Elizabeth Mae Magill

When Did We See You?

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 21:50:13 GMT

“Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?” … “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these … you did for me.”—Matthew 25:37, 40

An Honest Lenten Study on Money, God, and Faith

Like so many of us, Elizabeth Mae Magill struggles to wrap her head around the tensions involving wealth, responsible planning for the future, and how God wants us to care for those less fortunate than ourselves. How does a Christian with money respond and act in a country where over 36 million people live below the poverty line?

In When Did We See You?, Magill invites us into an honest conversation about faith, money, and community, posing hard questions about poverty, wealth, and what it means to follow Jesus in an economically divided world. With candor, grace, and deep pastoral insight, Magill wrestles with her own material privilege and encourages us to do the same.

Grounded in scripture and the author's own life and experience, this study explores how wealth shapes our relationship with God and neighbor and calls us back to Christ's radical way of love, justice, and solidarity with the poor. Reminding us that all that we have belongs to God, Magill leads us through a revelatory journey as we consider:

Our relationship to money and concerns about having enough
Biblical teachings on money, charity, justice
A faithful response to those in our community who have less
How spiritual poverty brings us closer to God and others
What Jesus' teachings call us to do—and who they call us to become

When Did We See You? can be used for individual study or small groups, and includes:

A chapter for each week of Lent, with reflection questions for each day
Litanies for Ash Wednesday and Good Friday
Stories from real congregations wrestling with poverty and hope
Concrete ideas you and your community can use to alleviate poverty

In a world of both abundance and inequality, When Did We See You? guides us through a crucial and timely conversation about our money, economic justice, and God's call for a world with enough for all. This Lent, may we have eyes to truly see Christ in our neighbors, and respond with love and action.

When Did We See You? is perfect for:

Lenten small-group studies
Church-wide reading programs
Pastors and leaders looking to open dialogue on money, justice, and discipleship

When Did We See You?

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 20:06:06 GMT

“Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?” … “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these … you did for me.”—Matthew 25:37, 40

An Honest Lenten Study on Money, God, and Faith

Our relationship to money and concerns about having enough
Biblical teachings on money, charity, justice
A faithful response to those in our community who have less
How spiritual poverty brings us closer to God and others
What Jesus' teachings call us to do—and who they call us to become

When Did We See You? can be used for individual study or small groups, and includes:

A chapter for each week of Lent, with reflection questions for each day
Litanies for Ash Wednesday and Good Friday
Stories from real congregations wrestling with poverty and hope
Concrete ideas you and your community can use to alleviate poverty

When Did We See You? is perfect for:

Lenten small-group studies
Church-wide reading programs
Pastors and leaders looking to open dialogue on money, justice, and discipleship

Five Loaves, Two Fish, Twelve Volunteers

Sat, 14 May 2022 04:10:35 GMT

Sixty-two percent of food pantries and meal programs in the United States are faith-based. Most of these ministries are transactional; people needing food interact with church volunteers to earn access to direct service.

Elizabeth Magill advocates relational ministry as a better model for food ministry. People donating food or money eat with the people who need food and get to know them as they serve alongside them. Those needing food share all aspects of the ministry, including planning, setting up, leading, serving, and cleaning. As volunteers become better acquainted with those they serve, they can form deep, meaningful relationships, creating a new way to be the church.

Five Loaves, Two Fish, Twelve Volunteers tells the stories of eight churches that share food ministry with people who need their services. Full of practical advice, this book emphasizes that building relationships and offering radical welcome is more important work for churches than efficiency or order. It helps congregations evaluate their outreach and advises them on how to do it differently.

Five Loaves, Two Fish, Twelve Volunteers

Thu, 05 May 2022 20:07:36 GMT