Romans 13:8), and therefore we have no bills...but all we buy we pay for in ready money. Thus we always know how much we have and how much we have a right to give away." 2. Mr. Muller held that to lay up stores or hoard money was inconsistent with a life of faith. In such cases he thought God would send them to their hoardings before answering their prayers. Experience confirmed them in the conviction that a life of trust forbids laying up treasures against unforeseen needs, since with God "no emergency is unforeseen and no want unprovided for." Hence his trust was in God and not in his hoardings. 3. A third rule was greatly blessed throughout Muller's career of trust. When money was given him for a specific need, or purpose, he regarded it as sacred to that trust, and would not use or borrow it even temporarily for any other purpose. Though reduced to dire needs, he would not use any money set aside for other purposes except for that specific thing... We'll be praying the God provides for your ministry in ways that He sees fit. In Him, Doc |
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