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Remember When |
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| Did you know
that in 1987 I was married? Well certainly that has little to do with
our campaign! But recently my mother sent Nancy and I a gift that listed
the "on this day in history... 1987". Did you know that in
1987 a loaf of bread cost 55 cents? Milk was $1.98 a gallon, first class
stamps were 22 cents each and gas was 96 cents a gallon! Ah, those were
the days. But even more amazing is what happened a hundred years earlier
when our fellow members of First Church decided to build the sanctuary
we are now sitting in.
In 1888, 52 giving units pledged $23,150 to erect First Church at the corner of Market and Fourth Streets. Factoring in inflation with today’s dollars, that pledge would equal $436,792. The smallest recorded pledge was $10, or $189 in today’s market; with the largest recorded pledge being $10,000, or today’s equivalent of $188,680. The average pledge of those 52 giving units was $445 - equivalent to $8,400 today. Those numbers are pretty impressive as they stand. But when you consider the many hardships these earlier pioneers were facing in 1888, the numbers become even more impressive. Their faith must have been tremendous. Indeed they did move mountains, and build mighty fortresses in God's name. We are doing fine with our current campaign. Just about what we expected to do. Of course we didn't compare our goals with the reality of 1888. If we had, we might have set our sights much higher. After all, few of us are suffering the daily hardships that our forefathers were - who managed to see the importance of giving to their campaign. Our current campaign is also important. It will allow us to continue with the work that these fine ladies and gentlemen began so many years ago. If you have not completed your pledge card, please do so now; and consider the pledging of 1888. Remember, in another 110 years, your $10 will have made a huge impact. - Randall Presswood |
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