Finding the balance between creating sustainable relationships and effective programs is an ongoing battle for us at Mission: St. Louis. While the tendency for nonprofits is to want to create knock-out programs, at the core of who we are is a desire to create relationships to help foster transformation in the neighborhoods we serve. It's for this reason the following story was so helpful to us as an organization.

One of our supporters called us a few weeks back with the desire to buy toys for a family this Christmas and wanted to know if we knew of anyone they could adopt. They knew about our Affordable Christmas program and our hesitation about handing out free gifts to residents in our neighborhood, but they wanted to do something extra special for someone with whom we already have a relationship. We decided to help find a family that could really benefit from the benevolence.

We identified a family we wanted to offer this service, a family with which we have a pre-existing relationship. When we called the mother of this family, her response to our offer reminded me why empowerment is such a powerful agent of change. She was glad that we thought of her but turned down the offer of free gifts. "I appreciate the call, but If I had to choose between the two, I would prefer fewer gifts and to be able to buy them myself at Affordable Christmas" she told us.

At first, we were amazed at her response. How awesome! But then, we thought about it: This is exactly why we exist. We want those we serve to have their own role in providing for their family, even if it is something like gifts at Christmas time. Her desire to come Affordable Christmas reinforces the important, often-forgotten fact that people do not always need hand-outs. Many families merely need opportunity. We strive to provide that opportunity, and it is refreshing when the people we exist to serve teach us what it looks like.

My prayer is that we all remember the lesson that this mother taught us as we head into this joyous holiday season. Merry Christmas to you and your family from Mission: St. Louis.