“Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the first fruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.”
-Proverbs 3:9-10
Yesterday morning at church the sermon was about investing, mainly investing in the local church. Pastor Perry interviewed two couples who have been attending NewSpring church since the launch of it in 2004. When they gave, they thought they were only giving to that one original campus in Anderson, SC; but because they trusted God & invested in something they were called to do, they have impacted thousands of people & lives all over South Carolina. Just last Sunday alone, 200 people met Jesus. People discuss & make investments daily, weather that is in a materialistic item or a business investment, but that all seems fades away. But, the one thing you can invest in is the Kingdom. There is no way to lose that investment. By seeing the outcome of their investment that was made over 10 years makes my faith even stronger.
As Pastor Perry continued to preach, I couldn’t help but relay this whole message back to The World Race. He said “the best way to get close to Jesus is to get close to what is on his heart” & I truly believe that that is spreading his love to the end of the nations. I have been called to do the most rewarding job, which is to love God & to love people. But, I have to have people who are willing to invest in me. In my previous blog, I stated that I have received more negativity, than positive support when it comes to the financial part of the race, but I now have a new outlook on it. Since finding out I was selected to do The World Race, I have looked at every amount given to me as a “friendly donation.” As of today, I look at it as an investment. People who feel led to financially support me through this are not only wanting to help me achieve this goal, but are trusting God & putting their faith to the test, just as the couples did for NewSpring Church. God promises in the bible, “If you obey me, I will show you great things.” I have full faith in that promise. I am obeying his call to see the nations & I know that in those 11 months, he WILL show me great things.
One of my church’s mottoes is “you can’t do life alone.” Because of other’s giving to help me, people around the world will be able to hear the great news of Jesus & be rescued by the grace, so they don’t have to do life alone. At NewSpring, I am reminded that every number has a name, every name has a story, & every story matters to God. I pray that in this upcoming week that people will believe in me enough to invest in me. I don’t want anyone to “donate” just because they’re family or friends. I don’t want anyone to “donate” because they have a good heart. I want you to INVEST in me. I want you to INVEST showing me you believe in me. I want you to truly believe that every number has a name, every name has a story, & every story matters to God. I want you to INVEST in me so that I can see those stories.
He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
-Mark 16:15
