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The Oklahoman
Coins, bills, prayer pack Jesus
Purses
Efforts over time allow In
His Name Ministries to help
By Carla Hinton,
Religion Editor, The Oklahoman
Three pennies here. A quarter there. A dollar bill.
It all adds up.
When Margaret Stribling
squirrels away her spare coins and loose bills, the money isn't
destined for a dream vacation, new dress or fancy dinner.
Stribling places the cash
in a purse that is not her own. Symbolically, it belongs to Jesus.
As such, its contents will be given to someone in need of a
financial blessing and a sincere word of prayer.
"Being led by the Spirit
is a wonderful way to live," Stribling said.
She and her husband, Dee,
have started the Jesus Purse project through their nonprofit In His
Name Ministries.
Numerous renditions of
the Jesus Purse, a deep burgundy velvet drawstring bag, were mailed
to the ministries' faithful donors about a month ago.
Many of the purses now
sit on kitchen counters, on office desks and in church classrooms
across the metro area, waiting to be filled with coins and bills.
Margaret Stribling said
the project's goal is twofold: to bring in donations for In His Name
Ministries and to encourage people to watch for — and seize —
opportunities to bless someone less fortunate as they go about their
daily lives.
The Oklahoma City couple
hope some people may donate their collected change to In His Name or
another charity of their choice. Others may take the coins and put
them in a Salvation Army kettle at Christmastime. Still others may
join with their church group, office mates or families to give the
filled purse to a needy person they know or even a stranger. With
divine guidance, there are innumerable ways the Jesus Purse can
spread God's goodness, the Striblings said.
The project is a reminder
that small things done over time can make a significant difference,
they said.
"It doesn't have to be a
lot of money. It doesn't have to be complicated," Margaret Stribling
said.
"Ask Jesus to show you
someone who needs encouragement and give them the purse."
The Striblings started In
His Name Ministries in 1983, offering prayer and emergency financial
assistance to thousands of metro residents over the years.
Last year, the ministry
dispersed about $83,000 raised from 355 donor individuals and
churches, the couple said.
Dee Stribling, 76, said
In His Name has about 9,000 clients in its database, including those
who have received money for such needs as rental assistance, help
with utility bills or food, and those who simply asked that someone
pray for them.
The Striblings believe in
their prayer and assistance ministry so strongly, they left their
jobs — he was a longtime sales manager, and she was a dental office
manager — to heed God's call.
Dee Stribling said the
ministry has helped many people over the years, but it is
particularly called to aid the elderly, the disabled and single
parents. In His Name receives 40 to 50 calls a week for assistance,
mostly referrals from churches, health and social agencies, and
previous clients.
Until recently, Dee
Stribling had taken the calls himself, but illness has forced him to
let another minister, Darwin "Shorty" Wieland, take over this duty.
Dee Stribling said primary lateral sclerosis has caused him to use a
scooter and wheelchair for the past three years, and his speech
became impaired about six months ago. His ailment derailed his radio
broadcast on several Christian radio stations, but Stribling said
radio spots for In His Name and its efforts continue to air on Bott
Radio Network stations KQCV-AM 800 and FM 95.1.
Giving of time, prayer
and resources is a way of life for the Striblings, thus Dee
Stribling said he remains stalwart despite his illness. He continues
as webmaster of the ministry's Web site, regularly posting clients'
needs on the site, to which donors generously respond.
He also prays, along with
his wife, for each client that calls with a need.
Margaret Stribling, 63,
said In His Name is like many ministries in that it does not always
have the funds to meet every request for assistance.
The Jesus Purse project
may go a long way toward meeting that need, but there is a bigger
challenge, she said.
More Christians need to
become Jesus' eyes — looking for those who need aid and then meeting
the need. It could be a fast-food restaurant employee such as the
one who recently received a filled Jesus Purse from Margaret
Stribling. It could be a harried waitress, a burdened church member
or co-worker.
"The key thing is, people
need to talk to someone who loves them and does not judge them. It's
apparently a rare occurrence," Dee Stribling said.
"Christians, too often,
if someone needs help, they put them on someone else. But Jesus did
not refer anyone. God's got millions of people to show His love."
The Striblings said some
people often feel inadequate and thus never attempt to reach out to
someone else.
A collection of coins and
bills amassed over time in the Jesus Purse could be a way to share
the Lord's love and grace.
The Striblings are
encouraging others to try it as they have, "one person at a time.
One person, God and us."
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