There was a time when I started my fundraising that I hated it. I dreaded going and asking people for money, I thought ‘I don’t have time for this with work and everything else in my life’, and ‘how am I going to raise almost $20,000?’. But that’s just it…fundraising isn’t only asking people for money, it’s giving others the OPPORTUNITY to be a part of something bigger, something eternal, something that I so strongly believe the Lord called me to. And I realized early on that if God called me to it, I would find the time to fundraise, to not hold back the opportunity for others to be a part of something AMAZING! And I also realized, $20,000 is NOTHING to the God of the universe.
So, my focus shifted. I became more Kingdom minded. I realized that there are so many people around me who love me and who have the resources who can’t GO for 11 months to spread the Gospel to 11 countries. I saw God’s favor as I began to put in an effort to raise the funds that would allow me to launch into a year of full service to God. And I experienced the miracle of people I had known my whole life, barely knew or even had NEVER met come out of the woodworks to support the mission God called me on! I. WAS. FLOORED. God is SO GOOD!
Over and over God continued to remind me of HIS power and MY dependence on Him through fundraising (and so much more)…and He’s continued to do that through the whole fundraising process. Well, just recently, through a series of gifts and the generosity of a many individuals, God has provided it all. With all the promised and already received gifts, I am…*drumroll please* officially ***FULLY FUNDED*** (with the exception of mere dollars for gear) on my blog account!! NOTE: The bar on my blog website won’t show that I’m fully funded yet but I ask that you refrain from giving through my blog. I praise God for His provision in this process in allowing me, and trusting me to leave the states (just 10 days from now) fully funded!!
BUT WAIT!
Yes, there’s MORE!
I have the amazing opportunity to do ministry with 5 other women for at least 5 of the 11 months. To grow with them. Laugh. Cry. Serve. Witness miracles. Spread the Gospel and SO MUCH MORE. Three of us are fully funded…but 3 of us aren’t. This is my team. These are the women that God appointed to do ministry with me for possibly the next 11 months of my life! They are, I believe, essential to the work God is going to do while we are abroad in areas that may have never heard the Gospel before. He called them as He called me. And I can tell you, these women LOVE. JESUS. Their mission, as is mine, is to make Jesus known across the world.
(left –> right: Jenny, Suze, Abby, Cami, Brook, Me)
SO…I have a strong sense that there are individuals in my life who have possibly felt a call to support me and didn’t take the opportunity or didn’t get the chance. WELL, NOW is your chance! I ask that you consider the fact that these women were put on my team for a reason and therefore have a crucial role to play in my life…therefore, supporting them and helping them GO and live out this call the Lord has put on their life is also supporting me.
I can do ministry without them, sure.
All I need is God, sure.
BUT, I believe with all my heart that God wants these women with me—to help me grow, to challenge me, to become my family, my friends and my sisters, to learn about community and do ministry with. So if you feel or have felt a call to give to help support me, I ask you to support me by giving to my sisters. Below are the links to their blogs and a little snippet of their heart. I encourage you to visit their blogs, read their posts, and prayerfully consider supporting them as they will be a huge part of my growth and ministry this next year.
Finally, I still have Adopt-A-Jars coming in, I still have T-shirts, Sweatshirts and coffee mugs available to raise money. I will continue to sell these items and all profits will go directly toward helping fund my teammates so we can together go help fulfill the great commission and be disciples of our Rabi, Jesus.
Not Fully Funded Teammates!
AbbyLin Joint : abbylinjoint.theworldrace.org This is Abby’s hearts desire…’I want people to know that I am passionate about being the hands and feet of Christ and I want to fully live that out in the next 11 months with my team!’
Suze Rinks : suzannerinks.theworldrace.org Suze cares. She desires for ‘people to be fought for, known, valued, listened to, and loved well’.
Cami Chickonoski : camichickonoski.theworldrace.org What brings Cami the most joy is ‘having deep God convos with people. I love going deeper with God and I love going deeper with people so when those two things intersect, I’m filled with so much joy!’.
Fully Funded Teammates!
Jenny Feight : jennyfeicht.theworldrace.org Jenny has a heart for ‘bringing people together to share a meal (especially when she gets to cook)’
Brook Landt : brooklandt.theworldrace.org Brook is a bundle of fun…and it shows in the things that bring her joy! ‘Jesus, people, puppy bellies, mountains, sunsets, stars, sea turtles, adventures, ice cream cones, succulents, laughter, unity, water, hiking adn playing any sport.’
