On Sunday April 12th, each person in attendance at HighTide Church over the age of 3 received a Bless Back Project envelope containing $5 or $10 with the instruction to go out and use what they had received to bless someone. Locally, globally, family, friend, neighbor, stranger - Jesus showed us that people matter, we challenged you to prove it.
Tell us your Bless Back story here.
Or Email blessback@hightidechurch.org and we'll post it for you.
About Me
- HighTide Church
- Dagsboro, Delaware, United States
- Love God, Love Others, Serve Your World: We follow Jesus
We attended church on Sunday and were amazed by this project. As a family we pooled our money and turned it into a Food Lion gift certificate and sent it to a family who is struggling with the economy. The mother, who has always given without limits to community and family, and has been challenged with breast cancer twice, deserves to know that we recognize her and her accomplishments. The project makes me once again very proud to be part of the HighTide Family. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteWhen my family and I discussed what we would like to do with the money for the Bless Back Project, we ended up agreeing on the idea of my six year old son, Brady. A friend of mine from high school has a son that just turned 8 on April 6 who was born with a heart condition and just recently had been hospitalized at Johns Hopkins Hospital as his heart had given up and he needed a heart transplant. For the past month, he was back and forth between Johns Hopkins and The Ronald McDonald House in Baltimore where he had to stay until he got a donor. On Saturday, April 11, their prayers were answered and they had a donor for Bradley. The procedure was done immediately. We had been following Bradley's blog since his journey began and my sons were with me each time I read the blog. When Brady told me (and these were his exact words) - " I want our money to go to the little boy with the new heart" I could not deny that so I got in touch with Bradley's mother and we are taking the money and doubling the amount and we are doing a donation to The Ronald McDonald House in Bradley's name.
ReplyDeleteThank you High Tide, for giving us the opportunity to be able to do this for Bradley's family. His parents were very thankful and said that my boys must be "truly amazing"!
Allison, Jacob and Brady Parcells
Dear Bless Back Project, I decided after leaving church to leave it up to my boys to make the decision of what to do with our project. Lenny 11 and Jacob 9. After much thought they agreed that someone that not necessarily needed it but deserved it and would put it to good use to benefit many other children was Pam Townsend, she is the owner of Little Hearts daycare center where my boys have gone for many years. Miss Pam is one of the kindest, caring, loving people we have ever been blessed to know. She always goes out of her way to help anyone and loves the children of the daycare and cares for them all each and every day. We are truly blessed to have her in our lives and we chose her to receive our Bless Back Project because we know she will make it benefit all the children in one way or another.
ReplyDeleteAbigail, Lenny and Jacob Gilliar
A friend took me out to lunch on Tuesday, at Applebees, it took our waitress a little time to come get our order. She told us that a group of kids just walked out leaving a $72.00 unpaid. Of course it was one of her tables. The Girl, Belinda was quite upset with the matter, in fact the manager ended up bringing our meal out. When I got to talk with Belinda, I told her of our Bless Back Challenge we were given on Easter. I handed her the money and church's card. She almost cried and before we left she thanked me again. Linda Rabenstein
ReplyDeleteMy whole family was so amazed at High Tide this Sunday. For the last few months I've been putting a close friend on the prayer list. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in her lungs after having a mastectomy 5 years ago. She hasn't been able to work and her husband is the only one that can. It hasn't been easy. We found out the tumor has been reduced 90% last week and my husbands first thought was their family. Thank you High Tide for a wonderful opportunity.
ReplyDeleteAfter church on Sunday i decided to leave it up to my children as to who wwas going to be our recipient of the Bless Back project. Several times during the course of the week my sons, Cory 17, & Jordan 11, deliberated as to who they wanted to bless. On Wednesday evening Jordan & I were in Hocker's purchasing dinner, when we decided how we were going to use our money. The gentlemen in front of us was counting out change to pay for his gas. He continued to apoligize for taking so much time & holding up the customers. My son looked at me & told me that this was the person that he wanted to help. Jordan asked if it would be ok to pull our money together & present it to this gentlemen so that he was able to get a full tank of gas. I agreed and we handed him the money for gas along with the card from our church. The gentlemen was so thankful! He couldn't believe that we were doing this for him. He continued to thank us & asked if it was ok to give us a hug.
ReplyDeleteI thank our church for allowing us the opportunity to go out into our community & touch the lives of others. This was a great learning experience for my children on the gift of giving. I shared with a co-worker , who happens to also be a pastor at a church in Dagsboro, the details of our Bless Back Project and she thought it was so wonderful that our church was coming together like this in the community. She is now trying to figure out a way that her church can organize their own Bless Back Project. It is amazing to see just how many people our church will reach through this ministry project!!!
Thank you High Tide Family!!
Missy, Cory & Jordan Showalter
I'm taking this opportunity to thank you for your "Bless Back Project"! My husband and I received a wonderful monetary gift from your church. It was greatly appreciated and used to put gas in our vehicle.
ReplyDeleteThank you from the bottom of our hearts. We greatly appreciate your generosity. May God bless you and your families.
God speed,
Lisa and Chris Prettyman
Townsend, DE
Our neighbor's younger brother died rather suddenly on Good Friday in Wilmington.
ReplyDeleteWe probably would have sent a sympathy card, and visited at their home.
When we got the Bless Back challenge, they came to mind right away. Bob suggested that we get a tree or plant for their yard in his memory. They love their yard and garden every day.
Yesterday, we talked with them to let them know we want them to select the plant and the spot for it.
I know it will be much appreciated.
His mother visits their home often, so she'll get to enjoy this tribute too.
Thanks for the Challenge!
Bob and Mev Adams
My name is Shanan Rogers and I wasn't sure what I was going to do with the $5.00 I was given in my envelope. I new when it hit me that's what I would do. I was working in my store this week and a older man that has been coming in ever since I was five, and I will be 36 this month, came in and was talking about how he lost his sister in the last week. He had the paper of the funeral service and said he had saved one for me to read and he'd pick it up later so I could read it. He was bummed about losing his sister she was 80. I read the paper and a few days later he came in the store again, I told him I enjoyed reading the paper and I was sorry for his loss she seemed like a great women. My grandmother and Miss Nelda a women that works for me were in the store when I told Randolph Fooks that My Church was doing a bless back program and that my church had given everyone who went to church last Sunday an envelope with money in it. I said I felt he deserved to be given the money I new he could use it and to let him know people cared in his time of sorrow. I gave him $25.00 . I added $20 to the $5 in my envelope and told him it was from my church High Tide in Roxana DE. He was very appreciative and said God Bless Me . My grandmother and Nelda didn't know about it and my grandmother had tears in her eyes. My grandmother was touched also from the kindness of our church.
ReplyDeleteThank you High Tide , Pastor Andy, Tanya and everyone else for allowing me and giving me the Idea to do something like this.
A neighbor in our community recently lost her husband. She has had to go back to work to make ends meet. As a family we decided to combine our money and give her the gift. We also had a yard sale and gave her a portion as part of the Bless Back project. Our family presented her with the gift. She was very appreciative and thanked our church for its thoughtfullness. We have all been blessed by the experience.
ReplyDeleteThe Grow Family
I want to share a few stories of giving back. This year one of my friends Claire Null had to have spinal and neck surgery that has required her to be unable to do daily thinks for her family or herself. Claire also has a horse she boards at our Ranch named Buddy. Our family, I call all my friends that board horses at our Ranch, The King Ranch Family all pulled together to take care of her horse and give him extra carrot and hugs. We made her meals for her whole family and went to visit with her. I am happy to say she is do well she just needs a little more time.
ReplyDeleteI have another dear friend named Rhonda that had to undergo breast cancer surgery and all the nasty things that go with that. Our Family at the Ranch reached out and took extra care of her horse and adopted the other one. We all made calls and visits during her 3 month ordeal. Again I am happy to say she is doing well and back at the farm with us and her horse.
Then, I have a friend that we call Randy's guardian angel named Jane Loveland that recently had an accident on a horse and broke her leg. She is one of our dearest friends who donated her kidney to my husband almost 6 years ago. WOW...I know.... talking about giving, giving a chance of life. When I found out she was injured I went running. I made them dinner for many nights, I bought her lunch when she had a frig full of leftovers from all the people pulling for this family. I also talk and/or sit with her every day. This lady would do the same for anyone of us. I am happy to say she is doing great and she can't wait to ride a horse again.
I think giving to and back is an every day event for our family. It might not be money or a gift card....but all the above just takes care and love for those around us. That is the power of God.....
My family is very blessed to have found The High Tide Church Family. When we had a loved one pass, Andy was there for our family. I am very happy that God lead us to High Tide.....
Your welcome to share my story....
Thank you...
Randy and Jan King
I attended High Tide Church last Sunday and was given $10 in my Bless Back Project envelope. My husband and I traveled to Hamburg, Pennsylvania this weekend and stayed at a local hotel. I decided to add another $10 to the Bless Back $10 and I gave it personally to the Hispanic lady who would be cleaning our room. When I gave the money and the High Tide card to her, I told her the church I attended in Delaware that was listed on the card had given me some money to use to bless someone this week, and that I wanted to share it with her. She looked at me wide-eyed in disbelief, and then a huge smile came across her face. As I walked away, she said "God bless you and the High Tide Church -- thank you so very much." Thank you High Tide Church for allowing me to be a part of this worthy project. Carol
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I decided to pool our money and double it and go and buy crossword books and word search books, etc and give them to the nursing home in Millsboro.
ReplyDeleteHeather and Steven Krebs
I am a visitor to your church accompanied by Mr. Steve Kitchen. We took our bless back money and added money to a very special person. Her husband and herself as well as their family are about to loose everything, house, van etc. They are unemployed facing very tough times. I saw her and knew even though this wasnt much to even touch their mortgage it was enough to put food on their table. Her eyes lite up and smiled with great appreciation! God Bless Lisa and Chris and their family. Thank you High Tide to allow such a beautiful fruitful thing to happen!
ReplyDeleteChristy P
Hi, we decided to bless two people- the first was a mother at Target who was shopping with her toddler daughter in the discounted toys from Easter. The little girl was screaming at the top of her lungs, everyone, and I do mean everyone in the store could hear her. All the other mothers, of all ages, in the store were giving each other the secret Mommy I've been there smile. All the other patrons in the store were like, can you stop that kid from screaming anytime soon? The mom was about at a meltdown. So when we approached her, she was like what? I think she was ready for some unsolicited advice, and ready to rebuke it. So when we presented her with the money instead she got a huge smile, even though her daughter continued to wail, was able to make her purchase and get out. Blessing her greatly. LOL.
ReplyDeleteThe second person was someone who didn't need it but well deserved it, we were at Walmart and the man in front of us received an additional $20 in change more than he deserved. He could of easily kept it, however, quickly realizing the mistake, returned it to a thankless cashier. We stopped him, presented him the money and he said he knew exactly where to donate it.
The Grimes Family
The bless back project has touched me of how it has reached out to people in need. Reading the blogs has made this project all worth it. I was working with the person that I gave my gift to, he was telling me how bad 2009 was. His girlfriend has left him, the girlfriend also is a single mom who has a son that the guy has came very close to. His daughter has gotten into legal problems, in which he has used his funds to help her out. And his worst fear happened, he lost his job back in November of 2008 right before the holidays. That day, he was struggling with trying to put together funds to make ends meet when he received a phone call that took a very long time when he finished the phone call it appeared that the life was sucked right out of him. I decide it was time for a break to talk with him. We communicated about life, church and I asked if I could pray for him, in which he told me that there are others out in the world that needs more help, that is when I gave him the gift with a added bonus. I than told him, I know there are other people out there that needs help but I would like to help you.
ReplyDeleteThanks for make this possible with the idea. My prayer would be for God's will be done and it will lead other to Christ.
We gave the money to a store clerk. She cried! Her whole family has been to High Tide, but we did not know that. Now she is trying to work things out so that they can attend again. Her work schedule is the problem and we are praying that the Lord will open that door so that they can come to church!
ReplyDeleteI don’t know if our daughter Michele Ewing, has had opportunity to tell you what they did. Her family put all their money together and bought diapers for a single mother with a young baby. The young mother works as a waitresses with Michele’s oldest daughter, Brooke.
Calvin and Jane
My husband and I are not yet members but attend your Church regularly and love it. We were there on Easter to share in the Bless Back Project with our daughter, and were very thankful for all you do. We pulled our money together and matched it totaling $50.00. We have a neighbor at our office who has had to sell all his work trucks but one in which he hauls dirt in, and is now selling pretty much everything he owns just to keep his home, and put gas in his truck so he can work to pay the bills. We thought if we give him the money it would help him with gas so he could work again. I can't express to you his surprise and joy in his eyes and in his heart for the wonderful project our Church is doing. Thank you again for allowing us to be a part of this incredible project! You have given our life both meaning and inspiration.
ReplyDeleteEd & Kim
Hi! My boys and I have been discussing who to bless...and we weren't sure. And we never came across a situation like the ones you have mentioned at church. I was talking to a friend of mine about it and she told me about a mutual friend of ours having a fundraiser for Larry Ayes who has cancer and is in the hospital and he has no insurance. I went and saw my friend and told her what our church was doing, and that I wasn't sure who to give the money to until I heard Larry's story. I then new that was who I wanted to bless. I told my boys about it and we all agreed. We feel blessed to have this opportunity to bless Larry. Thank you. The Hileman's
ReplyDeleteMy family and I visited your church on Easter Sunday. While we do not live at the beach, we are usually visiting my wife's family who live in the Fenwick area. Julie Parcells is my wife's sister and attends High Tide and she told us about the church.
ReplyDeleteI was surprised at the generosity of the Bless Back Project and was trying to figure out what to do with the money.
Last week it came upon me.
There is a single woman with 5 children who works nights cleaning my office building. She is from Central America, sends some money back to her family (parents and sisters), and doesn't speak English very well. As you can imagine, she doesn't have much money and is forced to work long hours for little pay. I just thought if she could spend some quality time with her children (like Pastor Andy talked about with his daughters) by even taking them to McDonalds, it would be great. I added some money to the amount in the envelope and decided to pay it forward. I am interested in seeing how she enjoys the time with her kids or actually spends the money. I just suggested she take her kids out. She may want to buy them something small, but special.
It's the small things that can make a big difference.
Carl Nelson
I know we are a little late, but we did use our bless back money. As a family we pooled our money together which gave us a total of $30.00. As a family we decided to purchase diapers & wipes for a friend of my oldest daughter’s, which has a 6 mos old baby. We tried to work out a time that the whole family could go together to purchase the items but finally it came down to just my oldest daughter and I. I let her choose the brand and how we were exactly going to send the money which came out to be 29.95(go figure that one). We went home and wrapped each pkg in ribbon and also taped the High Tide card to one of the packages. She and I both enjoyed this experience.
ReplyDeleteLater that night –she delivered the packages & explained the reason behind why we were doing. The mother & sister (who is also a friend) were very appreciative. The whole experience was a blessing—not only for the mother & child but also for our family. Starting w/ the fact that a church would do something like this. Usually a church chooses a large mission to donate money to… but this way so many people in the community received “mini” blessings. I have to believe that the love and caring went a very long way….for the community & the church.
Thank you so so much for doing this…..our family loved being apart of this outreach!!!!
Michele C. Ewing
What a wonderful idea! It took us a long time because we really wanted it to mean something to someone that we know. We have had a farm hand for over a year now, and right now he cannot afford to get insurance on his car, which is a legal requirement in Delaware. He has been in this country for 12 years now, is from Guatemala, a person of faith who attends church every week, and a very very hard worker. He has sometimes completed chores for us even though we could not pay him for the extra time. We always wish we had more money to pay him a higher rate. His wife has been out of work now for over 6 months, and now he must rely on rides to get to work each day. Each of our children presented him with their Bless Back money, and told him "God Bless You." Thanks for this opportunity to bless someone else in our community!
ReplyDeleteI gave my BlessBack envelope to someone who has always been a blessing to me. This woman is a co-worker, who only has part-time hours, yet is currently supporting her family on her salary due to her husband's back surgery. In addition to taking care of her immediate family, she is also the main caregiver for three aging parents. In spite of all this, she always maintains an upbeat attitude which is an inspiration to all who know her.
ReplyDeleteThank You for this unique opportunity.
Kathy Roberts