Unconditional Sharing

I recently had the opportunity to participate in a training course given by a Brazilian missions organization.  It was great perspective and really encouraging to see how the church in Brazil is working towards more generous giving towards missions.  The Brazilian culture historically views missions as a role supported solely by the church and thus is not inclined to give personally.  This makes it difficult for Brazilians to enter full time missions.  Please pray with us as the church here in Brazil transitions into an era of more generous giving to the Lord's work!

Overall, I was reminded of the many challenges in building a team of supporters, how much faith it requires, utter reliance on God, and pure humility.  It is a challenge to our ingrained way of thinking in the United States as we are taught from our youth to be independent.  But oh how sweet it is when we are able to see God working through the Body of Christ...

Here are a few random thoughts or snip-its of what I learned...

We see evidence of maturity in support team building when:

a) we believe that raising support is not an interruption in our ministry, but rather a part of our ministry
b) when we recognize that God will supply ALL of our needs
c) when we recognize that God is teaching us about faith
d) when we understand that people have a God-given capacity and desire to give generously
e) when we believe that donors need and want to give which is more important than our necessity to receive
f) when we have an attitude of gratitude in and circumstance.

One of the beautiful things about the body of Christ is our ability to share and have communion with each other, under the common bond of Christ, outside of the boundaries of nations, race, culture, age, or wealth.  We should all be working towards the same goal, ultimately, glorifying our Almighty Lord and Savior through worship and praise of His eternal being.  And to this end, we call up other beside us and explain the Way, the Truth, the Gospel...

"For the early Christians, Koinonia was not ... tea, biscuits, and conversation in the social room at church after the sermon.  It was an unconditional sharing of their lives with other members of the body of Christ."  Rondald J. Sider

Covered in Grace,

JAE