Seriously, asking for money is the WORST. I’m sure there is a way to have the conversation gracefully, but even after 5 months I’m not totally sure I’ve mastered that! So, I’d like to spell everything out for you very quickly and relatively painlessly 🙂
I want to begin by genuinely thanking each of you who have already supported this ministry: So many of you have had the grace I don’t see in myself and have offered prayer, money, and backpacking supplies willingly without being asked. Your generosity absolutely blows me away, and I’m sure that’s evidenced by the goofy smile I can’t wipe off my face every time we talk! I appreciate each of you and I could not do this without your love and support.
When I say that I can’t do this without you- I really mean it. I was accepted onto the World Race almost 5 months ago and was immediately thrown into a fundraising frenzy! I crunched numbers and wrote budget after budget- finally, I determind that if I pinched every single penny I earned I would be able to fully fund myself in (drumroll please….) JUNE 2019! ??
That was a serious blow to my pride. I was raised by parents who value hard work and self-sufficience, and that strength turned into a weakness very abruptly when it caused me to doubt the faithfulness of the One who called me to this ministry. Shortly after my acceptance, I prayed and committed to put as much into this ministry as I could possibly afford- I rewrote my budget to eliminate excess, eliminate debt, and allow for larger portions of my check to go straight into the fund. I picked up a second job and committed to putting 100% of my earnings into the fund. Still, I fall short. I fall short by A LOT.
The truth is, I haven’t been self-sufficient since the day I acknowledged that I fall terribly short of the glory of God and I have no salvation except through Jesus who paid my debt for me by no merit of my own! How, then, could I expect to complete the work of Christ on my own?
Brothers and sisters in Christ, I desperately need you: your prayers, your friendship, your advice, your encouragement, and, YES…. your money. If my financial inadequacy offends you- I am truly sorry. I do encourage you, however, to consider how fundamentally different the Gospel would be without the selfless generosity, rooted in love, that permeates the New Testament Church.
At the end of the day, I understand that not everyone can or will support this ministry (financially or otherwise). But please, PLEASE pray and ask the Lord to show you what resources you have that could be used more effectively to further his kingdom. “Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, LET US USE THEM: … if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who encourages, in his encouragement; the one who contributes, in his generosity; the one who leads, with passion; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.” -Romans 12:6-8
I pray this week that each of you would not only identify your untapped potential, but also that God would place you precisely in an opportunity to thrive in that specific area.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
