FGC Good News Bulletin, December 2003

We want to share some very good news!

Within the past few weeks, we have received four, *yes 4*, challenge offers by Friends to help support the work of Friends General Conference. In each case these Friends came to us offering a way to challenge others to support FGC.

1. One Quaker family called to offer to match all "new and increased" gifts to FGC's Annual Fund by individual Friends. The family offered to match--dollar for dollar--up to a total of $10,000 all new and increased gifts! This Challenge came at exactly the right time -- the very week that our December Appeal was printed! Already we have earned $2,620 in matching funds.

2. Another Quaker family has offered up to $10,000 in matching funds for monthly meetings who become new or increased donors to the Annual Fund. The genius of this offer is that in order to qualify for matching funds the meeting must make a 3-year commitment. Any increase will qualify and the Challenge will match all 3 years at the time of the pledge!

3. Another Quaker family has offered to match contributions for CIRC travel expenses this year that were not funded in the FY04 budget. This family is concerned that CIRC representatives be able to attend the Parliament of World Religions, the World Council of Churches Assembly, the Quaker Peace Network consultation. The total need is around $5,000.

4. Finally, Goose Creek Monthly Meeting in Baltimore Yearly Meeting has decided to match all FGC contributions from Goose Creek members and attenders this year, up to a total of $5,000 from the meeting.

It's really extraordinary that all these Challenges would come to us, unsolicited. It's a very encouraging sign about how important, and worthy of support, Friends feel is the work of Friends General Conference. We hope that you join us this December in celebrating this tangible acknowledgment of that work, and that you will help us to spread the good news!

We wish all of you abundant love, divine grace, and God’s Truth this holiday season.

The staff and volunteers at Friends General Conference