These last couple of days I've been trying to throw my heart over the concept of support raising. It was an online chat conversation with my future team leader in Thailand that brought this all up. Nearly every time I speak to her she manages to slip in a 'So when are you coming over?'. I finish my last training by the 22nd June 2008. However the School that I hope to staff begins in July 2008! That's an extremely short time to wrap up, say goodbye to everyone in Sydney and move to Thailand. It's also a really short time to make sure I have enough financial partnerships in place to actually be able to go!
I was heartbroken at being run out of Zimbabwe and having to abandon our plans for ministry there. I think I would be even more incredibly disappointed with myself if I had to leave the ministry project halfway in Thailand for lack of funding. So hence - I have begun thinking about support raising.
Firstly, I thought 'this is really weird'. Fact is, till this whole mission thing came up, the only people I've ever asked to give me money are my parents. Sponging off your parents probably comes naturally to every child. It's a whole new ball game when you realise that God wants you to depend on His and the generosity of other people to live. In Matthew 6:24 Jesus is rather blunt about the fact "you cannot serve both God and money". Having probably shot my career in the neck by resigning and stepping out of commercial design, it's a case of serve God first, and leave the money up to Him to provide.
So I began to read this book called 'Funding the family business' by Myles Wilson. He had been supporter of his brother, who was a missionary with Campus Crusade for many years. Then eventually he and his wife decided to take the step to become missionaries themselves. He pointed out that it was strange that the missionaries he talked to felt burdened with the task of asking for support, when actually he had found giving extremely enjoyable. And thinking back, when I was working I did quite enjoy giving to mission and hearing back about what that money has acheived - it was always fun to see. So I guess it should always be enjoyable - both being the giver and being the reciever because both positions are in an opportunity to bless the other...
I was heartbroken at being run out of Zimbabwe and having to abandon our plans for ministry there. I think I would be even more incredibly disappointed with myself if I had to leave the ministry project halfway in Thailand for lack of funding. So hence - I have begun thinking about support raising.
Firstly, I thought 'this is really weird'. Fact is, till this whole mission thing came up, the only people I've ever asked to give me money are my parents. Sponging off your parents probably comes naturally to every child. It's a whole new ball game when you realise that God wants you to depend on His and the generosity of other people to live. In Matthew 6:24 Jesus is rather blunt about the fact "you cannot serve both God and money". Having probably shot my career in the neck by resigning and stepping out of commercial design, it's a case of serve God first, and leave the money up to Him to provide.
So I began to read this book called 'Funding the family business' by Myles Wilson. He had been supporter of his brother, who was a missionary with Campus Crusade for many years. Then eventually he and his wife decided to take the step to become missionaries themselves. He pointed out that it was strange that the missionaries he talked to felt burdened with the task of asking for support, when actually he had found giving extremely enjoyable. And thinking back, when I was working I did quite enjoy giving to mission and hearing back about what that money has acheived - it was always fun to see. So I guess it should always be enjoyable - both being the giver and being the reciever because both positions are in an opportunity to bless the other...
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