When a church tries something new, there's sometimes a crisis. There is sometimes fear of the church splitting. When a church has been around as long as mine as been[over 50 years], the church experiences a few crises in it's lifetime. The last one I remember is when they started doing more contemporary worship. We now have a mix which I like. The crisis of the moment involves international missions. It might be missions in general. Not exactly sure. I didn't realize this but my home church was created to be a missions type church over a bible teaching church with the help of a sister church. This was said by my preacher a dozen or so sermons after I started going back and I thought this is great. It gave me hope in being able to enjoy the fellowship and really want to continue going back. A Life Action team came and did a week or so long revival. I helped in the nursery so I didn't get to hear what was being preached but apparently my church experienced an amazing revival. New vision was birthed. Church members went to Nicaragua with another church which started the planning of 8+ short term international mission trips. Or I thought it did. A few trips have canceled because of lack of intererst. It really surprises me that there isn't enough. How many do you need to be interested or is it because the age of the people who were interested? or I wonder it is an issue of trust. Trusting God to provide the money for the young people who might still be in school, high school or college; or just got out and have debt can be challeging. The thing is God calls people to go but He also calls people to give. The family life minister focused a lot of his time on the international missions than doing what people thought his job title description. I am not saying he didn't fulfill the job desription because I don't really know what it was. I don't know if I would have recieved the $1500 from my church if it wasn't for him. He resigned this past Sunday and it has caused mixed emotions thoughout my church. I don't know if him particularly resigning caused the crisis but it was the last straw.
My family worries that I won't be able to raise the money now. That this crisis will make it harder. The thing is, I'm not. God has given me peace over this. I still feel like God is telling me that I will be fully funded by launch which is crazy because $2,929.50 is due in 27 days. I need 11,729.50 to be fully funded by launch which is in roughly 40 days. Whoah…40 days! Interesting. God used the number 40 in reference to time a lot in the Bible. I can't wait to see what He does in the next 40 days whether it be finanically, spiritually, realtionships, or through my church. Please pray for my church as many members don't know how to handle this and don't know why or how things went down.
The only reason I am not freaking out about the money is because I told myself to live in the here and now because if I start thinking about the future and the what ifs then, I wouldn't be able to make it though the day. With only working about only 30 hours this past two weeks, I definately had the chance to let my mind wander. Only problem about not letting myself think too much into the future is that I easily procastinate. I need to send out a support letters and get some fundraisers set in stone before the bachorlette party which is in two weeks because that is the start of the wedding choas. Can't believe my sister is getting married! I don't see her with any other guy so I am really excited.
I got all my immuzations done this past Thursday. Two in my left arm and two in my right. My left arm is still really sore. I might also be starting to have some ofther side effects. I'd rather not feel good now than in another country. I need to get a prescription for malaria pills and go for the second hep A/B shot mid-August. Then I can mark something off my mental list. 🙂
I am not proud of the drinking, smoking, or doing the drugs but I feel like it is part of my story. I know telling that part of the story on here and now while trying to raise support could turn some people away but I hope people remember I am not perfect. No one is. All sin is equal, right. I have been told quite a few times that I should be careful what I say via web. Not really for the sake of my reputation but my extended family's. I get reminded when I post something that regards my church or my non-Baptist living. I haven't changed denominations, I don't claim one. I claim to be a christ follower. God is the one I answer to and the one who provides for me.
I probably have heard this before but I was listening to Brandon Heath mix on youtube and this song was on there. I've been trying to trust God with my life, all of it, for years now. Maybe this year will be different.
