What would you do if someone handed you $100?  That was the questions that members of Asbury United Methodist Church in Sioux Falls, South Dakota faced.  Ten members were handed $100 one Sunday morning.

One weekend, instead of just collecting an offering, Sioux Falls Asbury UMC did things a little differently.  The congregation not only received money, but gave away money from the general funds of the church!  Ten people/families volunteered to receive $100 each to be used for the work of God’s Kingdom. 

“The Kingdom Assignment” was based on Jesus’ Parable of the Talents found in Matthew 25:14-30. The parable challenges everyone to use whatever we have been given for God’s purposes.

Those that accepted the assignment had three conditions to consider when deciding what to do with the gift.

1. The money belongs to God – not the individual who received it.   
2. The money should be invested in a way that extends God’s Kingdom (the rule, reign and values of God that we learn through Jesus). Each recipient should try to multiply the gift, but whether the money amount increased or not it was to be used for a good purpose. 
3. Each recipient had approximately 90 days to complete the "Kingdom Assignment" and share the results of their investment in God’s Kingdom. 

So what happened? The decision where to “invest” the money was between the people and God.  People expanded the initial $100 via bake sales, chili feeds, pancake feeds, donations from friends and family, collection of change, Facebook challenge, open mic/coffee house, etc.

Some of the projects that people chose to support included: the Backpack Program, Boys and Girls Club, Bishop Dudley Hospitality House (for Sioux Falls homeless), Humane Society, Habitat for Humanity, Sanford Children’s Hospital (games, books, DVD, toys), Youth Missions, Children’s Inn, NAMI (National Alliance for Mental Illness), knitting caps, scarves, blankets given to various places in Sioux Falls. 

Since handing out the money, Asbury UMC Pastor, Rev. Kip Roozen has witnessed extraordinary generosity and work for God's Kingdom.

“It was amazing to experience how each person used their gifts and talents to extend the Kingdom of God to others,” said Roozen. 

The recipients shared their Kingdom work with the congregation during a recent Sunday worship service.  Plans are underway for another “Kingdom Assignment” in the future.