We are officially up another percentage thanks to a generous partnership. My team of supporters is growing. Together we can knock down the walls and overcome the obstacles of the Church Body using social media and technology to reach, not preach. To become a partner, give here.
Can’t help me out financially?
Consider holding a dessert and coffee at your home or business. I ask that you invite your friends to it. I can provide the dessert, even the coffee. I will do a presentation to your friends, show videos, and talk to them, even answer their questions. If you think you would like to do this, please email me. Let’s work out the details.
A friend had a question about how to give and what each button means. I’ve been making some assumptions that people understand how and why missionaries raise monthly support. This is the accidental assumption one makes after 10 years of being a church secretary and dealing directly with a Missions Commission. If you have other questions, feel free to email me. All questions will be kept confidential.
Q: Do I give now or when you quit SRCF and go into full time ministry?
A: To go into full time ministry, I need to raise 100% support now. This means all giving must go through the “start/modify” button after you press “give.” For Direct Debit or Credit Card/Debit Card, it only allows monthly giving. “Mail a Check” allows for annual giving.
Q: Does a Special Donation go towards your monthly need?
A: No. Special (tax deductible) Donations go towards my ministry account. This does not get counted towards what I need to raise per month. It does help keep down expenses in the Ministry Account as an appointee. To give towards my monthly support, please use start/modify a commitment.
Q: What is a Personal Gift?
A: A Personal Gift is non-tax deductible and gets deposited right into my checking account. I would prefer no personal gifts until I am at 100% support.
Q: I don’t want to do an automatic debit (i.e. Direct Debit or Credit Card/Debit Card), but I do Want to have my yearly donation go towards your support. How can I do this?
A: Go to “Start/Modify” and choose “Mail a Check” instead. Choose how often to give and how much, and mail a check out.
Q:I want to give annually using credit, debit, or direct debit. How can I do this?
A: You cannot give annually using credit, debit cards, or direct debit. To get around this, you can set up online banking to issue a check. Just make sure the memo states my name and account number. The bank will mail a check for you. It can even be scheduled to send at a much later time. Meanwhile, you’ll need to set up an online commitment so, when the check arrives, it is credited towards my support account, not my ministry account.
Q: What do the numbers reflect each month on the first of the month?
A: I am so thankful for the number of verbal commitments I have received, but the numbers only reflect those who have registered those commitments online (even if the check is sent annually at the end of the year). I encourage you to register your verbal commitment so we can together pray to 100% support.
Q: How do I set up an online commitment?
A: Let’s talk. I am happy to walk you through the process. Send me an email to set up an appointment to either call you or come over to your house and walk you through it. Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays are always open. We can meet and walk you through the process provided no other appointments exist that day.
Q: Why do you need to live on support?
A: The Bible contains numerous examples of both Jesus, His disciples and the Apostles depending on the financial support of others during their ministry. Luke 8:1-3 says,“Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities—Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons, and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who provided for Him from their substance.” These women, among others, were paying the expenses for Jesus to travel through the cities “bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God.” Jesus depended on others for support. READ MORE
In an article by Intellectual Take Out called, “Why You Should Spend More Money on Experiences than Things,” it said,
” While new things might make us happier at first, we adapt to having them, and their meaning to us changes over time. So rather than buying that shiny new Apple watch or shelling out for a brand new BMW, research suggests that you’ll get more happiness by spending that hard-earned cash on experiences like art exhibits, participating in outdoor activities, learning a new skill, or traveling..”
When we began moving from our mobile home to the home we now live in, we had watched too many home and garden television shows and began to clean through all the “things” that had cluttered our life. The rule was, “If we didn’t use it for a year, did we really need it?”
Lots of sentimental and other items went in the trash bin or donation bag. The result was an easier move and simple living. Our Christmases and birthdays in our marriage had begun with gift giving and have now become about gifts of experience. Our short term missions trip to Honduras taught us this, too.
While donations and prayer got us to Honduras, some expenses still came out of our pocket. We didn’t mind because this was another gift of experience. God was moving our life to another culture, and using that culture to prepare me for a life of missions in a new field. He showed us how happy and content the Honduran believers were with so little. I couldn’t help but think of the American culture at that moment, and how the culture wants what their neighbor has, and is never content to live with what God has gifted them.
We take for granted our home, our stuff, and our lives every day. A missionary in Phoenix recently shared in his newsletter how the refugees he sponsors were amazed at having an apartment, clothes, and the basics that are the norm for most Americans. A book I read from a Sudan refugee (now American citizen) was amazed at the size of the houses and his room when he was adopted into the United States. As I journey into this new direction and learn about the peoples on the move, people groups, and develop relationships online, I look forward to new experiences. Experience is the greatest teacher.
Your prayers and financial partnership will help me serve online, help other churches and missionaries, and work with others to use the gift of technology across the globe in very creative ways, because as I have learned, people want to support this kind of ministry, and are uncertain themselves how to do it.