As of today, there are only 100 days left before I leave the country for eleven months on a mission to bring God’s love to hurting people around the globe. It’s both exciting and intimidating. I can’t wait to get back on the mission field, but there is so much left to do! I still have to buy my equipment, get vaccines, go to training camp, book domestic flights, and raise about $15,000. That’s right. $15,000.
Raising support is one of my biggest challenges. Even though I know that I’m doing what is right, it’s always awkward to ask other people for money. And I know it’s awkward to be the one who’s being asked, too. But I believe that support raising for missions is Biblical, and that everyone is called to be a part of global missions.
How is support raising Biblical?
There are a huge number of references to supporting those in ministry (both local and global) in the Bible. For one, even Jesus and His disciples were supported by others. In Luke 8:1-3 it is recorded that, as Jesus and His disciples went from place to place to preach the Gospel, women whose lives had been changed by God went with them to minister (serve) them out of their own private means. Three of these women were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Susanna. They followed Jesus and His friends around just to feed them while they were furthering the Kingdom of God.
Other than Jesus and the disciples, there are plenty of other Biblical figures that depended on others to support them while they were working in ministry. To name a few, there was Moses, David, Hezekiah, Nehemiah, and Paul, plus every Levite ever. None of these guys would have been able to do the work that they accomplished for the Lord if they didn’t have other people backing them up.
As far as financial support goes, remember that you are giving to God’s work, not to a person. Yes, missionaries use the money that is given to them to buy food, pay for lodging, and find adequate transportation, but let’s look beyond those things. The few dollars you give to a missionary may pay for their breakfast, which will give them the energy to build a house for a family devastated by a natural disaster. Or it could go to a taxi service who will take them to a rural area that has never heard the name of Jesus.
I believe that everyone is called to global missions.
A lot of people don’t think that they could ever go on a trip to Ethiopia or Malaysia. It’s true that not everyone will be able to go too far in their lifetimes, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be involved. In fact, according to the Great Commission, you should be involved in reaching people for Christ, both near and far.
There are four main roles that Christians can play in in world missions:
Goer: Someone who goes to other countries and actively spreads the Gospel.
Sender: Someone who sends the goers to other countries via finances or prayers.
Welcomer: Someone who reaches foreigners in their own nation, such as refugees and immigrants. This is a great way to send the Word of God into closed nations!
Mobilizer: Someone who gets people informed and excited about world missions (which is what I am doing right now).
You can pray about which role (or roles) God has in mind for you. When you feel like you’re supposed to fulfill a specific role, do it! Don’t wait!
The whole point of this little tangent is to show you one thing: giving to a missionary is a way for you to fulfill the Great Commission. By donating, you are not just sending someone else out, you are doing your part to further the Kingdom of God. You are just as important as the person going overseas. I can’t do it alone, and neither can you. Let’s work together.
Frequently Asked Questions
When you are starting a missions project this big, a lot of people have a lot of questions. I am going to address some of the most common questions I get, but if you have more, don’t hesitate to ask them in the comment section below, or by email, phone, text, or in person.
Where does the money go?
$17,000 is a lot to raise, so where is all that money going to? A total of $16,277 will be going towards the following over a period of eleven months: food, lodging, insurance, international travel, domestic travel on the field, ministry supplies, administration fees, and training camp. The rest will be what I use to pay for vaccines and domestic flights to/from training camp and to launch.
What kind of work will you be doing?
The easy answer is that I don’t know yet. What i do know is that we will be working with ministries that are already established in the countries we go to, and the kind of work we do will vary from month to month. For example, one month I could be working in an orphanage, the next month in a red light district, and the next at a retirement home. I might not even find out until I get to each nation. I will, however, keep everyone updated on this blog and on Facebook as best as I can.
How can I give? Is my donation tax deductible?
The easiest way to give is by clicking the “Support Me!” button at the top of this page. It will redirect you to adventures.org, where you can donate with a debit or credit card. You will also find instructions on that same page for sending in a check made out to Adventures in Missions with a clear indication that it is for Kelly Davidson’s World Race.
On that same page you will also find the option to set up automatic withdrawals if you would like to give monthly.
All donations through Adventures in Missions are tax deductible. If you live in Chautauqua County, you can also give to my missionary account at Fluvanna Community Church, and you will be able to deduct that, as well. Just be sure to indicate on the envelope that it is for Kelly Davidson’s Missionary Fund.
Please note that, although you are welcome to give by simply handing or mailing me a check or cash, it will not be tax deductible.
Also, keep an eye out for fundraisers!
If I can’t give money, how else can I help?
First of all, ask God. He probably has something in mind that I would never be able to come up with. Second, you can pray!
Pray for provision and safety and spiritual health for me and my squad (you can meet them all by clicking the Meet My Squad button on the side of this page). Going overseas for an extended period of time is always stressful and tiring, but God can give us the strength and energy we will need!
You can also pray for the ministry contacts that we will be working with in each nation. Pray that they will be provided for, kept safe, and encouraged in their work.
Thirdly, you can pray for the people that we will encounter during the eleven months. From the kids at a school to the people we sit next to on a plane, pray that we will be a light to them, and that their hearts will be prepared ahead of time, so that God can have the maximum impact on their lives.
One more way that you can help out is by learning about the countries I’ll be in. They are China, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda, Serbia, Albania, and Romania (these are subject to change). Research them, find out where they are, what political and social challenges they are facing, and what injustices effect them the most.
Look for something in one or more of those countries that you are passionate about. Pray for it. Advocate for it. Find a ministry or missionary who gives their all to change it. Partner with them. Do something about it. Be the change you want to see in the world.
The truth is, I don’t want your money. What I want is for you to be open to doing whatever God wants you to do, whether that is giving to my missions work or going yourself.
I don’t want donors, I want partners. People who will pray for me through the ups and downs of missions. People who I can pray for, and tell the people around the world about. People who will fulfill their part of the Great Commission as I fulfill mine.
Please, please take some time today to pray about what your role is in global missions. Ask God if He wants you to donate to my World Race. If He does, how much? Leave it up to Him. And obey Him.
“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” -Anne Frank
