Rom 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

FROM THE HEART OF A MISSIONARY

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God Amazes!
When June 12 arrives, my wife and I will have been in full time missionary work in the Philippines for 4 years.

I hope you don’t mind if I share from my heart!
It is not that I am discouraged, because I am not! I have more hope inside than I have, perhaps, ever had.
I don’t ever ask for financial support, unless, of course when I am talking to God. The fact I don’t ask, does not, by any stretch of the imagination mean we don’t have needs. It really gets on my nerves where ministers are constantly asking and begging for money. I think it is a blight and not a good testimony to the world about our God Who provides.
To be fair, these “beggars” are the result of three causes:

1. A scammer! They take pictures of starving children, or an orphanage or a child with a health issue. They cry, plead, beg every week for more help. Meanwhile they have no orphans, no orphan received any benefit. They pulled at your heartstrings, they wore you down and you gave.
2. The legitimate ministry. They really do have hungry mouths to feed and naked kids to clothe. The empty bowls, empty stomachs, the look of those faces, of children you truly love, looking to you for something to eat. But you were never taught not to beg! You were never encouraged to ask God, not man. I don’t agree with this begging, but I understand a person might humiliate themselves to feed these children. Because, for whatever reason, the need is not being met.
3. This third on is my category. I don’t believe in begging! Sometimes it crosses my mind that it is pride that keeps me from asking when we have a need. First I would like to explain, our personal needs are always met! I don’t expect that to change as I intend to seek God’s Kingdom first and all His Righteousness. I have proven this promise to be true all of my Christian life. It may be the last minute, but the provision is always there! What a Faithful God!

Facts:
We live in a very poor country!
Bibles cost money
Every outreach costs money
Feeding the poor requires money.
Clothing the naked requires money
Building a church requires money.
While people are building mega churches and mega homes, the people on the front line have need!
It seems the saved have no heart for the lost, especially if the lost are different in color or in another country. I have a missionary friend in China. Give that man $50,000 USDollars and he will plant 10 churches and win 40,000 to Christ for that investment. Everyone that contributes will receive an eternal benefit for their genuine kingdom investment!
Meanwhile many in the megachurches are not even saved. We move sheep from one church to the next and call it church growth. The Kingdom is barely advancing if it is advancing at all. Our ROI return on investment is pitiful! I believe it is one of the most successful tactics of the enemy to divert funds from where it counts, to places where it doesn’t.
Back to my scenario! I really need funding to complete the work God out in my heart to do! Not for me! For ministry! To reach the lost! Ali g the way ease the pain for as many as possible. Provide bibles for those who have none.
When I think of the Golden Rule, if I had a friend, who sold all, risked his life and the life of his family, moved to another country, that friend was winning souls to Christ and advancing the kingdom of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I would support in prayer and finances until it hurt, but do it with joy! I have and I would do it again!
Now move away, these same people, you never hear from! Most not a word! This is the life of Christ! They did it to Him, it will also happen to us! But, it still amazes me!
Many as you are going make you promises! Promises never kept! You mention to the Lord in secret your each and every need. Then 4 people from different locations say, I believe God wants us to help you with this and that. The exact things you mentioned in secret to God!
So one thing, you know God is speaking to hearts! But even after saying God told me to help, then no help! This amazes me! If God tells me to do something, I know it is God, as quickly as possible I will do. This is basic, AMAZED!
If I had anything else to sell I would! In a heartbeat!
To be clear, there are people that have been faithful every single month since we got here. There are people with a very limited income that are the most faithful! Amazed!
There are people who pray for us and truly love the Lord. There are those who have a heart to give but cannot find a way. All OK and understandable.
Amazed!
One fellow that is a multimillionaire. This man I love and helped in the Lord many times and continue to help.
One day he calls me and says, “you know, I can write a check to you every week for $10k and not even miss it!” Then he says, “but I am jealous of you and your fruitful ministry, happy home, a wife that loves you.” Every year promises, but nothing. A spiritual father that since I have been here promise this and that, so many things. Yet almost nothing! Amazed!
Amazed!
Just last night, I see a PayPal alert, you have money! I look at the sender’s name and it is a person I don’t know and have never met. Amazing!
A pastor here gives me enough money to get some temporary work done on my mouth. Amazing!
People I never met, opened their home and fed me and let me stay there, even alone. Amazing!
Some of our most faithful supporters met through Facebook! Amazing!
We now have a goat ministry to the poor from a friend from long ago. Amazing!
I guess it was sort of a rant. I forgive and realize that some just don’t have the capacity or grace to do any better. Do I understand the fellow with real orphans begging? Yes! Do I agree and will I also do this? No!
Do I see the hungry and naked? Yes! And it breaks my heart! Do I see more souls I could reach? Yes! Does it frustrate me? Of course!
God bless!