raising $upport
Posted by Drew | Filed under General
In addition to being a support coach, my other official assignment for the summer is to raise support. Often I talk to people who know that’s one of my summer objectives and they ask me how that’s going. My responses vary, but always the same thoughts go through my head. “You know I really ought to start working on that…” I think I’ve grown quite comfortable with the reliable consistency of the Lord’s provision over the past few years. And knowing that my task is so much smaller this year than it was last year, I feel very tempted to put off support raising until… well, that’s another problem — I don’t even have an until for putting it off. Even as I type this, my anxiety level is still very low. But it raises a little as I remember the challenges I faced both years in Italy as my support waned significantly towards the end of my time there. And noting that many supporters have been less than consistent over the past few months (I say that not to criticize, but to observe… I definitely understand how hard it is to stay consistent… I have no choice but to set up automatic drafts for people I support), I see that there is a fairly significant need for me to raise additional funds.
So here’s where I am. Additional one time expenses should be around $7,000 between plane tickets, various conferences, travelling costs and other small items. Also since January I’m averaging about $5-600 short of my original monthly goal (not including annual gifts that I count as monthly contributions), so I’d like to be able to raise that amount while I’m still in America. It will be especially needed since I’ll lose about 20% to the exchange rate.
Right now I’m trying to plan out my summer. Most of the time I’ll be in Auburn. For two weeks I’m hoping to be able to take two seminary courses in Orlando through Crusade, but that will depend on my support raising schedule. I have one week of training in Colorado to attend, and my leave date is sometime around the first of September. I’d like to be able to meet with as many people as possible, and I’ll most likely need to meet new people who can join my support team. Some good friends in Nashville have offered to host a dessert one night for me to meet some of their friends and share about what I’m doing. If anyone else in Tupelo or wherever is willing to do the same, it would help me tremendously. Otherwise, you can visit www.give.ccci.org/give/0544692 to give online, or to find information on other ways to give.
I have truly enjoyed raising support for ministry. Sharing with others about the privilege of being called by God to this ministry is always encouraging for me. But also knowing that I have a team of supporters who are excited about what I’m doing, and excited to be a part of it with me, and most importantly praying for me as I serve in the field is an amazing blessing. Thank you to all of my current supporters, and thank you to everyone else who would consider joining my team of ministry partners in reaching Italians, or Auburn students, or whoever else for Christ.
I’m not a cause guy, but this one deserves attention
Posted by Drew | Filed under General
I read an article tonight on the wars in Uganda (Christianity Today). Many of you are probably already familiar with it, but hearing stories about how this LRA group routinely kidnaps children between ages 7 and 14, tortures them and forces them to fight in a war, killing and torturing other children for the sake of this one guy’s desire to overthrow the government of Uganda. Anyway, apparently it’s been happening since 1986 and over 30,000 children have been kidnapped during that time, many of them killed. You can read more at www.seekjustice.org, or farreachingministries.org It’s unfathomable to me how evil this world can be. It makes my stomach hurt thinking about how corrupt some people have become. We weren’t created this way. But this is the potential for sinful man. This is the sort of thing the Enemy is willing to do - the same enemy with whom we most often encounter when we feel discouraged or lazy or lack boldness, or don’t believe we’re forgiven. I think it’s encounters like those with the enemy that make me think he’s soft, and more like an opponent who acknowledges understood rules of sportsmanship or civility. But its’ when we don’t recognize those attacks as being rooted in the same evil as the inhumanity in Uganda that we fail to recognize the absolute depravity of the Enemy who attacks us daily. This enemy seeks to destroy us, and looking at the situation in Uganda, he shows no mercy or restraint, and will torture and corrupt and destroy in ways unthinkable to most of us. That’s our enemy. We are at war. And I’m so grateful the victory is ours in Christ. But the battle still rages. And we still must fight. Please pray for this country.
mild update
Posted by Drew | Filed under General
I realize it’s been a long time since I posted anything here. I dropped some pretty big news last time and then stayed silent for about a month. Still processing, I guess. I’m preparing to go to Italy. Sort of. I feel like the Lord has been showing me a lot lately. I don’t know if you’ve ever noticed but the Proverbs speak often about the sluggard. Solomon wasn’t too fond of him. But unfortunately, having a completely open schedule for the summer, and tasks that have no timeline or deadline, makes me quite sympathetic towards sluggard. I guess I haven’t been that lazy. But I do feel like my days could use a little jump start in discipline. I have whole days to sit in the office and study and read. Ok, considering the fact that I dont’ usually make it to the office until 10 or 11, I guess it’s a little liberal for me to say I have whole days there. But it is almost 9 and I’m still here, finally taking the initiative to accomplish some of the goals I set for today… ok, goals I set for yesterday. What was I saying about the sluggard?
I do feel like I should clarify for the sake of those of you who are financially responsible for my well-being at this stage of my life, that I’m not really wasting my time. It’s true that I stay in the office most of the time, and don’t come in until mid morning. But I have been getting up at a decent hour, and spending some time in the Word before (most days) riding my bike for an hour or so since I’m unable to run because of my injured knee. And I’m making plans for the upcoming year in Italy, and connecting with people on my team about how they’re doing raising support (support coaching). I’m also spending time with my Iranian friends and a few other students. And I”m reading a lot. I just read a book about college ministry called The Fuel and the Flame and really feel challenged by it. I’ve also purchased the Qu’ran so that I can better understand my Iranian friends. Allegedly I’m spending a little time studying Italian as well.
I also just joined a church here. It probably sounds strange that I would join a church in Auburn, when I’m about to leave in a few months, but it’s mostly because I have to be a member to be allowed by the insurance company to drive the church vans to pick up international students on Friday afternoons to take them to Wal Mart. I like this church, but they seem to be pretty aggressive in getting new people involved. Within two days, a lady had contacted me asking me to drive vans for Vacation Bible School, and to potentially share about my time in Italy during one of the sessions.
