What was it that motivated you to go into mission in the first place? How would you describe the ‘pull’? Was it a lightbulb moment or perhaps a slowly growing sense of calling?
During the many training days we’ve run over the last decade we’ve pretty much heard it all and could probably distil it down into this ‘Top 10’:
Words that crop up time and again are ‘passion’ ‘desire’ ‘inspire’ ‘eternity’ – words which are dynamic and expansive – so why then, when it comes to resourcing the vision do the words change?
Time and again we hear words like ‘fear’, ‘difficulty’ and ‘embarrassment’ being used when it comes to support-raising. The pull of mission and calling is pushed back as the negatives stack up.
So what are the ‘Top 10’ push backs?
Interesting, isn’t it? 10 pulls and 10 push backs. You might spot your own inspirations and reservations in those lists; you might have your own variations on them but they are true for the many thousands of Christian Workers we’ve worked with over the years and as Myles Wilson of Funding the Family Business will affirm, they’re true statements across the globe in every culture where mission workers are raising support.
So how do you stop the push backs smothering the vision that God has called you to?
Face-to-Face
Finance for Ministry devotes a session to helping you understand some of the feelings and issues around support-raising and examines those same issues in the lives of key groups and individuals in the Bible. Support-Raising for Ministry goes further and really cuts to the heart of why support-raising should be viewed as a privilege and not a burden. Click here for latest dates.
Help at Hand
The Funding the Family Business handbook starts by looking at the biblical basis for raising and living on support and contains exercises, reflections and prayers designed to help you draw strength and understanding from that heritage. Order your copy here at the reduced price of £10 by using the code FTFB10.
Advice on specifics
How much is enough? and Culture Shock: the emotional turmoil of poverty, injustice and equality are just a couple of the issues which are tackled in a whole series of papers we’ve written tackling issues related to raising and living on support. Free to download from the Stewardship website.
Read more like this:
Why is accountability so important?
Spare change or major investment?
Holidays for missionaries: luxury or necessity?
Your comment will have to be approved by a site administrator before it is shown on the site so please be patient.
blogs by the Stewardship team and selected guest writers.
comments: