Brad Formsma
By Jessica Chacko, 700 Club Interactive
CBN.com –LEARNING TO GIVE
Brad Formsma says his first exposure to a life of giving and generosity was through his grandfather who told him "you make a living by what you earn and a life by what you give" (a famous quotation from Winston Churchill). For many years Brad and his wife pursued prosperity and the American dream but found it ultimately unfulfilling. They gave but they said they felt "burned out" by giving out of a sense of duty. So they started looking for ways to give that were in line with their hearts. As they did, their joy increased. He says, "We were discovering the excitement of giving because it was our idea." It was not long before Brad and his wife were "addicted to generosity," it produced so much joy in their lives. Brad wanted to share this new-found joy with others. He sensed God tell him to encourage people in their giving and that he would have the opportunity to influence many people toward a greater life of joy. Soon this word came to pass and Brad started serving with a non-profit called, Generous Giving. He ultimately sold his own start-up landscaping company (that he loved) for full-time non-profit work.
Their enthusiasm for giving only increased. The more Brad told his everyday life encounters with giving, the more people were inspired. One day, Brad and his family decided to donate bikes to a Sudanese family who had their bikes stolen. In their broken English, the Sudanese family said, "I like bike! I like bike!" As he shared this story with others, he started getting "I like" stories from his friends when they did random acts of generosity. It became the code word that they would text each other when a random act of generosity had happened. Someone who just gave Taco Bell to a stranger sent an "I like Taco Bell" text to his friends. Someone who donated coats texted "I like coats!" to his friends, encouraging and inspiring each other to keep on giving. "I like" became code for "I just made someone's day."
The "I like" phrase was so catchy that a film producer made a short film on what they were doing. In addition, Brad established an NGO called, I Like Giving with a website called, www.ILikeGiving.com where people can share stories and videos about their giving adventures and encourage each other with their testimonies of generosity.
WHY GIVING
There is now scientific research confirming that it is more satisfying to give than to receive. These studies show that giving to others not only makes people happier but can make people healthier as well. Brad says, "It is as if we're created to give."
Stephen Post of Stony Brook University, NY, is Brad's friend and a doctor who agrees that giving improves a person's overall happiness. He even claims that it will help people live longer. He says that giving can look like many different things (forgiveness, courage, humor, respect, humor, compassion, loyalty, listening and creativity) and will connect us with other people and create life within our families and communities.
GETTING STARTED
Pray for an opportunity to come and seize it when it does come. Don't make it a big project, sometimes the best and most meaningful gifts might be as simple as a compliment. Avoid debt, fear and busyness, be bold and even risk the potential awkwardness.
Prayer to Get Started:
"I want to experience the joy that comes from giving. I ask that today an opportunity to give will come my way, that I will recognize it when it does, and that I will have the courage to jump in and give."
GIVING FILTERS
Although Brad grew up with his grandfather as a great example of giving, he says, "Other negative associations with giving crept in over the years." He refers to these negative associations as "filters" towards a generous life. These filters can cause hesitation in our giving. They include thoughts like, "They'll just waste the money if I give it to them," "I shouldn't give unless I can get a tax deduction," "This isn't a good time," "It feels uncomfortable or awkward," "They don't really need it." Many of these filters can be developed through past negative experiences. Some people may even respond to your giving with rudeness, ungratefulness or even aggression. Brad encourages people to give using wisdom but to give unconditionally, regardless of the person's initial reaction or lack of gratitude. The two biggest barriers to living generously are the beliefs that "we are owed something by the world and that, compared to others, we don't have anything to give."
TACTICS
Start with what you have. We cannot give what we do not have. Although, we may make some initial mistakes, and people may be hesitant to receive from you but "Sometimes we need to give more than they need to receive." Brad also suggests getting people involved with giving-"whether it's a manager, waiter, or a clerk" get them involved in your giving to someone "They love to be in on something exciting" and so does family!
FAMILY COMMUNITY & THE WORLD
One of the most fulfilling aspects of giving for Brad has been watching his kids learn the joy of giving. His daughter Gracie decided she wanted to donate some of her stuffed animals to children in need. This had such a huge impact on her life as a young girl. Their son Danny even got involved with talking to his parents about selling their convertible car to donate the money to a charity in India. Brad says that involving children in giving is important. They have volunteered as a family at various organizations in their local community, neighborhood and school. They share testimonies with their friends to inspire and encourage other people in the community to give and live generously. On an international level, the children were given the opportunity to each choose a child to sponsor through Compassion International, where they can write letters and send small gifts to the child they support. They are learning how to live a more fulfilling life from an early age and how to inspire other families to give both locally and internationally. They have also inspired their community to come together and support people in need. He says that a generous lifestyle has the power to bring communities together in a materialistic self-focused culture.
Small acts of generosity can have a massive impact on the world. The question Brad poses is, "are we willing?" One act of generosity can have an immeasurable ripple effect but we have to respond to the nudge of the Holy Spirit.