Why SMI? Cost drove the Cherrys to start sharing
By Samaritan staff · Jun 01, 2013
A file folder with information on three different sharing ministries languished in Douglas Cherry’s office for years until economic realities and spiritual conviction led him to bring his family into Samaritan Ministries International.
The monthly premium on his health insurance policy, with a $10,000 deductible, had hit $500. But reminders about health care sharing continued to come across his desk at Victory Dream Center in Carbondale, Illinois, until he was “willing to take the leap” in 2003.
“I love the idea and the concept of Samaritan, but certainly the cost of health insurance and lack of coverage helped me pull the folder out and pray about it with my wife, Lisa,” Douglas says. “As I looked more into Samaritan, I felt good about the concept and about bearing one another’s burdens and thus fulfilling the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2).
“It’s been fantastic for us to be able to be a part of a believing and praying organization,” he says. “We can stand with others.”
Douglas says that, unlike writing his check to an insurance company, “it’s fun when we write out our two checks every month, it’s fun to know the money is going to someone who is a believer and who has made a choice to live a godly lifestyle.”
The Cherrys send money to their assigned Special Prayer Need every month, Douglas says.
“We just made that a standard procedure,” he says. “I think that one’s the real fun. It’s not necessarily the best comparison, but the regular sharing amount is like the tithe and the Special Prayer Need is like a freewill offering.”
Samaritan membership has worked “off-the-chart good” for the Cherry family, Douglas says.
For instance, the Cherrys couldn’t justify paying for a maternity rider on their health insurance policy, instead paying out of pocket for expenses connected to the births of their first nine children. Their youngest child, Josiah, was born after the family joined Samaritan, though, and his birth was shared.
“Just to see the letters and cards pour in was profound,” Douglas says.