Sermon Illustrations
Crowdfunding: The New Financial Aid
More students than ever are looking to other people for help paying their college bills. But this time, they're asking strangers. GoFundMe, a crowdsourcing site used to solicit donations for different causes, reports that about 130,000 educational accounts have been created in 2015, raising over $20 million. "It's really surprising to me that some people I have never met were willing to help me out and contribute to my education," said Victor Sosa, a 20-year old student at Alma College in Michigan. Another GoFundMe user, 20-year-old Carley Schwoerer, called it an "especially strange and humbling experience."
Possible Preaching Angle:
Yes, indeed, it's strange and humbling to receive a gift you didn't earn. We've heard that somewhere before. GoFundMe has also demonstrated that plenty of people do want to give—if they believe in the cause.
Source:
Herb Weisbaum, “Crowdfunding College: More Students Depend on Kindness of Strangers,” NBC News (8-31-15)