Kids often sell lemonade to earn some cash for a much-wanted item like a bike or a video game.  That was not the case on a recent Tuesday morning. Two kids, sitting on the corner selling lemonade in Belle Fourche, S.D., decided that the profits from their sales needed to be given to the church.

Photo: Two friends (seated right and standing) and a helper sell lemonade by Belle Fourche UMC. They gave the funds to the chruch to help others as they thought Jesus would do. Photo courtesy of Belle Fourche UMC.

Two kids, the nephews of a youth pastor in town, were looking for something to do. So they decided they would have a lemonade stand. Together, one age 6 the other 7, made the product, set up the table and put up a sign —25 cents for each glass of lemonade. The customers started coming and so did the money.

The two boys had set up shop on the corner by Belle Fourche United Methodist Church. So after they had collected some cash they decided to go into the church and approach the church secretary. 

“The two boys came into the office of the church and said they wanted to give the money from the lemonade stand to the church,” said the church secretary at Belle Fourche UMC. “I told them they should keep the money. They earned it. But they said they wanted to give the money to people that needed it. They said they knew Jesus would like that.”

The boys spent an entire morning selling and came into the church with their cash earnings three times. The total profit was just over thirty dollars, not a huge amount of money but, a huge impact.  Many people spend hours, days and years studying how to be a disciple. Sometimes the answer is— just do what you think Jesus would like.

Rev. Bob Duemig, Belle UMC was out of town when the lemonade stand took place. “I came back into town and found out about it,” said Duemig. “It is pretty amazing to see these kids' gifts. They just wanted to give back. They are not members of our church but are certainly good examples for us all.”

Duemig reported the funds would be used to help some children in need in the Belle Fourche community.