Take the Love Your Neighbor Challenge

Take the Love Your Neighbor challenge!

In 18th century communities, a barn was one of the most important things a person could own; but they were often so large and costly that construction required participation from everyone in the neighborhood. People generally volunteered their resources and time for a neighbor's barn-raising, having benefited previously or knowing that the same love and support would be extended to them. For the more than 700 neighbors walking through Micah's doors each year, not just a house but a home is one of the most important things they seek. Like 1.5 million Americans, however, many of them are surviving off of just $2 a day; and they cannot find their way home without your help.

That's why we need the whole community to come together for the LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR CHALLENGE!

Our goal, in the year 2019, is that 2019 people accept the Love Your Neighbor Challenge, regardless of how many days committed. To take the challenge, all you have to do is commit $2 a day for as many days as you can and start giving. You can give weekly ($14), monthly ($60), quarterly ($180), every six months ($365) or even make a one time gift of $730. We encourage creative ways of accepting this challenge, including starting your own fundraiser with the tools provided through this page.

Much like historic communities worked as one body to put up a neighbors barn, the churches of Fredericksburg are working together through Micah to help "neighbors find a home here," be it spiritual, emotional, social or physical. Some of the ways we are achieving this include meeting basic needs of those living on the street, making key connections to community resources, moving people from the street to permanent housing, training people to work in food service, repurposing donated furniture into the homes of people who are starting over, sheltering those who are sick or dying, and bringing people together around a table at the community cafe. To learn more about these efforts, please visit Micah's website.

Micah's collaboration of churches invites you to prayerfully consider how you might accept this challenge through a special offering in this "season of love." If all of us join together in the "Love Your Neighbor Challenge," imagine the community we can cultivate and the care we can provide to our neighbors in need.

Sign up as a fundraiser today and check out other ways you can "Love Your Neighbor" this holiday season:

• Visit Micah's volunteer page to learn about the many ways you can Love Your Neighbor with TIME!

• Make a one-time or recurring contribution. You can do this online or mailing a check to P.O. Box 3277, Fredericksburg, VA 22402

• Challenge your Sunday School, small group or circle of friends to take the Love Your Neighbor challenge through an special offering or planned event.

• Work with your kids to set aside $2 a day (I.e. collecting change, mow yards, sell lemonade, or other creative ideas)

• Commit to setting aside $2 a day as part of their Lenten or Advent sacrifice.

• Tell your friends on Facebook that you are taking the Love Your Neighbor Challenge (#loveyourneighbor) and challenge them to take it with you.

• Accept the challenge in whatever way is comfortable to you and challenge someone else to do it with you.

• Set a personal goal for how many people you can convince to take the Love your Neighbor challenge.

•Get your employer or businesses to take the challenge or match the gifts of employees who take the challenge.

• Come up with your own creative way to commit $2 a day, $14 a week, $60 a month, $180 a quarter, $365 every six months or $730 a year. And make sure you tell us about it!