What would you do with $130 million?
First Baptist Church in Dallas is building a new building.
The plans for the church campus include a high-tech, 3,000-seat worship center, which will double the church’s current worship capacity. There will also be an education center and 500-space parking garage.
What would YOU do with $130 million? Click here and comment!
Jesus follower.
Comment by bill (cycleguy) on November 5th, 2009
I hate to judge but I would NOT build a new 130 million dollar campus. Sorry FBC. Now…if they want to give me some of that to get completely out of debt that would be okay! :) Maybe their motives are okay and all but $130 million for a building? My question: are there any orphans/widows/ homeless in Dallas?
Comment by Shawn Wallace on November 5th, 2009
"are there any orphans/widows/ homeless in Dallas?" Thank you for echoing my thoughts. :)
Comment by Pastor_T on November 5th, 2009
Some quick math says that Compassion Thursday could be taken care of for 3,421,052 kids.
Comment by Shawn Wallace on November 5th, 2009
Or 28,000 kids for a year. Crazy!
Comment by Pastor_T on November 5th, 2009
I guess I only took care of em for a month….That's why you should head up this endeavor!
Comment by Rachael on November 5th, 2009
Honestly, I can't even FATHOM $130 million. But my first move would be to ask Nate for his ideas. He's creative and would think of ways we could multiply the money and make sure it had long-lasting effects. On my own, I'd start by putting a couple million towards providing for the ten kids at the Baby Home. Then I'd use a couple more million to take anyone who wants to have his or her heart broken down to Guatemala. Then, I'd take a couple thousand to provide one heck of a reunion/party for all the kids who used to live at the Baby Home but are now with families. Maybe a trip to a Guatemalan water park? Something relational that reminds them how much we love them.
Comment by Rachael on November 5th, 2009
Some of that money could go for that fancy schmancy dinner party at Eliza Martinez that you and Scot talked about. Maybe we could have Portal del Angel provide steaks for all the boys? Then, the americans could get dressed up as waiters/waitresses and serve the kids one heck of a dinner! Talk about a "thin place"! I'd like to think I'd use more of that money for EM, but it seems like it's really hard to financially support those government homes. My mind can't get past that hurdle.
Comment by Rachael on November 5th, 2009
All those ideas still come nowhere close to $130 MILLION. Hmm… Assuming I'm not overwhelmed by selfishness and want to use a couple million for myself (I'd like to hope that wouldn't be the case….), I really like the idea of using a system of micro-lending/microcredit to help eliminate poverty. Have you ever read Banker to the Poor? It would be awesome to have the funds to do something in Guatemala like the Grameen Bank has done elsewhere.
Comment by Shawn Wallace on November 5th, 2009
Or just partner with Kiva for some GU-specific microloans. :)
Comment by Jody on November 6th, 2009
I love the idea of microloans, and I also wonder at the possibility of hiring Guatemalan social workers, health care workers, therapists, pastors, and teachers to provide ongoing support, love, education, pastoral care and hope to those boys at EM. Employ people in Guatemala and increase services to orphans. I'd love to have a special home for the ongoing care of the special needs boys, like we have group homes here in the U.S. But I also want to serve steaks at Rachael's dinner party :)
Comment by Brad Gross on November 9th, 2009
The first thing I'd do is quit my job and come visit you and hang out with you for about a week. Then, I'd go to Germany and hang out with Pastor_T, and slowly work my way through all the great people I met on twitter….after that, I'd use the balance to sponsor as many compassion kids as I could