For the third time in 16 months, Crafton United Presbyterian Church has received a generous financial gift in the mail from an anonymous donor.

The latest gift is a $10,000 cashier's check. The church received $10,000 last summer and $46,000 in the fall of 2008. All of the donations were anonymous cashier's checks from a local bank and all were sent by mail to the church on Bradford Avenue.

The latest check arrived in an envelope with no return address and no letter inside. Church officials believe all $66,000 came from the same person because the hand-printed address on the envelopes appears to be identical.

"We are very excited and we feel affirmed," said the Rev. Dr. Edward Bowen, pastor of the church. "We feel the person appreciates what we have done with the money" received earlier.

The first cashier's check was accompanied by a hand-printed note that said, "Please use this money however God directs you in his service."

Church leaders have decided to use half of the current gift for the congregation's youth ministry and the other half for the church's outreach ministry.

The youth ministry will use $5,000 to fund at least 30 scholarships so that children can attend Crestfield, the Presbyterian camp near Slippery Rock. The Crafton church also hopes to take up to 35 children on the annual summer mission trip.

The other $5,000 will be used in the outreach ministry, which assists people with crisis situations including preparing and delivering meals to households with special needs such as a hospitalization, a birth or a temporary loss of employment.

The first check has been used to hire a registered nurse who makes home visits to people with health problems. The nurse also oversees health screenings, including blood pressure checks.

That program, started in May 2009, is doing well and is expected to continue, Rev. Bowen said. "We have enough funds for at least two years."

As for the anonymous donor, "the person was even willing to forgo the tax deduction for charitable donations," the pastor said.

Asked if there is any religious precedent for anonymous donations, Rev. Bowen said, "The gospel of Matthew does include a passage that says when you give don't let your right hand know what your left hand is doing."

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