Enjoy This Message of Hope
We’ve all complained about the high cost of a last-minute plumber, but for most of us, it’s just a minor inconvenience that we quickly get past. For those with tight budgets, on the other hand, everyday services can become inaccessible. That’s why one plumber went viral for his kind gesture.
When James Anderson chose not to charge a 91-year-old woman with leukemia when she called on him for his services, he quickly gained the attention of the Internet, and that day ultimately inspired him to routinely offer his services free of charge to those in need.
As you read James’ story, let it be a reminder of the responsibility we all have to share our blessings, and feel free to share it with your congregation to help inspire giving and charity. If you need help, DonorWerx has tools and resources to support you. Begin your journey today.
When Inspiration Shakes Routine
James Anderson is a 52-year-old father of five. He lives in Burnley, England, which is a small city with a population of about 73,000 residents. Without a doubt, James stays busy working as a plumber, and he thought it was just a routine call one day when he was asked to fix a broken boiler. Upon arriving at the client’s home, he began to realize that this was a special case.
As James went to work fixing the boiler, he learned that his 91-year-old client was suffering from leukemia. James chatted with her as he worked, and ultimately left behind an invoice, waved goodbye, and went on his way. It was only later that his kind gesture was revealed. Back at work, James left explicit instructions with his team: “No charge for this lady under any circumstances. We will be available 24 hours to help her and keep her as comfortable as possible.”
Both the woman and her family were astounded by his kindness. “James is an absolute star, it was overwhelming to see that it cost nothing,” her daughter told CNN. She shared the story on social media, sending out a tweet that soon went viral. It reads, “gives me a little hope for humanity after all.”
As he noticed how much attention his kind gesture received, he began realizing how many people were in the same position as this lady. In response to the tweet, so many people shared stories of times when they had received a bit of help in times of need, and the incredible impact it had on their day and even their lives in the years to follow. That’s when James realized he needed to do more.
As a pastor, do you feel like you’re able to inspire action like that old woman’s situation inspired James? If you need resources to help spark generosity in your church, DonorWerx can help. Learn how today.
The Founding of Depher
James is not the type of man to sit around and wait for problems to solve themselves. So, in March 2017, he decided to close his plumbing business and rehire his staff to support Depher, his new nonprofit service organization.
At Depher, James and his team have been helping the community by providing discounted and free plumbing services to vulnerable people in the area. James likes to offer services free to everyone, but he says it depends on funding. Depher counts on crowdfunding to keep its doors open, and the Queen’s charity recently donated £2,000 to help them continue serving the community.
When funding does begin running low, James is forced to charge his clients, but he still offers them the largest discount he can. If you question his generosity, he has often dug into his own pockets to cover the cost of the services his organization provides. In fact, he owes around £8,000 at last count thanks to his kind heart. Since its founding, his organization has helped nearly 2,000 people thanks to donations from companies and people in the area.
You can learn more about Depher and support the cause at their website.
How DonorWerx Can Help
As church leaders, it can be easy to fall into a routine, but what happens when someone really inspirational comes along and helps you reignite your fire? That feeling is exactly what you hope to spread in your congregation each time you preach on the importance of generosity, but it’s not easy.
DonorWerx can connect you with the tools and resources you need to inspire your congregation to give back. Get started today.
