So far as I know every church has it’s “Deacon’s fund” or something similar specifically to aid those in the congregation or the neighborhood with urgent financial needs. You are correct, had she asked for help she would have received it.
The fact that she stole the money tells me she wanted no accountability for the way she chose to spend it once she had it.
re: “The fact that she stole the money tells me she wanted no accountability for the way she chose to spend it once she had it.”
You are likely correct. When I was full time on staff at a church several years ago, we had a food pantry that was stocked to provide emergency food for families going through hard times.
Nearly every day we had people stopping in asking for financial help. We had to adopt a policy of never giving out cash, but helping with whatever the need was. If gasoline, we took them to get gas, if rent, we went to their landlord and paid, if groceries, we took them to the market, etc. When people found out we wouldn’t give cash, they usually left not too happy.
The most memorable and head shaking requests I ever got was:
1. “My color tv was broken and would the church buy them a new one?”
2. When dropping off some groceries, the “man of the house” asked me for some extra cash for some “personal items”. When I asked what kind of personal items, - well, “you know, I could use some smokes and a six pack”. At first I thought he was joking, but then he wasn’t. I politely declined.
3. Once had someone call me at the church and demanded that someone in our church store his Mercedes for him for several months (free of course). And, it had to be in an acceptable location and secure facility. He hung up on me when I kept asking him if he was serious.