After Matt and I enjoyed breakfast at 11:30 this morning (yes 11:30! Saturday is my one morning to sleep in, and I take full advantage of it), I sat down to send a few emails. Before I get into that I think I should share the story of my friendship with Sascha Terry.
When I was a freshman in college, Sascha Terry came back from Abilene Christian University to share his story about going into the mission field. Sascha had met a girl at college who was interested in doing mission work in Brazil, so they decided that after getting married they would do long term missions there. Sascha grew up at what is now Kings Crossing Church of Christ in Corpus Christi, the church I attended growing up in Corpus myself. I remember the day pretty clearly, during morning worship he stood up and told the congregation how he would have information set up at his parents' house that evening about the work he, his wife, and their team would be doing in Brazil. He invited everyone to come and learn more. I went that evening, and I think I was the only person all night who came to visit him! Although that was probably pretty discouraging for him, it gave us an opportunity to talk for a few hours about mission work. It was a great experience, and on the way home that evening I dedicated my life to doing overseas missions. I firmly believe that God has put the desire to travel the world and share the love of Jesus with people of different cultures in certain people's hearts. It's not that people who do overseas missions are high and mighty or better Christians than everyone else, that's a bunch of bologna. I think God knows that sometimes people need to hear His truth from people not like themselves, people who have a different worldview or a different skin color. I think that's why I have a desire and a call to do this, and some other people do not.
Okay, back to my story! When Sascha and Jennifer moved to Brazil, I really wanted to help financially support their team. I know that my measly contribution each month was not much, but I know that my little bit combined with other people's little bits really helped. Because I was helping them out I kept up with their blog and the work they were doing there. It was really exciting, and at some times really hard to read about what they were going through. Although I didn't talk to them in person or ever visit them, I felt like I still had a connection to them.
Fast forward to now, and Sascha's family has just come back to the states. I know that there are many Brazilians who are now enjoying a relationship with Jesus because of how God used the Terry family there. Since I have a relationship with their family I thought it would be appropriate to ask them if the churches that helped them out in Brazil would be able to help us out in Australia. Before I go any further, I think it's time to talk about financial support for missionaries.
Do I like asking for money? Not really. I've jokingly been called a professional beggar by more than one member of my family, which really puts a smile on my face....Every member of our team plans to work in some capacity when we are in Australia for many reasons. One is the fact that if we are not out in the community, then we will be totally disillusioned to the life of the regular working Australian. Another is that working is a great way to make friends. Last is the fact that we don't want to be totally dependent on others in order to live. However, it's not like we will land on Australian soil on Sunday and then start a job on Monday morning. Also, we will not be able to have jobs that give us enough hours to support ourselves. Our first job will be to share the Gospel and teach people what it is to be the body of Christ, and that will take a lot of time. We'll be starting from scratch, and will be the ones who teach others what it is to lead as a servant. All this to say that we will need help getting there, and will need a lot of help to stay there. Our team is reading this book called "The Shaping of Things to Come" by Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch. Here's what the authors write about supporting evangelists: "'Don't you know that those who work in the temple get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel' (1 Cor 9:13-14). So wrote Paul, though he was quick to point out that he was not feathering his own nest. He told the Corinthians that he personally was not after any remuneration, only that the church should financially support the work of evangelists generally". It's a biblical principal to help out those who are sharing the Gospel. I must admit, I have a hard time with this myself. Think about it, I share the Gospel with people at work, but no one pays me to do that. Or on the other hand, is it okay to just pay people to share the Gospel, and not do it myself? Yeah right, give me a break. Sharing the Gospel with people is a gift, not a burden. We have hope that lasts now through eternity, how can that be something that we don't want to share! All I know is that our team is constantly trying to find that balance between having enough money to keep our lights on in Australia, while not stashing away so much extra money we're given that we can buy seven big screens and a sailboat or something ridiculous like that.
Okay, time to get back to my very first paragraph! So I sat down after our very late breakfast and sent some emails to the churches that helped Sascha and Jennifer out when they were in Brazil. Sascha was kind enough to tell them about our team in the midst of his busy move back to the states. For that I am very grateful. Today I followed up with them, and asked them if they are interested in helping us financially, emotionally, and spiritually. There's some anxiety in waiting to hear back from them, but I know that God will bring about the outcome that honors Him.
When I was a freshman in college, Sascha Terry came back from Abilene Christian University to share his story about going into the mission field. Sascha had met a girl at college who was interested in doing mission work in Brazil, so they decided that after getting married they would do long term missions there. Sascha grew up at what is now Kings Crossing Church of Christ in Corpus Christi, the church I attended growing up in Corpus myself. I remember the day pretty clearly, during morning worship he stood up and told the congregation how he would have information set up at his parents' house that evening about the work he, his wife, and their team would be doing in Brazil. He invited everyone to come and learn more. I went that evening, and I think I was the only person all night who came to visit him! Although that was probably pretty discouraging for him, it gave us an opportunity to talk for a few hours about mission work. It was a great experience, and on the way home that evening I dedicated my life to doing overseas missions. I firmly believe that God has put the desire to travel the world and share the love of Jesus with people of different cultures in certain people's hearts. It's not that people who do overseas missions are high and mighty or better Christians than everyone else, that's a bunch of bologna. I think God knows that sometimes people need to hear His truth from people not like themselves, people who have a different worldview or a different skin color. I think that's why I have a desire and a call to do this, and some other people do not.
Okay, back to my story! When Sascha and Jennifer moved to Brazil, I really wanted to help financially support their team. I know that my measly contribution each month was not much, but I know that my little bit combined with other people's little bits really helped. Because I was helping them out I kept up with their blog and the work they were doing there. It was really exciting, and at some times really hard to read about what they were going through. Although I didn't talk to them in person or ever visit them, I felt like I still had a connection to them.
Fast forward to now, and Sascha's family has just come back to the states. I know that there are many Brazilians who are now enjoying a relationship with Jesus because of how God used the Terry family there. Since I have a relationship with their family I thought it would be appropriate to ask them if the churches that helped them out in Brazil would be able to help us out in Australia. Before I go any further, I think it's time to talk about financial support for missionaries.
Do I like asking for money? Not really. I've jokingly been called a professional beggar by more than one member of my family, which really puts a smile on my face....Every member of our team plans to work in some capacity when we are in Australia for many reasons. One is the fact that if we are not out in the community, then we will be totally disillusioned to the life of the regular working Australian. Another is that working is a great way to make friends. Last is the fact that we don't want to be totally dependent on others in order to live. However, it's not like we will land on Australian soil on Sunday and then start a job on Monday morning. Also, we will not be able to have jobs that give us enough hours to support ourselves. Our first job will be to share the Gospel and teach people what it is to be the body of Christ, and that will take a lot of time. We'll be starting from scratch, and will be the ones who teach others what it is to lead as a servant. All this to say that we will need help getting there, and will need a lot of help to stay there. Our team is reading this book called "The Shaping of Things to Come" by Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch. Here's what the authors write about supporting evangelists: "'Don't you know that those who work in the temple get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel' (1 Cor 9:13-14). So wrote Paul, though he was quick to point out that he was not feathering his own nest. He told the Corinthians that he personally was not after any remuneration, only that the church should financially support the work of evangelists generally". It's a biblical principal to help out those who are sharing the Gospel. I must admit, I have a hard time with this myself. Think about it, I share the Gospel with people at work, but no one pays me to do that. Or on the other hand, is it okay to just pay people to share the Gospel, and not do it myself? Yeah right, give me a break. Sharing the Gospel with people is a gift, not a burden. We have hope that lasts now through eternity, how can that be something that we don't want to share! All I know is that our team is constantly trying to find that balance between having enough money to keep our lights on in Australia, while not stashing away so much extra money we're given that we can buy seven big screens and a sailboat or something ridiculous like that.
Okay, time to get back to my very first paragraph! So I sat down after our very late breakfast and sent some emails to the churches that helped Sascha and Jennifer out when they were in Brazil. Sascha was kind enough to tell them about our team in the midst of his busy move back to the states. For that I am very grateful. Today I followed up with them, and asked them if they are interested in helping us financially, emotionally, and spiritually. There's some anxiety in waiting to hear back from them, but I know that God will bring about the outcome that honors Him.
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