In case you missed it, I’m posting again here how my ministry was started. How it was just dropped into my lap. Out of the blue.
Disclaimer: When I started Stuff By Steph, I decided I was going to donate 10% of my proceeds from any portion of my business to helping the needy. I didn’t make a deal of it, it was just something I felt called to do.
My first orders for baked goods were set to be baked on Wednesday, March 27 and delivered on Thursday, March 28, 2024. I had four customers that I was supposed to meet at 10am on Thursday to drop off their fruitcakes.
On Wednesday, I contacted each customer in case there were any changes to their orders. One customer was going to have a hard time meeting at the same time as the others the next day. We talked for a while and decided to meet Wednesday after I was done baking.
Before she was leaving, she asked if I knew Jesus. I excitedly told her that I did, and added that I liked that she asked. I then told her there was a letter underneath the basket of goodies explaining everything that I did. We said goodbye and parted ways.
Shortly after, I received a phone call from her with a question about how to store the fruitcakes. While we were on the phone, she said something about appreciating my ministry. It didn’t really register until after we got off the phone what she said, so I texted her to make sure she knew I wasn’t trying to be misleading, that I don’t have a ministry.
Sometimes, God sure does have fascinating ways of getting our attention. You would never guess where this is going, so I’ll just tell you. I met up with all three of the other customers the next day as planned, and this is how it went:
Customer #1 paid me and tacked on an additional $5 and told me to put it toward my fundraiser. I figured she must have been referencing what I said about a portion of my sales going to a worthy cause, the needy, etc. Awesome!
Customer #2 paid for the order but told me to give the fruitcakes to someone else. Oooookaaaayyyy…this customer in particular was VERY thankful, stating so over and over again. I just thought he really liked fruitcake. But then…
Customer #3 gave me an additional $6 on top of the payment for her fruitcakes, wanting it to go to a good cause. What?!?! What is going on???
THERE’S MORE…
I got home to find that somebody from my prayer group had ordered something from my Print-on-Demand store (this was only my second order ever). She messaged me wanting to know how she could donate!
BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE!!!
On that Friday and Saturday I had a yard sale, again with the intention of a portion of the proceeds going to a charity or needy person. I did not make mention of this in my ads or tell anybody. It is just something I’d been feeling on my heart – that if I can quit my job with nothing in the bank and God make it work for me, the least I can do is help others.
I only had a total of 12 yard sale customers. Out of those 12, three gave me extra money!! It wasn’t until after they gave me extra that I told them it would go to a good cause.
Guys, I stand corrected. I have a ministry. I HAVE A MINISTRY !
Thank You, Jesus for giving me back a sense of purpose. The past few years have been very difficult and lonely for me but I never gave up. I knew God was going to use me somehow, I just didn’t know how. Now, I do. That said…
I believe in making a positive impact beyond just providing quality products. That’s why I’m proud to announce that 10% of all proceeds from your purchases go directly to charity. With every item you buy, you’re not just investing in exceptional products, but also contributing to meaningful causes that make a difference in people’s lives and following God’s command to love one another and take care of those in need. Your support enables me to give back to our community and support initiatives that tackle important issues and uplift those in need. Together, we’re creating a brighter, more compassionate world. Thank you for joining me on this journey of giving back and spreading kindness.
If someone donates in addition to a purchase, the entire extra amount goes to the ministry, not just 10% of the extra. I haven’t decided yet where exactly this round of donations will go. I may wait until there’s enough to really, really help someone in a big way. I’m always open to suggestions, too, so if you have any ideas, please feel free to leave a comment below or email me at Stuff_By_Steph@proton.me with “Ministry” in the subject line.
I’ll try to keep a running total of what donations I’ve received here. FYI, for my Print-on-Demand items, I am only counting my commission as what I make since I have to pay Printify the production and shipping cost of items. So the 10% will be taken from my commission amounts. I call my 10% “Tithe” since essentially that’s what it is.
The Armentrout Shout-out 