A final act of kindness

Merry Christmas from First Christian Church!

That message accompanied almost half a million dollars donated to 30 local nonprofits last week, a stunning sum and an astonishing “last hurrah” from members of a congregation that is no more.

The Coeur d’Alene church on North Fourth Street began in 1905 and was active for 107 years, essentially disbanding in 2012. Along the way, the church’s executive board paid off the building. After renting the facility to Real Life Ministries for several years, First Christian sold it to Real Life last February. Members decided that the best thing they could possibly do with the $425,000 was to give it all away.

“I think our forefathers would prefer to have all this money go back into the community they loved,” said Peggy Miller, president of First Christian Church’s executive board. “It’s the spirit of giving, although the spirit of giving should be every day, not just Christmas.”

The 30 nonprofits who benefited from the massive act of kindness help literally thousands of people every year. Post Falls and Coeur d’Alene police departments got help. So did Civil Air Patrol and The Guardians Foundation. They were far from alone. Other recipients included: Family Promise of North Idaho; Trinity Group Homes; St. Vincent de Paul North Idaho; Anchor House; Safe Passage Violence Prevention Center (formerly the Women’s Center of Coeur d’Alene); Boys and Girls Club of Kootenai County; Grand Chapter of Idaho Order of the Eastern Star; Union Gospel Mission; Press Christmas for All; Post Falls Meals on Wheels; Coeur d’Alene Meals on Wheels; Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; Project Linus; Children’s Village; Search and Rescue; Toys for Tots; Disabled American Veterans Fort Sherman Chapter No. 9; Idaho Drug Free Youth; Special Needs Bowling; Post Falls Food Bank; Post Falls Recreation Program; Post Falls Special Needs Program; Special Olympics/Kootenai County; and the Community Action Partnership Coeur d’Alene Food Bank.

While many in the community were completely taken aback by the kindness behind the distribution of wealth, maybe they shouldn’t have been. We think the loving members of this congregation simply but whole-heartedly answered the question, “What would Jesus do?”