CHARLOTTE, N.C. — It’s a story that had some recalling the story of Jesus and the widow’s offering.
Someone attending a church service in Charlotte over the weekend gave everything they had.
“I think this represents a sacrificial gift,” said the Reverend Patrick Hamrick of First United Methodist Church.
According to THV11, while going through the offerings on Sunday, church officials discovered an envelope with only a few coins inside.
It was 18 cents.
But on the envelope itself was a simple note:
“Please don’t be mad I don’t have much. I’m homeless. God bless.”
“It took some bravery, I think, to write that (note),” said Hamrick. “And for us, we acknowledge that individual gave out of his poverty proportionally a big deal.”
The note brought to mind the gospel of Luke in which the rich showed off their wealth to the church while one poor widow gave everything she had.
Jesus questioned which person really gave more.
According to the pastor, it wasn’t unusual to have homeless people in the pews on Sundays considering the church is located between a homeless shelter and the city of Charlotte, a city known for that exact thing.
“You’re literally right in between two very different worlds,” said Hamrick. “We are, and we see that. Sunday mornings we welcome a big crowd of people to come have breakfast with us. Some of them are coming from shelters.”
The church’s “Muffin Ministry” may feed 150 on a given Sunday morning.
Nonetheless, the church was touched and humbled by the unknown person’s actions.
Hamrick said the church has no plans to search out the donor, but will instead “honor the dignity of the individual who made this gift.”
He did however say if the person did come forward, “it would be amazing, because I have a feeling, there’s been enough groundswell of support that this person could probably get some additional assistance.”