Support Raising...

Thank you to those of you who have expressed interest in supporting me in the campus ministry with InterVarsity.  It has come to my attention that IV does not have my account ready yet.  So donations have not been allowed to come online.  It should be up and running any day now.  Thank you for your patience as everything comes together in God's time.

I thank you for following my journey in ministry even if you are not able to financially support me.  There are many ways to support. 

1.  Prayer: is a wonderful and powerful way to support me and anyone in ministry.  Everyone needs prayer, but Christian leaders and missionaries need it especially.  "If the shepherd is knocked down, the sheep scatter."  I appreciate your prayers.  It is often a thankless way to support, as I often don't know who prays for me.  But know that God knows and will greatly reward you.  Prayers open the way for ministry to happen.  There is much that goes on in this world that is unseen with the human eye.  Prayers open and take down spiritual strong holds.  God allows us to particpate in his work, but lifting up others and asking for his help, provision and protection.  I attribute my ability to minister in public school lunches to the prayers of other believers and myself.  Acts 4:31 shows us a prayer of the first believers, "After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken.  They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly."  1 John 3:21-23; Hebrews 4:16 tell us to approach the throne of God with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."  Thank you for your prayers!

2.  Talents/Spiritual Gifts:  One friend isn't able to support me financially and instead is going to help me with some pictures, video and web support.  Others may be gifted in wisdom, knowledge, service etc... I may need advice or to talk through a theological issue.  We are the body of Christ and we need each other.  Ephesians 4; 1 Corinthians 12-14, Matthew 25:14-30.  The Parable of the Talents is especially on my heart the last couple of years.  Three servants come to their master (we know it's Jesus) and he entrusts them with various "talents".  When he returns from a journey he is expecting a return on his investment.  The servants who invest and use what he has entrusted to them are rewarded "Well done, good and faithful servant!  You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.  Come and share your master's happiness!"  The servant who did "nothing" with what he was entrusted is not treated as such, "You wicked and lazy servant!...." 
I desire to use what God has entrusted to me and the most valuable item God has entrusted to us is the Gospel!

3.  Finances and supplies: this is important too because I cannot start my campus ministry until the finances come in.  1 Corinthians 9; Philippians; 1Tim 5:18 all speak about the support the church offers its workers.  Paul is compelled to preach the gospel and wants to give it "free of charge".  The same is true of my position with campus ministry.  College students as you all may know, are not too wealthy.  They are mostly unable to support a campus minister.  That is why I am trusting that God will supply what I need to do this ministry. 

As Jesus said, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.  Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." Matthew 9:37-38.  Also Luke 10:7 says, "for the worker is worth his wage."  I have served in many different capacities in ministry.  I've gone to college and volunteered (having practically no money); I've worked, gone to school and volunteered; I've worked and volunteered; I've volunteered full time for no pay while my wife supported me; and now I am being called to a "support" ministry where I need to depend on God to provide through the church.  Either way, however I serve, I am called to proclaim the gospel.  Do you believe that Jesus is the only way to heaven?  John 14:6, Jesus says, "I am the way, the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me."  If you read in John 10 you will see another explaination of Jesus as the "gate" into eternal life.  I am convinced of this and I do not want anyone to be without Christ.  I long for my family, friends and even strangers and those who are offended by the gospel to be saved. 

If you have questions or any thoughts about anything I have written about today, please let me know.

Serving in Christ,

Todd