It's About Faith in Action

For some reason, this keeps coming up recently, so I thought maybe it’s time to share again…    

I am a missionary that raises support.  I have never made my full support, though I have had fuller years and leaner years.  What does that mean? Is God not for me, am I faking my calling?

No.  I do not serve a God of disparity.  I believe all the money is God’s.  I tithe to support His kingdom.  (Numbers 18:26-29)  What does support look like to me?  More than money, which is a tool that God uses, (but is not confined to using).

The first thing that pops into my head when people ask me how I live on 1/3 of my support?  You, my ministry partners.  And a lot of other everyday Christians just like you.  The body of Christ. (I Corinthians 12:25-26)

"Nina" offering haircuts & spending the time in the chair catching up with the ministry, asking what to pray for & making sure I’d be back every two months.  "Caro" hearing that I was taking meetings with the city & offering me suits that didn’t fit after her weight loss.

"D" & "J" who returned for a time to help me make a difference.  Joining with others to give special monetary gifts and those that just faithfully give each month.  I share a special memory and experience with every one of my missionary team.  You are my partners, cheerleaders, and champions.

Every time I give it to God first and faithfully share my needs with you, without   expectation or shame, He is faithful to your prayers, in-kind gifts, donations, and service along side me.  

I have had my times of doubt.  When my focus is on Caesar’s money and not God’s provision.  Knowing I can make more in the corporate world to share with my family, I ask Him to reveal to me where He really wants me.  (Proverbs 30:8-9)  I don’t want to be a missionary because of my passion, but because of His will.

Every time, within a day, hours or even minutes.  A note, card, call, even an unexpected new donor, even multiple ones, flood in to renew His call on my life.  A cloud of witnesses to His truth.

I lead a simple life of faith.  I want to live in my heart the songs, “I Give Myself Away;” along with  “I Surrender All.”

I always want to see support raising as an opportunity to meet people that desire to serve & wish to share in the journey that draws us closer to Christ.

April ~ National Volunteer Month

The cornerstones of my missionary calling are relational ministry and asset based community development (ABCD).  I committed to the belief that community development starts with passionate everyday people.  Where I work we keep our staff numbers small and look to our community of churches and neighbors to come together to find or make solutions that fit our neighborhood.

We can think of nothing so important then that we honor the people who dedicate themselves to taking action and solving problems.  So, on April 26th, ROP will hold our annual Volunteer Dinner to celebrate and honor those that make our ministry and God’s kingdom alive and growing to meet the needs of so many.

I have been a witness to many of your gifts of few hours, once a week to bless our kids, parents and neighborhood.  These acts all deserve to be applauded, and as a faith based ministry that cannot do its work without them, I say thank you to every one of you who are serving God by giving back to His kingdom and community in your own way. 

So as we celebrate, let's recognize those who give themselves to help others. Let's motivate others to join the effort. And let’s give God all the glory for the great things He has done!  =)

Do we offer Liberty or Libel?

Moving so much, I became fascinated with sociology long before I knew it’s name.

It’s definition:  The science of society, social institutions, and social relationships;  specifically :  the systematic study of the development, structure, interaction, and collective behavior of      organized groups of human beings.

So this is what  I’ve learned of the development of my East Colfax community:

Currently we are 37% Nepal refugees, 30% Hispanic & it shakes down from there into tribes from Burma, Rep of Congo, Sudanese, etc.  The 15% black community is only 3% African American. The rest are natives of Africa where English is not their 1st language. Three years before now our highest  percents were Hispanic; before that Katrina survivors; before that Korean immigrants; before that…  how far should I go back?

Growing up moving around a lot, I knew early on, people are the same and very different all at the same time.  Regions, cultures & history created ebbs & flows, yet there is always a desire for health, work, a mate, children...

Now I live in an international community in an America that welcomed over31  million immigrants since 1994, (one year before Prodigal opened it’s doors), 75% of which are legal & documented.  It’s that last 25% that can harden our hearts, if we’re not careful.

www.tolerance.org/immigration-myths

Living as a gypsy with my family moving so much, it paid to pick up things fast and put prejudice aside to make friends.  Kids are just better at this than anyone.

Despite the labels we adults may use, our kids start out wanting to know more without fear.  Maybe because bonding with someone is more fun then isolation, in their eyes?

All I know? I was a stranger in a strange land most all my life.  God is very specific about every tribe & every nation, even in my backyard. And I find meeting someone and learning something new, fascinating.