This is my favorite time of year, and I think a lot of other people would say the same. I love the decorations, the food, the time spent with family, and the focus on the birth of Christ. It’s usually a very busy time, but I do try to pause and reflect on the real reason for the season amidst the hustle and bustle.
It’s not always easy. Sometimes we get so caught up in the places to be and the things to buy that we forget the meaning behind it all. This year, I challenge you to slow down. I challenge you to soak in those moments with your loved ones and the awestruck look on a child’s face when he sees Christmas lights on a pretty tree. I challenge you to give meaningful gifts that are a gift to more people than just the person you’re buying for.
This year, I challenge you to give the gift of an eternal impact. Here are three simple and tangible ways to do that:
- Visit smile.amazon.com when you shop. Set up your AmazonSmile account to give to the WMU Foundation by clicking here. Make sure you go to smile.amazon.com when you shop, and the Amazon Foundation will give 0.5% of your purchase price to the WMU Vision Fund.
Amazon probably has a lot of things on your to-buy list, anyway, so why not get your holiday shopping done and support missions at the same time?
*Update: The Amazon Smile program ended in February 2023. Thank you so much to each of you who used this option to help provide funds for the WMU Foundation!
- Contribute to the Walk of Faith. WMU’s Walk of Faith is an honor/memorial pathway for the WMU missions community. Through the Walk of Faith, we are creating a lasting tribute to those who have devoted their lives to fulfilling the Great Commission.
You can purchase a brick for an individual, your family, a church, or a missions group. 100% of your purchase helps meet the operational needs of WMU through the Wanda Lee Joy Fund.
Bricks are a wonderful way to honor loved ones who insist they have everything. What a beautiful gift to see their name on a walkway alongside missions heroes like Annie Armstrong and Lottie Moon, but the unsung heroes are there, too. There’s a place for every missions hero on the Walk of Faith.
- Consider an honorarium gift. When you give to the WMU Foundation in honor of someone else, your gift could go toward future grants, awards, and scholarships. You will be giving the gift of helping combat human trafficking through the Hayes Endowment, sending resources to places in need of disaster relief through the WMU HEART Fund, or supporting life-changing ministries through the WMU Vision Fund.
And that’s only the beginning. The WMU Foundation has so many other funds and endowments, and we are happy to do whatever we can to help you (or the person you’re honoring) find your missions passion.
I hope that these impactful gift ideas help you get your shopping done so you can slow down and enjoy this holiday season with the people you love most. Merry Christmas from the WMU Foundation!
Written by Maegan Dockery, communications manager at the WMU Foundation.