Reflection on Fundraising
April 30, 2019
KYLE
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Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name;
make known his deeds among the peoples!
Sing to him, sing praises to him;
tell of all his wondrous works!
Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice!
Seek the LORD and his strength;
seek his presence continually!
Remember the wondrous works that he has done,
his miracles, and the judgments he uttered.
Psalm 105:1-5
Psalm 105:1-5
主に感謝し 御名を呼び求めよ。
そのみわざを諸国の民の間に知らせよ。
主に歌え。主にほめ歌を歌え。
そのすべての奇しいみわざを語え。
主の聖なる御名を誇りとせよ。
主を慕い求める者たちの心よ 喜べ。
主とその御力を尋ね求めよ。
絶えず御顔を慕い求めよ。
主が行われた奇しいみわざを思い起こせ。
その奇跡と御口のさばきを。
詩篇105篇1~5節
詩篇105篇1~5節
We're Fully Funded!.. sort of
We're Fully Funded!.. sort of
Since January, we have been praying to the Lord to provide us with 100% of our monthly support accounted for in pledges by the end of April. In that time, we have asked many of you to join us in prayer and to help us get to that percentage. We are overjoyed to announce that the Lord has indeed provided!
*Cue the celebrating
As of today, we still have some one-time expenses that need to be covered. Check out the support page to see where we are on that.
Praise the Lord!
Boasting in the lord
Boasting in the lord
In light of the Lord's provision, I wanted to take time to share how we have seen God move in this support raising period and in our hearts. He is so worthy of praise and honor. Join us in glorifying the Lord through what He has already done for as we prepare to move to Japan.
The Beginning
The Beginning
When we first got our budget from MTW (our missions agency), we were shocked by the amount that had to be raised. Nearly $7250/month?! We don't even currently live off of that! Of course, we came to realize that my current job covers tax withholdings and health insurance, so the amount is probably comparable to our current situation. So we were beginning to cope with the monthly amount.
However, there was also this other sum of a little over $31,000 to cover various one-time expenses!!! :O
To be honest, I was overwhelmed. This was already testing my faith in the Lord. Christa was amazed at how much money we had to raise, but she was immediately more confident in the Lord's goodness that I initially was. Her faith was a continual reminder that I can truly trust in God to provide. I was reminded of how utterly dependent we all are on the Lord's constant grace.
Our table after church on Mission's Sunday. This was our first time making our mission to Japan public.
Starting the Process
Starting the Process
At the outset, we were clueless how to move forward. Other missionaries from our church and our representative from MTW recommended a couple books to us which we read quickly, but taking the first step toward raising support was daunting. We didn't know where to begin. Fortunately, we have never been left alone in this process.
Our church, Christ Community Church: Laguna Hills, has been tremendously helpful and supportive and encouraging. They have truly been walking alongside us in this journey. It was our church that helped get the ball rolling in terms of fundraising by inviting us to speak about what the Lord has for us in Japan during missions weekend.
After that weekend, the Lord provided in a few key ways that reaffirmed His calling on us. We have been given such a unique opportunity to praise God for how His grace causes His children to become abundantly generous.
One testimony of that was how many people from our church wanted to support us that we hardly even knew. There were several occasions of this in the first few weeks. People of all walks of life continued to express passionate interest in Japan and how they could help establish the Kingdom of God there.
There was another time in that first week, when someone committed to partnering with us at $1000/month! Christa and I both immediately started crying.
This process has produced in us a profound humility because we see God a little more clearly as a loving Father with infinite resources who loves to bless His children. We're humbled because of how big and powerful He is, but also because of His care for us. We find ourselves asking the same questions David asks in Psalm 8:
"When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him,
and the son of man that you care for him?"
We are nothing. Our life is a vapor. Yet the God who created all things, who lacks nothing cares for us and has allowed us to join Him in bringing restoration to the world.
Mind. Blown.
Meeting with various individuals and community groups to share with them our vision for the upcoming year. These were times of mutual encouragement and getting a greater scope of how the Lord can use us in spread the Gospel to the far reaches of the globe.
This fellowship night with our Young Marrieds Ministry is when we hit 100% of our monthly support! It was so fun to celebrate this momentous occasion with so many of our close friends.
Ending the Process
Ending the Process
After that first week, we became busy with meeting with various individuals and community groups from our church to help share our vision for and ministry in Japan. This time was wonderful though. It was such a pleasure to see so many people share our enthusiasm for the work that God is doing in Japan. The Lord continued to remind us of our need for others to partner with us, to support us, to pray on our behalf, and to encourage us.
We are so thankful to Lord for everyone who is praying for us and who has partnered with us financially. We aren't only rejoicing for the blessing it is to us, that it allows us to actually go to Japan and minister there. We are rejoicing that we were able to present this opportunity to all of you to reap whatever harvest there is along with us as you join your name to our mission. We rejoice in the Lord's will and pray above all else that His name would be glorified in our hearts and in the nation of Japan.
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