I was talking to my cousin last night (Hey Becca!) about fundraising. I was telling her about how it is to fundraise, and we also talked about giving. We both agreed that when we have given in the past, it was solely between us and God. My cousin Becca donated to my last mission trip and when I asked her why she said that it was something God told her to do and He made the funds available to do it. It wasn’t just because she wanted to support me or wanted to check off her good deed for the day.
That makes my heart so happy. Knowing that my family & friends not only want to support me because they love me, but most importantly because they love God is all I could ever ask for during this crazy journey of fundraising. Earlier this year I had the opportunity to donate to other missionaries. I didn’t donate because I knew what they were going through. I didn’t donate because they are my friends. I didn’t donate because I had extra cash laying around (I surely did not have extra), I donated because God told me to. I was scared. I knew that I had my own mission trip to raise money for and I knew I was going to move to Arkansas. So the funds were low. Extra low. At first this didn’t make sense to me. Why would God want me to give money I don’t really have? Then the big “ah hah” moment came…
If I were rich and had all of the money in the world to give, then why would I need to trust God when it comes to giving? I wouldn’t. I wouldn’t have that moment of “Okay God, it’s not much but this is all I have to give…I need you to provide or I won’t make it.” & then having that spiritually growing moment of letting go of what was never mine in the first place, and seeing Him provide afterwards.
God promises to multiply our tithes & offerings…but I don’t tithe so God can bless me with more. I don’t give to missionaries so God will bless my missions journey. I don’t do anything with my money to get something in return. I do it as a way to be obedient to God. As an act of worship. Money can be very powerful over our lives, and what better way to show God that He is worth MORE to us than by surrendering our finances to Him. Money is one of thee HARDEST things to let go of…and that’s why He commands us to do so. God doesn’t need money. He isn’t about to overdraft in his bank account…I mean let’s be real. It’s much deeper than that.
I get asked the question often “Why are you paying to go on a mission trip? Shouldn’t they be paying you?” Or: “Why don’t you just go with a church so it’s free?” I could answer that question in a few ways…but to stay on topic I’ll give you one answer for now…I believe with my entire heart that this whole fundraising process has a lot to do with reaching out to others and giving them a chance to let God work in their lives not only financially but also TRUSTFULLY. & I am preaching to the choir here. We’re all in this together. God is asking me to trust Him by fundraising and it’s hard. God is asking you to trust Him by donating and it’s hard. He knows! He knows.
God is the provider of everything, and will supply all our needs.
And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. PHIL. 4:19
However, it will also be easy, because ultimately we’re giving to the One who has given us everything.
Thank you for reading this…and thank you for all of your support. Please remember, don’t just give because you are my friend, give for God. He wants all our of hearts to be in the right place. Use this opportunity as an act of worship and thanksgiving for all God has done for you.
If you feel like God is calling YOU to step out into faith and trust Him by donating to my mission trip, please click on the Donate button above to make a tax-deductible donation. ANY amount helps…and God can use your donation in mighty ways…whether it’s $5 or $5,000. Check out the story below:
The Widow’s Offering
Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.
Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”
I’m excited to see how God works through me and YOU by this fundraising process.
I only have 2 weeks left to meet my goal of $5,000 in order to go to training camp. Please pray for me and share this blog post. Thank you so much.
Until next time,
Sabrina
