FIRST FRUITS

Nehemiah 10:35

“We also assume responsibility for bringing to the house of the Lord each year the firstfruits of our crops and of every fruit tree." NIV84
First Fruits Giving Is Now Closed

WHAT IS THE FIRSTFRUITS?

First Fruits is giving an offering to the Lord first at the beginning of the year in anticipation and faith that God will bless, protect, and provide for you in this new year. Watch these video resources to get a better understanding of the first fruits offering before you make the decision to give to God first.

Testimony Stories

Want to share your firstfruits story?
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Marvin & Dorothy

Jennifer

Tecla

Breanna and Keith

Virginia

Lois

from “S”

I honestly was not planning to share this testimony but felt compelled to show how faithful to God is to His Word.

I worked a part-time job on weekends at a local major hospital system in 2022 and I decided in November that I would give my first paycheck of the new year as my First Fruits offering. On January 14, 2023 I gave a few dollars more than my 1st paycheck to total $2000 for my First Fruits offering.

By the spring of 2023, I had decided to go back to school to pursue my Doctor of Nursing Practice. I was accepted into a doctoral program in May. A sister in Christ prayed for my success and that I wouldn’t have to get loans, or even pay anything. I thought to myself, “that would be nice” but I honestly did not ask God for it thinking it was too much to ask, and so I planned to continue to work PT to pay for everything. By June I resigned from the PT job realizing that I can’t work full time, go to school full time, and work weekends, too.

The first orientation meeting for the Fall semester was via Zoom in early August. During the Zoom meeting the professor hosting the meeting told us about a grant program and said, “by the way, there are some funds available from the State of Maryland. In fact, everyone in this Zoom meeting is eligible for a grant taking care of all tuition and fees and will be paid in full for the duration of the program.” The total award will be just under $75,000!! I was praising the Lord to myself throughout the meeting! God is SO good! He even gives us things we dare not ask for! God is faithful! Like it says in Ephesians 3:20, He is able to do exceedingly and abundantly more than we could ever ask or think. Amen!

from “R”

I would like to anonymously share the blessing that God has done this year. I gave my first fruits offering on New Year’s Eve. This past week, I received a letter from the federal government canceling all of my federal student loans through the public service loan forgiveness program. I had completed my application about 6 months ago and have had a long and frustrating process to get to approval. I was most recently told that I would have to wait until Aug 2023 to see if my application had been approved. However, the Lord saw that this was the right timing for my application to be approved for 6 figures of debt. 3 days later, I received an additional surprise of an unexpected refund check in the mail for overpaid student loan payments. I apparently had overpaid on my student loans and was eligible for a refund. God is good and I will continue to praise him for his never-ending gift of grace and mercy.

from “M”

I wanted to share my first fruits testimony. First I had already been convicted on giving to God first in 2022 so this application sealed it for me and I stepped out on faith to contribute and continue to do so throughout the year. I have been giving the first from my earnings back to God. In doing s, He had revealed I had more than enough, and needed to manage what He had given me much better (which i began working to do). I am one of many that was dreading the restart of student loan repayments. I have $200k in debt and was hoping to have enough credit to have maybe 3 years of payments (out of 10) remaining because I work for the government and qualify for the public service loan forgiveness program. I had recently refinanced my loans which meant I had to start back at payment 1 under the original program. Well, I received a letter in December saying i had about 5.5 more years for which i was thankful because it wasn’t the full ten I would have originally needed to pay. I then received a letter early February saying I had 5 payments. I just checked my mail and received another letter saying my loans were fully forgiven and received a refund check for overpayment!  God is so good!  He had already revealed to me that those restarted payments were covered but I never expected to have them fully forgiven and paid! Thank you so much for starting this devotion in action with Bridgeway and I look forward to what my Father has in store for me as I continue to strengthen my relationship with Him and trust in Him fully. May God Be With You Always.

First Fruits Non-Profit Grant

Want to see where your first fruits donations went? Check out our 2023 Annual Report for the list of organizations that were given a portion of your first fruits.

Sermon Series: The Better Gift

Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.
Genesis 4: 2 – 5

Giving From Your First

Ready for a word today? Founding and Senior Pastor Dr. David Anderson is speaking on priorities and coming to God with your best as an offering before Him.

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Giving From Your Faith

When you give to God from your faith and with a heart of gratitude, God is glorified, others are overflowing with thanksgiving, and you are blessed! Come hear from Dr. David Anderson as he teaches us about “Giving From Your Faith.”

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Giving Beyond Your Fears

“What you believe determines what you expect.” Do you have the expectation of prosperity in your life, or are you expecting poverty? Come hear from Dr. David Anderson as he closes The Better Gift series and teaches us about “Giving Beyond Your Fears.”

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