March 14th, 2006

God has really been changing my perspective about fundraising. I have been reading a book called Friend Raising. God is using this book to challenge my thinking about fundraising and even missions. I am learning that God desires to reach the whole world through friends. In other words missions is about friends partnered with friends to reach new friends with the gospel. No one should be seen as insignificant and or un needed. God desires that me and my friends(the team going out over seas) are connected to our own friends (our individual supporters) who in turn will establish new friends (those whom our team reaches out to).

Ex. 25: 1-2—Communication is important in missions. These verses is when Moses is getting ready to build the tabernacle. God instructs him to ask the people to bring an offering. God than prompts people’s hearts to give. At the end of the story we can see that the people than give so much that they have to tell them to stop. WOWW!! What an amazing story of God’s faithfulness for the task he has asked us to do.

Ex. 35—One thing that strikes me about this passage is that the offering brought to Moses not only includes things but also peoples time and talents. The people brought what they could. God desires to use our gifts. What ever they me be…”WHATEVER gifts… ”