Day 4 – supporting your fellow members

Galatians 6:2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. (ESV)

No one succeeded in Ministry alone.

Paul went with Silas and Timothy on his missionary trips. Jesus also tutored the Twelve during His time here on Earth.

We missioners too, are supported by the multitude of people even though only a few of us set foot on our target nation. Some of these people provide the financial resources while others set the paperwork and the facilities to ensure your safe journey towards your destination. Finally, we have family and friends that support us emotionally and pray unceasingly to God for provisions.

We are fortunate to have these people with us, and others could be as fortunate when we share their support. These people could then, in turn, use their God-given strengths and talents to further His cause to the nations.

Let me tell you about Pastor Dan Harder, and how he supported his fellow missioner start his journey.

Pastor Dan Harder and his wife Icor were planning to raise money to go together during his short term mission to Kyrygyzstan. They were only able to raise funds that could support one person. The couple have excess funds but it is not enough to fully cover the needs of another person. The couple prayed for guidance on how to they could use the extra funds. Finally, they decided to have Pastor Dan go on to the missions and give the excess money to another young church leader who himself who has not yet.

Looking back, Pastor Dan realized that they reached their goal on bringing the gospel to the land-locked nation of Kyrygyzstan while equipping the next generation of missioners on their own spiritual journey.

Day 3 – Reaching out to the people for support

Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”(NIV)

It takes a lot of faith for asking blessings from God and from the people who are the channels from this blessings. Shyness, lack of strong relationships and lack of confidence affects our actions for reaching out to the people that could support us. Then there is the temptation to simply ask one person to fully fund the support that you need for the trip.

Although daunting and inconvenient, we should understand that even raising funds is a part of the short term ministry. By providing people with a means to support you, you are actually enabling them to spread the gospel to the nations. Besides, God blesses people who supports His children. Who knows, your very means of reaching out to others might help lead these people to salvation.

This is the story of Red, a college student who trusted the Lord to go out of his comfort zone to reach out to people rather than go the easy way out.

Red’s goal was to answer God’s Great Commission, knowing that the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. He intended to go to Kyrgyzstan but opportunity lead him to a Youth team that is headed to Vietnam.

He obtained his funds from his friends from school and family. His grandfather was willing to help him but he deferred even though he needs to raise at least 2000 US dollars for the trip. His mother asked him to have faith even though his grandfather can cover the expense. With this challenge and encouragement, he managed to reach out to people such as his discipline committee to raise the required funds. Slowly but surely, Red has fully raised the funds by the time that his grandfather asked him again about it.

With the money and encouragement from his supporters, Red became one of the most productive members of the mission to Vietnam. His skills in magic tricks entertained the Vietnamese people and

became a good icebreaker prior to fellowship and learning more about Jesus and how He came to save them. The mission trip left Red inspired to join other Short term missions in the future. Red learned a lot from this trip but this would have not been possible had he not take the first step and reached out for support.

Day 2 - Casting Your Cares on Him

Philippians 1:6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (NIV)

Gathering up the courage to join a short term ministry team is a daunting task. Our first day let us see the plight of the lost, now it’s time to take the first step towards making your mission a reality. You will need to join a short term mission team that is supported by your church. Ask your local church if they are planning to send a short term mission team. The team should be led by a strong and faithful leader. The leader is usually the pastor of the church or an experienced spiritual leader. You should also seek like-minded members that have a heart for the lost.

You should also seek your spiritual leader’s advice to prepare you for the coming challenges ahead. Don’t be discouraged if you feel spiritually and financially unready. God will provide for those who cast their cares on Him.

Gia, a student from the Emilio Aguinaldo College, had a desire to join a short term mission when she saw information about them on the envelopes distributed in her church. Since then, she has dreamed of one day joining such a team and spread the Gospel to the world.  That’s why she eagerly joined a mission to Macau when a call for a Ten Days Missions was announced in her local church, VCF U Belt.

However she was greatly discouraged when she learned that it would be a difficult task for her to raise funds for the short term mission. She is quite unsure if the people she knows could spare enough resources to support her since her circle of friends is composed of mostly students like her. She believes that those who are single have an easier time raising funds as they have a job to support themselves.

But instead of blaming her difficulty, Gia believed in God and continued raising funds for her trip. She believed that the God of the Singles is the same as the God of the Students. She knows that she only needs to do her part and God would do the rest to bring the missions to completion. And indeed God proved faithful as someone blessed her with the required funding through tithing.

Thirteen Psalms

How long will You be silent
When I cry to You?

How long will Your Spirit move
While I withstand attacks?

How long will You hold off
When I ask for blessing?

How long will You forget
While I am rejected?

How long will You tarry
When I ask for comfort?

How long will You hide
While I am lost and without direction?

Still I will worship
For You have been good to me

Still I will praise
For You are the only one worthy

Still I will bow down
For You are always been my Lord

Still I will follow
For You have guided me always

Still I will be still
For You are my Salvation

Still I will trust
For You have never forsaken me

Still I will love You
For You have always loved me