Thoughts about Communication...

So many things go swarming through my head when it comes to this subject. Let me explain.

We have been raising support for a year now. In fact, I just checked our 2007 calendar and discovered that November 12th was our very first support raising appointment. It's been exactly one year since this whole process began. We've had the privilege of sharing our story and ministry plans over 60 times, we've made umpteen phone calls, we've sent out 7 prayer letters, and we've sent a handful of e-mails since that time. Communication is most certainly part of this new world!

I have to be honest. I thought communication would be easy and great fun. After all, I was a Marketing major in college, Mark and I both love writing, and my career was in marketing and advertising! You would think this would be easy for us. The reality is that it is confusing trying to communicate in this stage of our ministry.

(1) Should we be totally honest and transparent? When we see people in the halls of church, or when we write a prayer letter, should we be honest about our struggles emotionally as God teaches us how to trust more in Him? Or, do we determine (for our own good and the good of others) to only praise God for the things that He is doing? People need to know of our need, but how do we express it?

(2) We have felt like we are wearing a muzzle most of the time. It has been astounding how God has provided, but we cannot share it with everyone. We cannot say, "Wow, last night so-and-so just committed $xxx monthly to our ministry! Praise God!" or "Amazing, on the same day the stock market tanked (for the first time), God provided a monthly donor as this amazing amount of money! God is truly incredible and worthy of our trust!" But, wisdom says that the subject of giving is best kept as a private vs. a public matter.

(3) Emotions can be a real bummer! We would be lying to say this is an easy process. I remember writing in an early prayer letter how fun support raising is. This is true! We have really enjoyed spending time with people. It has been a rich lesson for us to learn how important it is to fellowship with other believers. When we meet with people, we are being drawn together by the shared interest in seeing the gospel spread around the world, and the fellowship has been fabulous!

But, we are not immune to the ups and downs of our emotions in this process. We have been taught by many of you. Many of you understand that your money is God's and have said things that have blown us away! (i.e. This money is not ours, and we are happy to use what God has given to us to send you to France. Wow!) But, there are those of you who have prayed and asked God if you should give to our ministry, or other things. God has led you to give elsewhere. This is absolutely right. The result for us is admiration for how God's people obey God, but also disappointment. We are anxious to get to France! But, we are learning to trust entirely on God. And, He is providing! We have made a concerted effort to review all God has done already and to be thankful and to pray earnestly and to trust in God to provide. But, as you might understand, we are reluctant to splash all of these emotions all over the pages of our communications!

(4) Finally, there is something permanent about putting words on paper or, even more, on the Internet! We don't want to say the wrong thing!

But, communication is so important. Rather than worry terribly about how we say something, we are learning to pray about our communication first, then write from the heart and trust God to use our story to His glory. We are committed to communicating with our supporters so that you understand how grateful we are for you, so that you understand how God is using our resources for His kingdom work, and so that we can pray "one for another."

In that vain, I have to say God has been speaking to me through His Word (the best way!). I'm am loving the Bible studies I am able to be apart of this year. In one of the studies, we looked at this verse from Luke 22:35. Jesus is speaking with the disciples after he had sent them out with instructions to take NOTHING with them; no gold, silver, copper, bag or extra coat, sandals or staff. In this Luke passage, Jesus is sending them out again, but he begins by saying, "When I sent you out without money belt and bag and sandals, you did not lack anything, did you?"

Then, we turned to Matthew 10:29-31 for this week's study:
"Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet, not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows. Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before my Father who is in heaven."

So true! In God's economy, what we are doing makes total sense. Because of who God is, our every need will be taken care of. He is faithful to the very end! Praise God!