Doing Good for Others Through the INC Giving Project
Recipient: Yeah—Teacher’s Appreciation, which is so nice!
Recipient: Your group here is a blessing.
Recipient: So, the Church Of Christ, I would like to say, “Thank you very much.”
Recipient: It’s been a joy to have everybody. I’ve never known anything like it. And this is the happiest, gentlest, likable I’ve ever known.
Elijah: What began as a small event to show appreciation to neighbors became a global movement in doing good to others.
Elijah: After nearly two years of construction work in renovating the Iglesia Ni Cristo house of worship in Los Angeles, California, members of the Church wanted
to show their appreciation to their neighbors for their patience and cooperation during the renovation by holding the first ever Neighborhood Appreciation Day.
Elijah: This was a way for the Iglesia Ni Cristo to give back to the community. On April 6th 2011, the INC Giving Project was born.
Police Officer: I want to thank you, guys, for your hospitality. The food was great! I had a hot dog and I was playing hoops with some of the Church members, so—I had a blast!
Elijah: Neighbors were invited on chapel grounds to play games, have medical checkups, free food and entertainment, and a chapel tour for the community to see the finished house of worship.
Bro. Bob Pellien: It broke down the barriers of uncertainty between the community and the Church. They knew that we’re here for them, or we’re here with them, and they’re always welcome.
Aliw Pablo: And so when they got to know, “What?I can go in, even though I’m not a member of your Church?” It really softened their hearts and—it made them want to know more about the Church and to get to know the brethren.
Elijah: Inspired by Proverbs 3:27 “Whenever you possibly can, do good to those who need it,” this one community event became the catalyst for more community-centered INC Giving projects worldwide—such as: teacher appreciation days, firefighter appreciation days, police appreciation days, winter wear drives, food drives, blood drives, clean-up drives, and so much more.
Elijah: Perhaps one of the most impactful has been Singing For A Cause where youth visit care home facilities to sing and bring joy to the elders.
INC Giving Volunteers: “…I’ll be grateful to You until the end.”
Elijah: Today, the INC Giving Project is a global movement. It can be as big as this clean-up or as small as this stand outside a family home where anyone can give away free ice cream or free coffee.
Elijah: There is nothing too big or too small when it comes to doing good for others. It’s not the act of kindness that counts. It’s the heart behind the act of giving.
Elijah: To learn more, visit incgiving.org.
