Sometimes when I am sitting at Starbucks typing up emails, writing letters, and making phone calls I wonder why in the world I am doing what I am doing.. I go through these thoughts: “Is raising support a Campus Outreach made-up thing?” “Is this really biblical?” “Why do we have to do this?” “I don’t want these people to think I am only after their money” “I give up!” To be honest, these thoughts cycle through my brain about 25/8. I got to a point last week where I felt so defeated and didn’t want to make another phone call or write another email.. So I decided to listen to a sermon.. well I have recently been soaking up all of the podcasts from Ben Stuart’s Breakaway Ministry on the campus of Texas A&M. I scrolled down the sermon topics and right before my eyes was “Funding The Mission.” How relevant! God used this message in many ways to reshape my mindset towards this momentary struggle of support raising and I would love to share some things I learned. Ben addressed the book of Philippians in the New Testament as being a thank you letter to the people of Philippi who had been supporting Paul in his mission. Paul begins his letter by thanking what he calls his “partners in the gospel…” I love that idea of partnership. Paul wasn’t moving from place to place alone and poor for the sake of the Gospel. It was Paul plus his senders doing the mission of God together. Even while Paul was thrown into prison for a time, he was encouraged knowing that people were praying for him and supporting him in his mission: “I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that you were concerned for me (Phil. 4:10).” This is sweet to me in so many ways.. that I have friends that are working corporate jobs, who still are passionate about college students coming to know the Lord, and are willing to partner in this mission with me in prayer and in financial offerings. They may be in other cities and may not have the opportunity to even meet the women I will be discipling at Georgia Tech, but their concern blesses me and brings me so much encouragement. Another thing I love about Paul is.. he points to the fact that he isn't just out for their money. He is wanting to provide an opportunity for the people to take part in this sweet exchange: Laying down money to store up treasures in Heaven. What does that mean? Well.. Ben Stuart put it plainly, “Money will not be the ranking in heaven as it is on Earth. Money was meant to be stewarded unto God to reach the only things that will matter in heaven.. people’s souls." That was a drop the mic kinda moment for me.. What are we holding onto money for? Is it my security or is Christ? Do I care for souls as much as I care about how much is in my savings account? This conviction leads me to pray for a more generous heart. Additionally, Paul says, “Not that I seek the gift, but the fruit that increases to your credit.” What does that mean? Well it is not so much the gift but the GIVING that gave pleasure to the heart of Paul. God could have used any number of means to bring him support. He gave a raven to feed Elijah.. he provided manna in the desert. I mean, he is God!!! His real interest is in the spiritual fruit that comes into their lives when they exercise giving.. That the more generous these people are, the more they lean into God to provide, and the more the begin to look and act like our generous Savior. Paul cared more about these people growing to trust Jesus more with their lives and their money than he cared about the monetary gift given to him. Finally, Paul closes the book of Philippians with this: “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” When we give generously, we experience the riches in Heaven. We can give with freedom knowing that God provides for even the birds in the air (Matthew 6:26). It may be scary for me to give my money away knowing that my car always has an issue every time I take it in for an oil change, but I trust that my God will supply all that I need! As I push through the last bit of support raising, I am praying that this becomes less about me and the uncomfortable feelings, fears, and awkwardness that comes and more about Jesus, and the sweet opportunity I have to partner in the Gospel together with so many of my friends, family members, friends of friends, etc.! If you have any interest in hearing more about what I am doing in the Fall or want to partner, PLEASE reach out to me. In my “About” tab, I have a place where you can send me a message, and I would love to hear from you. I also have a “How to Support” tab that will inform you more about how this all works. Thanks for all the love and encouragement! “To God be the Glory forever and ever, Amen!” -Laurie
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I am so encouraged today.. this past week has been exhausting! I get to a place where I feel great about my support, and then other days Satan really puts in my head lies like, "Do you really think people want to give to this?" "Are you really going to pass on an opportunity to teach?" "Do you even want to do this?"But I am not overcome by them! Hallelujah I am not! I am pressing on to the fact that my God moves mountains and He is surely bigger than money. I have read a blog by a woman missionary in South Africa for quite some time. She is doing amazing things in advancing the Good News to unreached people. I was praying for peace this morning about where I am at in my support raising process and she came to my mind. I decided, "Why not reach out to her and ask her advice about my feelings and fears?!" Within an hour, I received the best encouragement ever:
Laurie! As a missionary in South Africa. I. So. Get. This! It was hard in the beginning to get people to understand that in order to do the work of the ministry, you need to be equipped for the work of the ministry, which means funding. It's not easy but when we ask the Holy Spirit to help us and direct us to who He wants us to partner with, WOW! The best view comes after the hardest climb! AMEN! I believe it. I am pressing forward because of the truth that "If you have faith like a grain of a mustard seed (not much faith at all), you will say to this mountain, "Move from here to there," and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you." -Matthew 17:20 Things are really busy in my personal life. From house-hunting to working a full-time teaching job, to support raising to leading a small group.. I will be the first to admit.. I don't stop! On top of that, support raising has been really hard.. People are busy.. I am exhausted.. and asking for money is never easy. BUT, I will say that the Lord is definitely at work in my heart. I want to share with you all a verse that has become my anthem during this season. Isaiah 43:4 says, "Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you (like WOW!), I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life." And amen. This season has looked a lot like laying my life down, but I keep my eyes set on the future grace of being at Georgia Tech as a campus staff girl winning souls to the Lord (people in exchange for my life), and I keep going. Ministry Things: Georgia Tech Staff are wrapping up the semester and preparing for the 2 Summer Programs: The Cross Cultural Project in Brazil, and the Summer Leadership Project in Atlanta. The staff have been meeting with students all year and are hoping to bring some of those students on the SLP. I have to raise my support in full in order to begin working on campus, but I have been networking with upcoming Tech freshmen in hopes that they may join the ministry in the upcoming Fall :) Prayer Requests: Pray that GT students will come on our Summer Leadership Project. The SLP is 9 weeks of the Summer spent living, playing, learning and working with students from colleges in Georgia. Each student works a full-time job during the day and participates in discipleship groups, Bible studies, outreach events, ministry training, fellowships and other activities during the week. This demanding, yet rewarding schedule creates a perfect environment and opportunity for students to grow in their relationship with Christ and develop ministry skills and leadership qualities that will last a lifetime. Pray for my support to be raised QUICKLY!! I really want to go on the SLP as a staff person in June, but my support goal has to be met! If you know of anyone who would be great to connect with about potentially supporting me, please let me know :) |