Sunday, November 22, 2009

Raising Missionaries :)

Our next hurdle with our sending team is our psych evaluations. Although this is a "shoe in" (tongue in cheek) it isn't what it seems. It is basically, looking/finding stress points, to get them- before they get us, in the field :)

So, while waiting on these tests and results, which will take about a month, I'm getting ready for the next phase in our training...fundraising.

This is the thing that I've been dreading since we told God yes. Why? I have no idea! Other than maybe the humbling part?? I hate to "beg for money", as I've always thought it was...but I've been reading a book, that is (once again) changing my attitudes and thoughts.

The book is called "People Raising" by William P. Dillon. Although I've just started the book, the following passage has kicked me in the butt: "
'Oh, so you're a missionary. I see. That's nice. Uh...very interesting. Well, best of luck. See you later."
I could almost see the wall of nonunderstanding develop in some cases.
'A missionary? Wow, I'd better be careful what I say. This guy must have a hotline to God. Why would anyone want to throw his life away like that? I feel sorry for him--all that suffering and persecution he will go through in some out-of-the-way corner of the world.'
Oh, the monologue was never spoken, but I could read it between the lines. And it made me uncomfortable. I didn't want to be different; I wanted to be a plain old ordinary sinner, just like everybody else. I didn't want to be a hotline to God. Sometimes I wasn't even sure I knew His number. And most of all, I didn't want to be pitied. That turned my stomach.
Maybe it was that word--"missionary". Maybe it should be thrown out...Too many barnacles clinging to it... Anyway, it's not my fault that people don't understand what a missionary really is--or is it?"

I'm only on page 51 of almost 300, but I've learned (so far) that we are not to be bothered with "raising funds", but raising stronger Christians. God will provide our every need, and He will use us to touch hearts, so that our every need is provided for...THROUGH HIM.

Let me try to explain a little. As Christians, we are to worship God...period. Part of that worship experience is to give back to God and to share His love with others. We do both with mission work.

We share our faith/love of God to the world, and we allow our friends in Christ to partner with us and share the rewards through the fundraising experience.

Not everyone is called to go to the actual field, but we are all called to share our faith. When someone supports financially in a missionary, they share the rewards given to that missionary (through God). They are taking part in the mission field, just as if they were out there themselves, physically.

This verse just came to me, as I type this out: 1Samuel 30 David and his men were at war with the Amalekites. Some of his men became wore out and were left behind, while the rest of the army went on to attack and plunder the Amalekites. As the army returned, they were greeted by the ones that stayed behind. "As David and his men approached, he greeted them. But the evil men and troublemakers among David's followers said, 'Because they did not go out with us, we will not share with them the plunder.'...David replied, 'No, my brothers, you must not do that with what the Lord has given us...The share of the man who stayed with the supplies is to be the same as that of him who went down to the battle. All will share alike.'"

Wow, take a minute and breathe that in...words straight from God to your eyes :)

I'm now getting excited to share our ministry needs, when the time comes, with others. It's not "begging for money", it's joining forces and allowing EVERYONE to partner with us. It's getting our rewards in Heaven while we build HIS KINGDOM in worship :)

Loving God, Loving Each Other, Serving God, Reaching the Lost, Growing and Maturing

Today is a growth and mature segment...and I thank you for sharing it and partnering with us!

Please continue prayers for us as we prepare our house to go on the market in the next several months, place our horses in good homes, and continue in the testing process (spiritually and physically).