It started more than 60 years ago. In 1948, Bishop Henry Knox Sherrill, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, set a goal of one million dollars per year for the Presiding Bishop’s Fund for world relief. On Nationwide radio, he challenged the Christian brothers and sisters of his community to raise “one million dollars in one hour.” And they did!
What began as a challenge has become a tradition for many Christian churches. Today, more than a dozen church families, including our National Association, have taken up the challenge and kept the tradition alive. Every offering is unique, but the goal is ever the same; in the spirit of Christ, to help people help themselves in places of poverty, hunger, sickness, conflict, emergency and natural disaster.
In recent years, the churches of our National association have contributed more than $600,000 to One Great Hour of Sharing; $240,000 to Tsunami relief, $260,000 to help with ravages of Hurricane Katrina, and more than$100,000 to a host of missions and ministries targeting hunger, homelessness, earthquakes, flooding, tornadoes and typhoons.
Every effort is made to work through member churches and missions closest to those in need. Where our churches and missions are not present, we work through respected and responsible organizations such as the Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity, World Vision and Church World Services, all of them Christian, four star Charity Navigator recommended agencies.