God will Provide

Growing up in a Disciples family of five living on his father’s meager earnings as a button maker in a Manhattan factory, former DCEF Board member, William “Willie” Garcia remembers:  His parents always found a way to pay the bills AND honor a tithe to the church.

A close brush with death as a child gave Willie the sense that God was calling him for something.

“The doctors told my parents only a miracle could save me,” he says. “Here I am. That’s why I am so grateful to God. Anything I do, I put it in his hands.”

He joined the DCEF Board when he saw the value in the work of making affordable loans available to congregations.

“DCEF was able to do a lot to upkeep the temple, when churches didn’t have enough to do it on their own. Banks usually won’t help congregations out or give them a low interest rate on their loan.”

Willie and Lourdes, his wife of 40 years, continue to tithe even in retirement. They support the Annual Fund of DCEF, assuring that Disciples congregations will continue to have support when they need help with their capital building projects.

“You don’t fool around with the tithing,” he said, like his father before him. “God will provide.”