To me, one of the hardest parts about going out into the mission field isn’t being away from your home, job and loved ones. It isn’t the sacrifice of the numerous American luxuries so many of us take for granted. It isn’t experiencing the many unfamiliarities and discomforts of a foreign land. It isn’t overcoming barriers of language and of the heart to share God’s love.
To me, one of the hardest parts about going into the mission field is the support raising process.
There’s something about humbling myself enough to ask friends, family, church, community, etc. for monetary donations that makes me squirm. Not to mention the whole trust-the-Lord factor: a daily struggle for me. However, just like He always does, God faithfully reminds me who’s in charge.
Recently, I hosted my first fund-raising event…a pancake dinner. It was actually so small, you could barely call it an “event” and I planned it to kick-off my fund-raising efforts for The World Race. With the help of Facebook and my boss, I was able to have this little get-together at my workplace and it turned out to be much more than I hoped for or expected.
First of all, the Lord showed up. He actually showed up on the way there, in my car. I decided to turn down the radio and simply talk to Him before the pancake dinner started.
Lord, I need to stop trying. No matter how good of a pancake I make, that’s not what’s going to allow provision to take place. In fact, this event isn’t even about providing for Me, its about providing for Your Kingdom. I can’t touch the hearts of people…God, that’s your territory. Help me to step back and let your Spirit move.
I continued to pray, having a one-on-one conversation with God down Highway 53. Then, I began to simply thank Him for what He has already provided.
Father, thank you for the people you have put in my life. I have some of the best friends and co-workers I could ever ask for. So many of them love you, and love the idea of seeing the glory of your Kingdom expand throughout the nations. God, thank you for the close friends you’ve given me, who are willing to help me cook pancakes…. willing to clean up after everyone has left….willing to serve You. You have blessed me so greatly.
That night, as Nutella-peanut butter-banana-pecan-chocolate chip-pancakes were being created, the Lord was moving in the hearts of those that came. I showed The World Race Promo DVD, spoke a little about my upcoming trip, and answered a few questions. Friends fellowshipped and pancakes were devoured. It was not until the end of the evening that I was able to glimpse at exactly what God was doing in the hearts of those who stopped by.
As a few of us were cleaning up, we decided to count the donations that had been slipped into the coffee-can donation bucket throughout the night. As the total number kept rising, my level of astonishment grew. We announced the grand total, and I lost it. Tears streaming, I gave a second glance, just to be sure, at the number $1,285.
Lord, forgive me for trying so hard at this support-raising business. It’s not what I say or do, but what You do in and through the hearts of your children. That pancake party was a wake-up call to the immeasurable greatness of your power and provision, and I am humbled. I pray that throughout these upcoming months that your Name would be exalted in every way as the support-raising stage of my World Race journey takes place. Thank you.
2 Corinthians 9:7,8
Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything; you may have an abundance for every good deed;
