If we’re being honest, pretty much everybody feels warm and fuzzy on the inside when we are the recipient of generosity, OR when we get to bless someone else. Unexpected generosity is especially powerful. It can change a person’s day….sometimes, their life. With all that's going on in our country right now, it's time to show some kindness to one another, don't you think?
Last year we started a new Christmas tradition at Relevant. It’s based on the idea that there is power in “randomly” doing something kind for someone and pointing to God as the source of that kindness. For some people, Christmas is the loneliest time of the year. So we printed up thousands of cards that said "Something unexpected to show you God loves you" on them. Then we handed them out to our church and told people to pair the card with an act of kindness. People left big tips, bought meals for strangers, gave food, did acts of service…and then they left the card. It. Was. Awesome. Check out some of the examples of how Relevant people used these "Something Unexpected Cards" below.
We're doing it again this year!
We're going to equip YOU, our church, with cards and ideas on how to unexpectedly bless others. We printed up 2,500 cards (pictured below). Grab a handful of cards starting on Sunday, Dec. 4 and start sharing the love of Jesus through acts of kindness!
You’ll see on the back, we’ve got an invitation to our Christmas Eve service. Understand that the goal is not to “get them to church”. It’s to do something unexpected and kind for someone else, catch him/her off guard, and point them to God as the source. But what’s cool about the invitation is that it “tethers them to God’s house”. It gives them a place to go if and when God works in their heart.
With that said, you can still use these cards with people you know. Co-workers, friends, neighbors. If you’d just like to directly invite them to Christmas Eve, hand them a card with the Christmas Eve info side up and a little candy bar taped to the other side.
Below are some ideas to get you going. We’ll continue posting new ideas on SomethingUnexpected.org.
- Leave an extra big tip and a card for your server at a restaurant.
- Put an envelope with money and a card on the windshield of a beat-up car.
- Give a certificate good for free babysitting and a card.
- Attach a candy bar or a Scooter’s gift card to the card and leave it on a co-worker’s desk.
- Shovel snow off someone’s driveway early in the morning and leave a note and a card on their front door.
- Pay for the order of the person behind you in the drive-thru and have the cashier hand a card to them when they pull forward.
- Bake some Christmas goodies for someone and attach a card.
- Do an act of service for someone, and leave the card.
- Leave some flowers with a card.
- Pay for someone’s dinner at a restaurant and have the waitress give them a card instead of their bill.
- Come up with something original and thoughtful!
Be intentional! Be prepared! Keep the cards and whatever other supplies you need in your car. When you see a need, MEET IT, and point to God with the card. Imagine if hundreds of us were using these cards each day. How might that change people’s perceptions of the Church and our Heavenly Father?!
Lastly, we would love for you to share what you’re doing with us. You can post what you’re doing online and tag it with #SomethingUnexpectedCards or send us a photo and a description at stories@relevantcommunity.org, and we’ll post it on our social media pages.
You ready? Get excited. Grab some cards on Dec. 4th. Go big! Do something really unexpected! And pray that God works in people’s hearts.
John Schluchter
Communications Pastor