Reflections: A Personal Journey of Generosity with Jami Hood

by Jami Hood

Across the country, NCF’s team members are some of the brightest, most passionate experts in charitable giving. We do what we do because we share your biblical view of generosity, which inspires our daily work. We know that everyone is on their own journey to live more generously. We’re here to walk alongside your family as you navigate giving, and we take that honor seriously.

At NCF, we’re often motivated by what we’ve experienced on our own generosity journeys. This month, Jami Hood, NCF Administrative Coordinator for the Heartland and Rocky Mountains teams, shares her story. Jami’s journey includes a dad with tools on loan, moving to the Middle East with a newborn, and returning home without an identified job and much faith. 

Jami, what or who helped shape your beliefs about biblical generosity?

I grew up in a Christian household, where my parents’ demonstrated their faith for me in very real ways. Tithing was always very important to my dad, and so was financially supporting missionaries. He taught me at an early age that biblical generosity is giving to God what’s already His, and that when we put God first in giving, He shows up for us in amazing ways. 

What is one way you saw God show up for your family early in life? 

My dad was a school teacher, often teaching in low-income areas. I witnessed my parents’  generosity repeatedly, but not just with their already limited finances. For example, my dad would loan his truck and tools to neighbors, open our home to international students, and buy shoes for my dad’s students who didn’t have any. As they modeled generosity over the years, I saw God bless us abundantly. 

God’s presence was evident early on! How did His presence follow you as you grew older? 

As a teenager, I felt a calling to help the poor, which wasn’t a surprise given I had watched my parents serve those with less my whole life. I followed that calling on church mission trips serving in Mexico. Feeling led to work with subsistence farmers by teaching agricultural practices, I earned a degree in plant sciences. After college, I continued my training in South Florida and Haiti and eventually earned a master’s degree in Agriculture from Colorado State University. I met my husband, Bristow, at my home church. He regularly served in the Middle East, and after visiting with him there, I fell in love with the country. Good thing (or “God thing”!) because our home church in Fort Collins, Colorado, asked us to pastor a church in Amman, Jordan. We moved there with a four-month-old and stayed for 11 years. After years of watching my parents support missionaries, Bristow and I were now on the receiving end of giving. As missionaries, we relied on the support of others to be able to live and work there. 

 Where does your generosity go today? Which causes are important to you?

I strongly believe in the local church, and that it’s important to belong to one church and give and serve faithfully. One way Bristow and I serve our church is to lead Alpha, a course that creates a space where people are excited to bring their friends for a conversation about Jesus. I serve as a volunteer worship leader at our church, too. Additionally, we give towards missions and relief work with a special heart for efforts in the Middle East. 

Even though our kids grew up in the Middle East, we did our best to shelter them from the harshness of what was happening around them. Couple that with the fact that they play competitive sports – which is all about them. It’s important to us that they understand life isn’t always easy or self-serving. We just joined the Young Men’s Service League, a program for moms and their high school sons to serve together. We’ll serve our community in various ways, 20 hours a year for four years. I can’t wait!

Tell us about your journey from Jordan to NCF? 

In 2018, we felt a strong directive from God to come home to the US. We didn’t have jobs or a permanent home, so in many ways, coming back was a more significant step of faith than moving overseas. It was such a cool time of trusting God. Our kids got to witness God provide for a house through our prayers, a job, and a dog – all in ways that only He could orchestrate. Bristow eventually took a pastoral job with our home church in Fort Collins, while I spent my time helping our family adjust to our home country. In 2021, I found my way to NCF.  

How do you uniquely contribute to building the Kingdom through NCF?

For so many years, I was the recipient of generosity while we served in the Middle East, which can be incredibly humbling at times. Now, I get to help mobilize resources through biblical generosity to those who most need it. As Administrative Coordinator, I serve the Heartland and Rocky Mountains teams by managing multiple tasks while assisting the team with administrative, giver, and event support. 

At NCF, I’m at the frontlines of this modern-day generosity movement in a different way than when I was doing mission work. It’s important for me to feel like my work is meaningful. It blows me away how God continues to put to work His calling on my life to help those in need. 

Start a conversation with the Heartland team to explore your unique giving opportunities and questions.