In May 1940, God began to show Herbert W. Armstrong the need to preach the gospel of God’s Kingdom to all the world. However, at the time of this expanded vision, the broadcast was limited to a few small stations in Oregon. He became intensely focused on reaching new territory. Seattle was the logical area for expansion, but at that time it was financially impossible.

God always provides a way. The Seattle broadcast was started by an unusual sacrifice from a family who listened to the radio broadcast in Clarke County, Washington. This family had lost everything in the great drought of 1934-1935. After that, they had migrated from South Dakota to Washington and had made a down payment on a farm a few miles outside of Vancouver.

They managed to build a shell of a house with the intention to complete it later. Their home had no interior walls, no real flooring—just a subfloor, no siding and no stairs to the second story. With no interior walls, they had just one large room on each level. The children had to climb a ladder each night to sleep in the upstairs room as the parents stayed downstairs.

Naturally the man was working hard to improve their living conditions. Over a few years he had saved up $40 to purchase lumber for interior walls. But when the family heard of the urgent need to expand God’s Work, and of Mr. Armstrong’s drive to broadcast in Seattle, they sent in all their savings to support the new initiative.

Stunned by their sacrifice and feeling it was too weighty an offering to accept, Mr. Armstrong personally drove out to their home to return the money. But they refused. Tears filled the woman’s eyes as she explained: “Mr. Armstrong, of course it would be nice for us to get up partitions and have separate rooms—but that is not an absolute need. We just could not use this money for a temporary material home, when it will help get Christ’s message of a home for all eternity in God’s Kingdom to many thousands of people!” (Autobiography of Herbert W. Armstrong). This family was seeking the Kingdom first, and they trusted God to provide for them in return (Matthew 6:31-33).

Incidentally, soon after this family gave their hard-earned $40, they were blessed financially and were able to finish their home.

Throughout his ministry, stunning sacrifices such as this moved the Work forward. Later, other supporters mortgaged homes, sold properties, gave up wants, and delayed needs so the Work could grow. God often used personal sacrifices from members and co-workers to save the Work from disaster.

Mr. Armstrong wrote, “God Almighty will back financially—to an extent almost beyond human belief—any person or institution that will place himself or itself unreservedly and vigorously under His direction! … We have to learn that God does most things with us, and through us as His instruments. He only does for us what we are utterly unable to do ourselves” (ibid).

Our Father is still giving us the opportunity to sacrifice for His Work. If we are willing and remember to seek first the Kingdom of God, He will always provide and bless us, and His Work, beyond what we can imagine.