Down to the Wire

I’m past the halfway point on the World Race – it’s hard to comprehend that.  This has become my life: meeting new friends every month, saying goodbye to them 4 weeks later, and somehow in the middle of that trying to make an impact for the Kingdom.  God’s been teaching me a lot about myself – mainly how to love.  I won’t say I have yet learned any of the lessons completely, but I know I’ve been changed for the better in a lot of ways.  I’ve done things I never would have imagined doing, even a year ago.  I’ve met people and spoken languages that I never thought I ever would have encountered.  I’ve seen God work in both me and in the lives of dozens of people in powerful and amazing ways.  I’ve seen miracles, I’ve received visions, I’ve prayed and prophesied over dozens of people in nine different countries.  I’ve learned to love the unlovable, to care for the helpless, to fight for the hopeless.  I have met people who have permanently changed my life – on my squad, on my team, and at each one of my ministry sites.  I’m eagerly looking forward to the next 5 months, as we go to Africa and then return to Southeast Asia before coming home.  I can barely wait to see what incredible things God has in store for me – and I must admit it seems hard to top some of the experiences I’ve had!  (More blogs coming about all the things I saw and did this month – don’t worry!)

Unfortunately, I have one tiny little problem.  I really do mean it’s tiny – in the face of a God who can take care of over $47,000 in medical bills*, $659.68 seems just laughably small.  $659.58 is however the remaining amount of support money I need to continue the Race.  If I don’t get the money by June 30 – 11 days from now! – I go home.  I’m excited to get home and share with you guys all the amazing things that have happened to me, and I really want to see your happy smiling faces – but NOT YET!  I still have 5 more months of travel, excitement, and ministry, and I honestly believe that God has asked me to complete the Race He started me on back in October.  I have no plans to return home until the end of the trip – so here’s the deal.

For those of you who read the New Testament with some regularity, you might be familiar with Paul’s writings on the subject of financial stewardship.  I won’t make this a gigantic sermon, but it is clear from his writings (his letters to the Corinthians are particularly appropriate here) that the church – the worldwide collective body of the saints – has a responsibility to support God’s work.  God gives us money (and other assets, of course) not for our own gain, but for His.  Those of us who have been given a trust must prove faithful – and I’m not saying that any of you do not.  In fact, I think the vast majority of those who might be reading this blog have supported me (or potentially God’s work in other areas as well) already.  I’m not here to send you on a guilt trip – guilt and condemnation have no place in the Christian life – but I am coming before you, humbly but confidently, to ask for one last joint effort from the church.  I want to be able to brag about you to the believers God sends me to in Africa and Asia, just as Paul boasted about the churches that supported Jewish believers in Jerusalem.  I want to write a blog that honors God for the faithfulness He showed in bringing me to this trip and supplying everything I needed to complete it.  But I cannot do that without your help.  Please, ask God how He would have you support His work through me.  If fifty people donated $13, I’d have almost exactly the amount of funding I need.  Won’t you be one of those 50?  Would you be willing to be two, or three, or a dozen of them?  Maybe you can only afford a smaller amount – but no dollar is wasted.**  Please, support God’s work, and stick around to see what He does with your faithfulness!

*Some of you may recall a blog I posted a few months back, Forgiven Much.  I am indescribably pleased to announce that God has indeed remained faithful, and my second hospital bill of $16,000 has also been completely wiped clean.  In total, God’s been faithful to support me both on the field and at home with over $60,000 – either in direct financial support for the Race, or in taking care of my finances back home.  Praise God!

**Electronic donations, whether by credit card or bank draft, are subject to 5% or 3% handling fees, respectively.  If you want your entire donation to go directly to my support account, the best option is to send a check (with “For Don Hamilton” on the subject line!) to:

All donations are tax-deductible.  If you do choose to send money by check, please let me know so that I can inform the home office – especially around the time of deadlines, there can be a delay in processing, and I’d hate to be sent home only to discover the money was waiting in a giant pile of mail!