Blog

Hello Everyone!
Thanks for taking a minute to stop by our blog and learn a little bit about who we are and why we started GSG.  GiveSendGo was started by 3 siblings in a family of 12 children. Heather(#2), Emmalie (#4, and Jacob (#5). There had been some discussion around the dinner table one night about what the Church would look like today, if it operated like described in the book of Acts. Where instead of believers fighting with each other, we worked together, and shared resources to help demonstrate the Hope we have in Jesus with the world.

Crowdfunding got mentioned and it started the ball rolling.We hired a development company, 3- 4 months they said it would take to complete. 3 months came and went, 4 months, 6 months, 9 months and then finally a year and our developer was still making excuses on why it was not complete. We were stressed out and wondering if this was even ever going to happen. If you scroll back on our Facebook page you will see us announce that we were going live, then nothing... then announce we were about to launch again... and nothing.. it was then we first had to practice what we had been saying all along- GSG is GOD's and we are just working for Him. Whether it succeeds or fails, we are just moving forward trusting God had a plan in it all.

We FINALLY launched in 2014, 14 months after conception. The first few months we were begging people to start campaigns. We were working out the kinks and switching developers. We were excited, seeing a campaign or 2 a week and praying that God would use GiveSendGo for His Glory. Not just to help people raise money, but to encourage the Church around the world to spread the hope and love of Jesus with the world. About 3 months in we were still gung ho as we were seeing a little traction, and the site was finally operating like it should .At that time campaigns on GSG were charged based on a sliding scale, as you raised over certain amounts of money, the percentage that we would take from each donation to help with operating GSG would lessen.

We had meetings daily and would talk about and pray for GiveSendGo and the direction we were headed. At that time we realized every time someone started a campaign we would encourage them to remember that God is our provider, money is just a tool, but God owns the cattle on 1000 hills (and more!!!)  We started feeling challenged. If GiveSendGo was God's idea that He planted in us, and this website was the journey He had us on maybe we should take our own advice.  We decided in the early summer of 2014 to change our fee structure. No longer would we take a percentage of the money raised through GSG, we would make giving to GSG optional. We would trust that God had given us the idea for GSG and if we were faithful, He would do His work through it and in us. We took the leap of faith and became free. And we all lived happily, ever after.... well not quite.

As with any start up, there are days where everything is working and great and you are on the mountain top, you feel encouraged and loved,  and then there are days when you just want to throw in the towel and give up. When a piece of code breaks and unhappy emails come flying in about a feature not working, or a marketing endeavor flopping. We started to realize that maybe God didn't just give us GSG to help others be and do what God wants them to do, but also as a tool God was using to make us a little more into the people He wants us to be.

We had a launch party in October 2014, once we felt the site was ready to be put out into the world.  We have seen steady growth thanks to all our friends and supporters who share GiveSendGo.com when they see a need arise.  We have seen many changes to the site over the last 3 years. Maybe you were with us for some of them:

A new site design. Anyone remember what we used to look like?

A whole mess of new features such as:

• Being able to record an audio message on your campaign page from a computer
• Allowing recurring donation to a campaign
• A Pray now button 
• Custom Urls for your campaign
• Shareable widget on your campaign.
• Facebook auto share
• We changed the campaign creation process, now broken down in easy to edit steps, 
• We recently added a recipients step so you can change who is going to be receiving the funds. 

and so much more, many behind the scenes fixes and changes, making the website work more efficiently for you. 

We are so thankful for your patience, those who have maybe been with us during an update or error that we had to scramble to fix.  We want GSG to be the best site out there for Christians to raise money, but not just so we can talk dollars and stats.  It is our heart that the world will be changed as the Church comes together during tragedies, missions trips, adoptions, building funds, education, family need, medical bills , community outreach and more to use money as a tool to share the everlasting Hope of Jesus with our neighbors.  Thank you for being a part of the journey with us. Thank you for your prayers, encouraging words and generous donations. Let's continue on working together to change our world!



 

TRAGIC ACCIDENTS ARE HAPPENING ALL AROUND YOU.

How should the church respond?
Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.18But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. James 2:15-18

At GiveSendGo we want to challenge local churches to be the hands and feet of Jesus in their communities. GiveSendGo.com makes it easy to put faith into action. Here are some of the ways:

• GiveSendGo is Free! We do not charge a fee to use our platform.
• It takes only minutes to set up and start sharing your story.
• We don’t hold your money - Money that is raised is automatically transferred into the campaign owners attached bank account. 
• People can share the campaign to their own personal social networks.
• GiveSendGo sends out automatic thank you’s and receipts to Givers.
• Givers can send their prayers and support through comments on the campaign page.
• Updates can be given and images can be uploaded 
• Record an audio message to be listened to when someone visits your campaign
• People can set up recurring donations
• Givers get encouraged to donate as they can see a goal being met.

As you see needs arise in your community, in your social circles, in the world, don’t wait for someone else to “do something”. Be the church, showing your faith in action, one campaign at a time.

This morning, Tuesday January 2nd, 2018, a six alarm fire tore through an apartment building in the Bronx, killing 12 people and displacing many more.  The news articles say that it was a little child that accidentally started the fire. Of course the comments go from heartfelt condolences to people needing to make sure everyone knows that child should have been watched better.   

My heart hurts for those who lost someone in this fire. If you read the news articles about this fire, you will hear of heroes, a soldier, and people that stepped up and put themselves in harms way to try to help during this devastating situation. 

I think of the families of the ones that lost their lives. One minute celebrating the New Year and all the exciting things planned, a clean slate, a fresh start. The next minute plunged into grief and indescribable agony as their world has been torn apart. 

At GiveSendGo we see first hand how stories like these are happening all around the world, tragic, sad, unbelievable. We see campaigns started for people that have been dealt a horrible hand during this season of their lives.  We often cry and pray over  the campaigns that come in, as we hear of children passing away too soon and medical bills needing to be covered.  We share campaign stories of deadly and horrific accidents that have taken place where donating to financial needs is the only thing that might bring a little hope to the situation. 

We remind people that despite all the bad news, that there is hope, and that hope is Jesus.  He doesn't step in and take all the heartache and tragedy away. We don't always understand why and often won't ever know the answer to the "why?" questions we find ourselves asking.   We just know that Jesus does offer Hope. Hope for tomorrow. Hope that we will make it through this life -not unscathed but loved. Hope that we can have a relationship with God. Hope that we will one day see Him face to face.  

Today let us change our New Year's Resolution list.  Move losing weight, and finding a new job down a notch on our list. Let's add  "Share the hope of Jesus" to our #1 spot.  Let's not wait until tragedy strikes. Let's be introducing people to Jesus EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. 

Let's Shine Brightly.