"Support" Ministry

We have slowly begun the process of "raising support" for our move to Uganda. We have had several people ask why our church doesn't support us themselves, there are many answers to this question.

The first practical one is that there just aren't enough people for support the number of missionaries we (as a church) have on the field. When you as a church have over 200 missionaries out on the field, and only 2500 people in your congregation..... well it just isn't possible. When 2500 CHURCHES support 200 missionaries, well then you CAN fully fund missionaries.

Second.... we want the prayer! If your church is sending in the mission money every month to support the missionaries.... then you become disconnected from them. However if you personally know those missionaries, and you are personally writing a check each month, then you are thinking about them and praying for them far more often.

Third, it is biblical. The priests were supported, Paul was supported, even Jesus was supported. Paul's thought was that is was not for HIS benefit that the people gave, but for theirs. "so that it could be accredited to their account" We, like Paul, know what it is to have plenty and we know what it is to have needs. It is an opportunity for people to be blessed..... it is more blessed to give than to receive.

On another biblical note.... we are all called to different roles. WE (the Foresters) have been called to be the feet that shares the good news (technically we ALL have) but some are the hands that work to send the feet to those that haven't heard.

14How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" Romans 10:14-15

We don't want to just go, we want to be sent!

In addition to all this, we get to minister and encourage those that we are meeting with. I was sharing with a friend tonight how almost every "meeting" we have had so far has always ended in ministry or in some kind of "challenge" or "spurring on", and I am able to minister to SO many by sharing HOW God is providing.

Two weeks ago I told another friend that I didn't know how HOW God would take care of our rent this month, I just knew that he WOULD. Today, being the 3rd, she asked me. She wanted to hear about how God was moving in our finances. And I was able to tell her that rent we paid. GOD IS FAITHFUL!!!

Ministry can place ANYWHERE. even in a "support raising" presentation.

LORD, guide us in every conversation that we have. May you use us to bless, challenge and help all those that we are able to in this season. We don't want to wait until we get to Uganda to do "ministry", we want to minister HERE and NOW. Open the doors, allow people to see that their gifts are given to You and that You are our provider.