Pastor Asks Congregation For Treasured Items, For Charity Auction

A local pastor devised a way for parishioners to part with some of their most treasured items, while they learn from the experience.

Family heirlooms, cut glass, dozens of antiques, golf clubs, a closet full of suits and several hand made quilts, are just some of what was donated by about 200 families to Union Church in Avon Park.

It will all go to auction, to benefit the needy at 1:30 p.m., Sunday, at Union Church, 106 N. Butler Ave.

Chris Hess and Jo Young were charged with cataloging and estimating the value of the donations. They also collected dozens of stories from gift givers.

Hess was especially intrigued by a seven shot repeating rifle made in 1865. Included with the vintage piece, still in excellent condition, are bullets and a documented history of the antique.

A former owner of the original Spencer repeating rifle said the gun was sold for $3 in 1941 to settle a debt for a small corn purchase, according to Hess. Similar guns recently sold for $3,000.

Bill Breylinger, senior pastor, considered the auction idea after church member Steve Hall asked him whether the church could use his services as a professional auctioneer.

Breylinger then brought the Bible to life when he addressed the congregation a couple of Sundays ago about, "The Rich, Young Man."

The pastor sermonized about the rich, young man who asked Jesus what he needed to do to go to heaven. The rich, young man was told to relinquish all his material possessions, but he couldn't do it.

The congregation was asked to consider the plight of the rich, young man by donating something of cash value, along with a personal emotional attachment, for the church to auction off.

"We challenged them to not only give items of monetary value - but value in the heart," said Breylinger. "And they're certainly not being so hard on the rich, young man who was asked to give up everything."

Hess learned to "not get caught up with too much materialism."

"We're investing in material things over God, instead of investing in the kingdom," said Hess. "It's not about us, it's about those coming behind us."

Since the rich man was told to give the proceeds to the poor, Breylinger chose to use the auction's earnings for the church's local mission work and to Samaritan's Touch Care Center, Church Service Center and Habitat for Humanity.

The pastor included himself in the giving and will auction off a collection of limited edition beer steins given to him by his mother.

"The things we possess, possess us," said Breylinger. "We're here for a short time on earth. You can't take anything with you and this helps somebody else.

"What good is a Rembrandt painting if you have it wrapped up in your garage?

Breylinger regularly tells church members that "everything here is red tagged."

"The only things that matter are how you honor God and how you bless people."

Auctioneer Hall expects that collectors and buyers might find great deals bidding against church members, since regular auctioneers might shy away from a Sunday sale.

Some who donated might want their belongings back. Hall saw nothing wrong with that since parishioners will learn a lesson, and donate financially.

"If they brought it, and they're ready to pay whatever it takes to get it back, then they're helping both ways," said Hall.

The public is invited to visit an open house at Union Church that includes lunch at noon, with the auction at 1:30 p.m.