Ministry News

Feeding the Hungry With … Nativity Scenes?

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Tuesday, 22 December 2009 15:46

For more than two decades, pastor Frank Miller collected Nativity sets from around the world. His impressive assortment of almost 100 figurine scenes was on display in his church office year-round. Now those sets are being used to provide hungry people food.

Retiring after 37 years in the ministry, Miller, who leads a church in Windy Hills, Ky., decided to go out with a bang by raising money for the needy through his worldwide collection. Recently the 64-year-old Lutheran pastor held an event where people could take home a Nativity set in exchange for donating funds to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's World Hunger Appeal. In addition, a nonprofit financial institution agreed to match whatever donations were made up to $600.

Though small in comparison to such movements as the Salvation Army or Advent Conspiracy, the amount raised from Miller's efforts reminded his community how every person can make a difference. Within only a few hours, all 80 Nativity sets on display had been sold.

"I'm just pleased with how many people responded to and adopted them," Miller said. [courier-journal.com, 12/13/09]