WATERVLIET, Mich., September 12, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- Pastor Kevin Hester of the Sanctuary Church submits the following and is available for comment:
Pastor Kevin Hester of the Sanctuary Church, in Watervliet, Michigan, believes the term "Socialist Capitalist" best describes his Free Sale/Giveaway on September 17 and he thinks this ideology is something our Nation needs and Politicians need to hear. This Free Sale is another oxy-moron that Kevin says, is like a yard sale with household items, electronics, clothes, food and more except everything is given freely with no strings attached. His church, has collected items and partnered with local businesses and plans to give it all away to anyone that shows up.
Although Michigan is highly unemployed, Kevin believes there is always work to be done. Kevin also believes that the Free Sale is part of God's Economic Stimulus Plan and hopes that other churches, organizations, and individuals will follow his lead. Kevin emphasizes the positive aspects of capitalism like dignity for having worked for what we have and the hope of the "American Dream."
Unfortunately, in our current economic crisis and employment climate, many who are accustomed to the self- satisfaction of giving a day's work for a day's wage, are unable to work. While we're looking toward Washington, to make changes to provide more jobs, the needs of those out of work still must be met. Today, churches get a "bad wrap" because some think they're just after people's money but truly "Christ-like" churches are not.
Pastor Kevin says that his church's "Free Sale" is an example of how the early churches of the Bible met needs in their communities. They shared their abundance with those who didn't have enough. This is actually what some would call socialism, or at least it smells a little like it. Many in our country have an aversion to socialism, but we actually already have some socialist scented programs, welfare for example. Our struggling economy makes it impossible for these government funded programs to bear the burden of the masses of people who now find themselves in need of help. Without losing our capitalist heritage, we may need to adopt a socialist mentality within our communities in order to weather these hard times.
Pastor Kevin acknowledges that nobody is "entitled" to receive what they didn't work for, but he also believes that when we are able to meet the needs of others, we ought to. Whether you call it charity or socialism, Pastor Kevin is challenging people and churches everywhere to give to meet the needs within their communities. When we give to others, we will also be blessed and our nation could use a blessing again.
Pastor Kevin Hester, The Sanctuary Church, 206 Church St. (P.O. Box 316) Watervliet, MI 49098
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