Jesus said, "Take care not to do your good works before men, to be seen by them" (Matthew 6:1, The Bible in Basic English). We have hundreds of brethren in the United Church of God who obey this command of Jesus, and who do their "good works" (also translated "alms"—acts of compassion and giving) quietly, anonymously, without fanfare, motivated by compassion and a desire to help meet the needs of others in the Church, especially in areas of the world not as blessed with the abundance of God's physical blessings. They have given to the Church's Good Works Program.

This program was set up to act as a channel for the compassion of brethren in the Church. We do not generally encourage direct cash offerings to the program (since those funds are needed for the budgeted expenditures of the Church in carrying out its commission). Instead, the program was created to receive the monies that brethren are able to generate through local fund-raising efforts.

Those brethren who have the wherewithal to engage in local fund-raising projects have contributed over $300,000 since the Council of Elders established the Church's Good Works Program less than three years ago. As a result, brethren have been able to help with over 30 projects that have benefited others in the Church in countries all around the world—in Africa, Asia, Latin America and North America (where some suffered significant loss from Hurricane Katrina).

Brethren have been involved in all sorts of fund-raisers, including production of a cookbook, car washes, penny rolls, benefit concerts, bake sales and many more. On behalf of those who have been helped, thanks to all who have volunteered and helped in this way!