Why Raise Support?

Lately, I've been getting some questions from people about why do I have to raise support. So I thought I would answer it here on the blog, in case some others of you are wondering and haven't had a chance to ask.

Well, I'll just start with the most obvious reason: because NTM doesn't pay me. I'm still sure this is the ministry God has for me. I'm also sure that I still have to do things like pay rent and buy food etc- so therefore: support raising. Wouldn't it be easier to get a job? Yes it would- believe me I thought long and hard about it. I even prayed long and hard about it- asking God if there was some way I could work a job and still do the ministries He's given me. But there isn't. There just aren't enough hours in the day. Actually that wasn't exactly God's answer. Well, that was part of it, but the end of the discussion was more along the lines of  "What? You don't like the way I'm providing?"*turns red* Right. Sorry, God.

Another reason I think God uses this time of support raising to raise awareness in the church. I remember after speaking to a group of college students, I had several people come up to me and say things like "Wow I had no idea there still were people who don't have a Bible." Out of sight, out of mind, I guess. But one of the opportunities God gives through support raising is the chance to bring least-reached people groups into focus. To highlight the need to get the gospel places it's never been before.

God's giving His people a chance to participate in something that's very dear to His heart- even though the work He's got for them is somewhere else. Isn't that cool? For instance, I know that God wants me in Missouri (eventually. Apparently right now He wants me in Philadelphia) But through prayer, and through giving, God lets me be part of translating the Bible in Burkina Faso, and planting a church in the Philippines. And there are so many, many places where I can't go, but I can still be a part of the awesome stuff God's doing.

Honestly I think probably the biggest reason is that it teaches me to depend on God and my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Being of the stubborn independent persuasion.... I don't like depending on people. Nope. Don't like it. BUT- that doesn't mean I don't need to do it. In fact, God's designed things so that I have to do it. Because actually, learning to depend on people (in a good way) is based on trusting God's sovereignty over people. Trusting that His way is  best. And after all - that's the point of....everything.