STORIES of BIG IMPACT from a SMALL GIFT Introduction

FIVE DOLLARS STORIES OF BIG IMPACT FROM A SMALL GIFT Introduction

We believe generosity changes the world, even if it’s small. That’s why, every chance we get, we give away hundreds of $5 Starbucks® gift cards to pastors and church leaders across the country with simple instructions: keep one and bless someone else with the other. These are just some of the stories that inspire the love for our work at Kindrid and remind us of all the ways you’re helping to #unleashgenerosity.

WHAT’S INSIDE + People who didn’t follow the rules + People who blessed those they knew + People who blessed those they didn’t know + People who came to realize how much of a difference generosity can make

Featured Story: August 2015 BRYAN I had a chance to give one of the cards to a security guard. Our group rented a couple of houses by the beach and Saturday morning we walked to a Starbucks and beside it was a bank with a rent-a-cop at the door, not an employee of the bank.

After walking into Starbucks, it struck me and I walked back out and asked him, “Do you ever get a coffee break?” He replied “no.” So I stuck out my hand and said “Here’s a $5 gift card. Take a coffee break on me when you get a chance.”

At first he was like, “What…no….for me”? It only took about a 10-second wait but he took the card, gave me a happy and firm hand-shake and said, “Thank you.” I replied, “God wanted me to give you that. God bless you and have a great day.”

I didn’t get the impression that anyone had done that for him in a long time…if ever. Thank you for giving the cards away and giving me an excuse to be kind to someone else. I added some money to the other card and sent it to my daughter in college for some “study help.”

3 KEN Yesterday, while I was in line at Wegman’s in Scranton, I saw a woman drinking from a red Starbucks cup. I said, “Hey, I see you’re drinking Starbucks.”

She grew visibly scared and uncomfortable so I quickly followed up, “I was at a church leadership conference and these guys wanted me to give this away to someone, so it’s yours if you want it.” Her demeanor immediately changed and she laughed in relief.

Because of the recent Starbucks cup controversy, she was nervous that I was going to attack her. We laughed and then had a brief conversation about concerning ourselves with things that are really important in life. Things more important than a red cup.

Featured Story: August 2015 TIFFANY We gave our card to a mom and daughter who asked for money and we had no cash.

VICTOR I am that Brazilian that you gave the gift cards. Well, I gave them to my mother. She loves Starbucks and in Brazil it is just absurdly expensive...so...thank you very much!

RAFAEL I sent my extra card to a buddy who just recently came off of 6 months of being unemployed and moving to a new city. He and his wife have a 6 month old and money is somewhat tight. He loves coffee but doesn’t always get a chance to go out and get any. Thanks for the blessing!

5 STEPHANIE Last Thursday, on my day off, I was doing a long run of 6 miles. I decided I’d stop in Walgreens for some water at their fountain. I told the cashier I was 3 miles from home and training for my half marathon. She generously offered to buy me some water and said she worried about me getting home safely.

I made it home and then ran back another day and gave her my Starbucks card. I explained that it was very generous of her to offer me a bottle of water and to show concern for my safe return. I tolder her how we were asked to gift the extra card and she appreciated it so much. Her name is Katelyn. She was so surprised by my generosity, but she is the one who blessed me the most!

6 NATE I used both Starbucks gift cards to take teenagers out to get coffee during discipleship meetings. I uploaded the cards to my Starbucks gold card so that I can get all kinds of points and free stuff from Starbucks in the future! Then I used the gold card to purchase the drinks!

It was a good time being able to take a few of them out and treat them to some good coffee. We usually meet here in our church, but it was nice to do something different.

CINDY I gave it to a coworker. She is a single mom. She is Catholic. I invited her to our Easter service at church and gave her the Starbucks card!

Featured Story: August 2015 JOHN My wife and I ended up giving the gift cards to my aunt and un- cle as a thank you for letting us stay at their house while attend- ing Catalyst. Tip: Make it visual! PASTOR LOU My 18 year old son has been having a rough couple of weeks, so I thought he would enjoy some Starbucks (big fan of their iced lattes), so I gave him the extra and mine. Brought a smile to his face and caffeine to his body.

CHERYL I gave the card to one of our former students who has been struggling with a dry season and feeling empty. She was excited and thankful for the simple gift of a $5 gift card. It begins with the little things. Thank you for your ministry and I pray that generosity grows all around us.

8 AMANDA I actually ended up giving both cards away. One was to a young lady who works at the gym I go to. The other was to the owner of a store near my home. They were both so appreciative of it and surprised by it. Thanks!

COREY Our church has an intern that’s completely volunteer and doesn’t make much money from his part time job. He does so much sacrificially. I decided to give my extra card to him while waiting in line at Starbucks. He was surprised and blessed!

SCOTT I gave the card to a friend. He’s a fellow teacher at Whittier Chris- tian High School. This weekend, a student in our school passed away, and today was a challenging day on campus. Each of us as teachers had the opportunity to minister to the students and each other. The gift card was a great way to encourage Jeff.

Featured Story: August 2015 AILEEN After you gave me the cards, I placed the envelope in the outside pocket of my purse where I usually keep my cell phone. I wasn’t quite sure how I was going to give it away, so my plan was to give it to the person behind me in line the next time I stepped into a Starbucks. God had different plans.

Over the weekend, I had lunch with a friend of mine, Sophia, who I haven’t seen in over a year! She was updating me on her life now: grad school, broke up with her boyfriend, how her young- er sister/best friend/neighbor is getting married and moving to Hawaii, how she doesn’t have her job anymore, how she’s living in a cheapo apartment with some roommate she found ever since her break up, and how her parents are supporting her...for everything...right now. After our lunch, we moved over to Coffee Bean to continue our catch up on life.

Featured Story: August 2015 After our coffee date, she drove me back to my car and I prayed over her. When I got into my car, I reached into the outside pocket of my purse to get my cell phone and there it was.....God so keenly planted and kept the gift card there for me to feel before He let her drive away.

As SOON as my fingers felt it, it was INSTANTAEOUS. The Holy Spirit immediately told me, “Her. Give it to her.” I jumped out of my car and in the middle of a residential street I was explaining to her why I was giving that to her.

Featured Story: August 2015 (What’s funny was, looking back at it now, the Holy Spirit was prompting me to just GIVE her BOTH, but for some reason I stuck to the “rules” and didn’t :/ And was fixed on explaining to her the whole ordeal “I keep one, you keep one” realizing now that they’re not friendship necklaces where she keeps one half of a heart necklace and I keep the other! Argh! However...)

She was so touched regardless, saying “Awww. Aileen. Thank you. Really, thank you. I really appreciate it...” Knowing her cur- rent situation and seeing her response....THAT was enough.

Thank you Kindrid for allowing me to BLESS SOMEONE ELSE!!!!!! Even though it’s a small gesture, with someone who’s in a situation like that who truly appreciated it, it was a blessing to witness!!!!

Featured Story: August 2015 RICK I gave my card to a church planter who uses Starbucks as an office.

KATE I gave it to a coworker/ friend who just got a new puppy and has little sleep, but is also just a very selfless person and always willing to lend a helping hand. Thank you!

BRIANNA I gave one away to my aunt...she was completely surprised and gave me a big hug. Crazy how such a simple gift could make someone smile so much. The next card I know is for myself but it’s in my heart to give it to someone else! Don’t know who yet but it won’t be someone I know. Thank you for such a great idea!

Featured Story: August 2015 JASON I pulled into an AM/PM gas station to get a drink and saw a person looking thru the trash can, probably for recycling. As the person was walking away, I stopped him and handed him the Starbucks card.

JODIE I gave it to our front office assistant who was holding down the fort while we were away. She was very surprised and thankful.

TIM It was Tuesday the 8th and I went to this recovery ministry I serve in called “Celebrate Recovery.” There’s a girl there named Ruvie who loves coffee and I thought of her when you said I had to give one away. Anyways I gave it to her and explained everything about how I got to keep one and give one away and she really appreciated it! It made her night that I would think to give it to her! Thanks again!

Featured Story: August 2015 ASHLEY After I left the Catalyst conference, my heart and mind was set on fire for the Lord—just in awe of His holy presence and the people truly sparked something within. Before heading home, the group I was with went to eat dinner to avoid traffic. The location was definitely guided beyond our knowledge.

We were driving on the freeway and saw traffic appearing, so we Yelped nearby food places, and took the next exit. After dinner, as we were walking back to our car, one of my sisters happened to stumble into a dessert shop and we all instantly noticed that the music playing in the store was Christian rock. Just wow at how God shows us little reminders that He’s everywhere.

While one of the songs played, I asked my sisters if they knew who the artist was...as I did, the young lady in the bakery asked if I wanted to know because she’d go to the back to check. So she did....

Featured Story: August 2015 She came back and told me the artist, and then I remembered I had the Starbucks card!

I pull it out of my wallet and handed it to her, thanking her for checking the name of the song and ended with a God bless.

After leaving the bakery, I realized the name of the shop was 3:16 Bakery Shop… Sayyy whaaat?! Praise God! What were the chances of all of that coming together?

Only God could have orchestrated such a thing. I still have the other gift card, though I don’t intend on using it for myself. I want to give it away as well. So stay tuned, I’ll be sending another email soon.

Featured Story: August 2015 NORMA This past Saturday, I was at Target shopping for some things and one of our youth group members was with me. As we both walked to my car, we were approached by a “panhandler” asking for some spare change. I told her I didn’t have any change to give but I did have a Starbucks card if she would like it. Her eyes completely lit up!

I chuckled as she said, “Oh yeah! That would be great!” I mean, who doesn’t like Starbucks?

As we got into my car to leave Target, I remember telling Salomon (the guy from youth group who was with me) that if I was homeless that would probably be the best gift anyone could give me considering my caffeine addiction. And that reminded me of a day God showed me His faithfulness through, you guessed it, a Starbucks card! Ha!

Featured Story: August 2015 ... Long story short, I was jobless and with a deep coffee craving. I had not been to Starbucks in a couple of weeks fearing that any money spent on coffee, would be money I would have later needed for food if my job search was unsuccessful. I remember saying what I thought to be the silliest prayer, asking God to move someone’s heart to buy me coffee. I know, it was silly but I wasn’t losing anything by asking. Well, it hadn’t been more than half hour since my prayer and I was blessed with a Starbucks card myself. I remember my eyes filling up with tears and overwhelming joy. It wasn’t just Starbucks, it was the reminder that God cares. God cares not only about the things we need but also the things we WANT, as silly as they may be. It was God reminding me that He had my back. He was listening!

Shortly after, I was hired at the job I have now. On the 20th, it will be 3 years!

Giving definitely does more for the person who is giving than the recipient. Thank you for that!

18 JOHANNA I actually gave away both of them. I waited until I got back to work and gave one card to one of my co-workers who has been having a tough time with her health. She is a cancer survivor but was recently diagnosed with cancer once again and work has been tough for her. I gave her the card letting her know I was thinking about her during the conference and that I, along with a few of my student leaders, were praying for her. She smiled and was thankful for the gift!

The second card I gave to my boss. Her husband has been in and out of the hospital due to some issues with his nervous system and she’s been having to juggle work, her husband’s business, and her private life. She’s been on edge lately but I gave her the card as a reminder that there are others that are thinking of her, just as she thinks of others. I told her we were praying for her and her husband also and she was also thankful for the gift! Thank you for giving me the chance to share the cards but also to be able to share God’s love with others!

Featured Story: August 2015 KATIE My best friend and I always like to go on “Starbucks dates” to catch up quick in the midst of our studies for school. Last week, she picked me up and we went. I asked her if she was getting her usual and she nodded yes. I said I’d go get it for her while she waited at a table. I ordered our drinks and inside of the sleeve of her drink I put the Starbucks gift card with a note thanking her for being such a great friend. She was so happy that she started to tear up!

AARON On Thursday, the first morning of Catalyst West, I stopped at Starbucks in the morning. On my way out, a homeless man approached me and asked if I had any spare change. I told him I was sorry, but I didn’t have any cash on me. Later that day, I stopped by your booth and was given the 2 Starbucks cards. The next morning, Friday, I went to the same Starbucks and as I walked in I noticed the same man was there. I walked over and gave him the gift card—he was very grateful.

Featured Story: August 2015 ANDREA I was watching for someone special to give away my extra card. I saw a building receptionist who was doing an amazing job of greeting people while juggling phone calls. She was busy, yet she managed to give each person she encountered excellent customer service, and made them feel important.

I waited until she had a second between calls and approached. I told her I had noticed how she was interacting with people in such a cheerful, friendly manner and I appreciated how she was adding a positive note to people’s day. I gave her the Starbucks card. She was surprised! She said it made her day to realize that someone had noticed her beyond her job of answering questions and giving directions. Her eyes were a little teary as she gave me a hug. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to make someone’s day!

EL ROY Gave my card to a parking lot security guy named Bryan & told him about Jesus.

Featured Story: August 2015 DANIELLE Yesterday I gave away the Starbucks card away while we were in town (we live an hour away from Starbucks). I was hoping to find someone who most likely didn’t have room in the budget for extras like that. After running into a mom with three kids, ages two months to four years old, I knew I had found my recipient.

She was very grateful and said, “I never get to have Starbucks, or coffee outside the house. You’re going to make me cry!” She then asked if I was sure I didn’t need it (we are sleep training our 7 month old). It felt good to be able to bless someone. Thanks for the opportunity.

ALLISON I had a delightful opportunity to give out my Starbucks card to my co-worker and friend Jackie. We’re both clinical therapists and are often busy bees tending to patient needs...so much so that sometimes we forget to take time for ourselves. Giving her this Starbucks card was a friendly reminder of self-care. She’s very grateful! Thank you giving me the opportunity be generous today!

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