International (MNN) — You've probably heard of "radical giving" or "sacrificial giving." But what does that look like? For Ali Eastburn, it was letting go of her wedding ring.
Struck by the water crisis in Africa, Eastburn felt God's call on her heart to sell her wedding ring and donate the proceeds to help build a well with Living Water International. A friend joined in the cause, and out of their efforts was born a ministry: With This Ring.
The ministry encourages others to give sacrificially, as well. "We teach radical giving in Jesus' name, and we use the proceeds to continue what we're doing in teaching radical giving and to dig water wells in Africa," explains Eastburn.
People give year-round, donating the proceeds of wedding rings, gold, precious gems, and other valuable items to With This Ring, which gives most of their proceeds to Living Water.
Perhaps the most exciting time of year for this ministry and those involved, however, is the With This Ring auction. Donors get their valuables appraised, donate them to the ministry, and buyers bid on the items online. This year's auction starts this Monday, January 24.
The program not only allows buyers to put their money toward building a well rather than toward a retailer, but it also allows donors the opportunity to be obedient to Christ in a radical way. "It is the most incredible thing I think you'll experience in generosity, because you're not giving something that's a leftover; you're giving your first fruit and something that does cost us something," explains Eastburn. "So I would challenge people to do it."
Since the auction begins Monday, donors will have to act soon. Visit www.withthisring.org to be sure you complete all the necessary steps to donate your rings or other goods.
Or, as you think about buying a Valentine's present or a special gift for someone you love this year, consider putting the money toward wells and the Gospel. To peruse the items up for bid before the auction, visit biddingforgood.com/withthisring.
This year, a special donor has covered With This Ring's overhead costs to allow 100 percent of auction proceeds to go directly to Living Water. For every $10,000 earned, Living Water can build one life-giving well. And for every four wells built, they'll build a fifth. No matter how much is raised, every single dollar will go toward spreading the Gospel by providing for practical needs.
Lives have been completely transformed as people have become radical givers for Christ. Eastburn tells one inspiring story of a wealthy woman who donated her wedding ring to With This Ring. Listen to Eastburn describe the woman's overwhelming transformation here.
