Thank you!

"What you are doing is much more than a service that supplies God’s people with what they need. It is something that will make many others thank God. The way in which you have proved yourselves by this service will bring honor and praise to God." - 2 Corinthians 9:12-13a CEV

Through the generosity of my prayer partners, the Lord has blessed me with the FULL funding required for this work! Even in spite of a $350 price increase, my biggest problem is remembering the many people I should specifically thank.

A few years ago, I went to hear the evangelist Perry Stone preach in Oneonta. The sermon came from Genesis 22 and Acts 27. Perry taught that when God calls you to something, He gradually gives you the four P's: the plan, the place, the provisions, and the purpose. I am so grateful that God has always been with me since His called me to missions. He originally gave me the plan and the place; over three years later, the Lord supplied the provisions!

With God, all things really are possible. What faith do we have if we believe in the resurrection but doubt the Lord will provide for us? Trusting the Lord is a hard thing to do. In spite of my initial doubts, the Lord has raised up many brothers and sisters to fund His work. I am very thankful for God's provision as well as for my Lakeside family and my friends whom the Lord called to fund this undertaking.

Trusting the Lord

"With all your heart you must trust the LORD and not your own judgment. Always let him lead you, and he will clear the road for you to follow." -Proverbs 3:5-6 CEV

My Need for Contributions

I have enjoyed serving others from a young age and now know this was God’s way of preparing me for long-term missions. When I was sixteen, God told me of a definite place of service He had for me. After much prayer and preparation, God has called me to serve in Germany with Pioneers. Pioneers is a missions organization dedicated to bringing the Gospel to unreached peoples and assisting in planting local churches. I have been selected to be part of a four-person team from the U.S. to serve for ten weeks with a local missionary family in Germany. I am excited not just for this opportunity but feel that this is the beginning of what is to be my long-term service for God.

Spiritually speaking, Germany is one of the most secular countries in the world.  Christianity is marginalized or ignored completely.  It is seen as irrelevant and irrational.  It is our goal to encourage German and international students to think about the fundamental questions surrounding life – questions of origin, meaning, morality and destiny and to hear the Christian worldview as it addresses these questions. We are to meet this challenge through street evangelism, children’s camps and youth events, construction activities, interaction with international students, and other activities as directed.

I am writing to ask two things of you. First, although I know this venture is part of God’s plan for me, I nonetheless seek your prayers for His continuing guidance. This semester in school is very demanding, so I ask you to join me in prayer that I use my time efficiently in order that I may be devoting the needed preparation to this upcoming ministry. Pray that I not miss an opportunity to share the Gospel and for my clarity of speech when speaking in German. Also, please pray for God’s preparation of receptive hearts among the people we encounter. I covet your prayers, and as my prayer warriors, I consider you a part of our mission team.

Second, please pray with me in securing the financial means necessary for this ministry to which God has called me. The approximate cost for my participation in this ministry is $4,100. In your prayers for this service, should the Lord lead you to give financially, I would be most appreciative and truly grateful. An account in my name has been established with Pioneers. Financial contributions may be submitted by mail with the enclosed donation slip and envelope. Should you wish, donations can also be made online at www.pioneers.org/give/missionary. (Please be advised that a 3% transaction fee is deducted from your online donation.) All donations made to my ministry must reference account #175443. All contributions are tax-deductible. No gift from the heart is ever too small, and all will be blessed by God.

I am so excited about this opportunity that God is giving me that I cannot wait to begin. I readily welcome any opportunity to discuss this mission venture, and I encourage you to ask any questions you may have. I have started this blog---appropriately named www.HisHandsInGermany.com---for daily postings as I prepare, serve, and return. As my prayer partners, encouragers, and supporters for this mission, I invite you to visit the site and share in the joys of serving Christ our Savior. Glory to God!