Is the process of gaining people’s support through different pipelines. The two pipelines I am using to raise support for the World Race, is through prayer and through finances. This season of support-raising has been extremely humbling to say the least. I have sent out over 75 support letters and have talked to over half of the people who receive one of my letters. If you haven’t received a support letter, don’t worry it’s comingJ. It has been a humbling process because God has shown up in some major ways. I have started to understand how this season of support-raising can be a form of ministry, and it has been just that.
It’s much easier to ask someone for prayer than it is for financial support. The thing that I tell people is that the power of prayer is so much stronger than the power of money. This is something I strongly believe, but has been something people tell me to leave out… We live in a society that puts so much value on money. We go to school to get a good job, which in turn will give us a good pay check. We think that someone is more valuable based on the money they have in their bank account. Don’t get me wrong, money is important. Jesus talks more about money than he does about heaven and hell combined. It is not money that is evil. What is evil is what we do to get it and what we use it for. The majority of people on this planet believe that money holds a value, and I am not different. It holds a very tangible value. A minority of people on earth believe that God holds a value. I do though! It might be an intangible value, but my hope is that people are able to see how my life is a tangle example of Jesus.
When I think about supporters, I think about the people in my life that have been there for me and will not leave my side. I think about supporters as people who are a part of my team who believe in me and who sacrifice what God has bless them with, to support me in my ministry. God has blessed you with the ability to speak. So I ask you, if you are reading this, will you support me with your prayers? The thing I struggle with, is that I tell someone I will pray for them, but I end up forgetting about it. I have done this countless time for many different reasons. Sometimes I forget and other times I just don’t make the time. Time is valuable, it holds the same value to me than it does for you. If you are reading this, please STOP. Turn off your computer screen and pray.
Pray for each one of the countries I will be going to. Pray for the 60 other young adults I will be doing ministry beside. Pray for the season of constant transition as we go to 11 countries in 11 months. Pray that we lean on God for guidance and wisdom. Pray that we understand that God is and has been present in every country we are going to. It is our mission to shine a light where there might be darkness. Pray for my family back home. “Pray without ceasing” 1 Thessalonians 5:17.
Oh and my Birthday is on Sunday! I’m turning the BIG 25! Next year I’ll be in South Africa when I turn 26! I will also be finished with my Master’s program in 8 weeks and I will be running my first Marathon in 16 days! Thanks for taking the time to read this blog! I hope to start posting more often. I’ll post at least once a month while I’m on the Race.
Psalm 145:18, The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
-Joe
