Ask a Missionary - Catch The Fire

A: Let God grow your faith.
Ultimately, it’s God’s responsibility to provide for us as we follow
his leading. He is the Lord of the universe, for whom nothing is
too difficult (Genesis 18:14). He even calls into existence things that
do not yet exist (Romans 4:17). This is a source of great comfort.
Sometimes, however, neither his calendar nor his pace are as rapid
as we might wish. Abraham had to wait quite a while before he
received the promise of his son Isaac. Remember, for God the issue
is not simply money. He will use our support-raising experiences
to develop other characteristics in us, such as faith, patience, and
sensitivity to others.
In the following biblical passages, study God’s faithful provisions
to Abraham: Genesis 11:27–25:11; Romans 4; and Hebrews
11. Then consider Philippians 4:10–20, where Paul in every verse
refers to his own experience in fundraising.
Raising support is actually a spiritual issue. Becoming a missionary
means expecting God to enable us to communicate a
message to people of another culture that will lead them to change
their whole worldview. That is an unreal expectation from a human
point of view. Only a miracle can accomplish this end. However,
we believe in the God of miracles, who reached out to us and is
changing us day by day, and we believe he can do this in others’
lives as well. Similarly, if this God, who is the Creator and Sustainer
of the universe, calls us to serve him, can he not also provide for
our needs? As the mission we served under told us, “The provision
of financial resources is God’s seal on your direction to serve him
in missions.”
The great majority of American missionaries today have gone
through the process of raising support. But it’s not just garnering
support. It is entering into a partnership with people who will commit
themselves to share our vision, opportunities, trials, difficulties,
and blessings. As Paul tells the Corinthians, “You also must help
FUNDING: Figuring It Out | 123