Why we need each other...

Ever felt like your life just wasn't cutting it? Like you were just going through the motions, but there was no satisfaction? We all know that there is more to life than just eating, drinking, sleeping, and breathing. These things will keep our bodies from death, but they do little to our souls. As a husband and father, I often slip into auto-pilot and focus on need-meeting rather than spirit-building.

About a year and a half ago, when Ashley and I started feeling God telling us to begin pursuing missions, we were excited and, begrudged to admit, naive. We began researching and dreaming and talking and planning, we even giggled on occasion. Being the planners we were, we thought we had it figured out.

We began doing all the sensible things like budgeting, planning logistics, and reading the "Lonely Planet" travel guide to Bolivia. We talked to our friends, who God had connected us with in heart and calling. I think all of us were in this honeymoon season. God had so deeply rooted this passion inside of us that we just knew everything was down hill from there. God had paid our debts, affirmed the call, and even pointed us to a country.

Not too long afterward, we hit a brick wall. All of those idealistic assumptions became wishful thinking and the realization of all the things that have to come together for us to make the transition fell front and center. Some of our families didn't understand or agree with what we were feeling in our hearts, which magnified the pit we found ourselves in. We realized how much money we were actually going to need and were faced with the incredible task of trusting God to provide it (still trusting by the way).

In all the things that God has been teaching us and leading us through, I think one of the most important is the value of people. Not to say that people weren't valuable before, but we did take our friends and family for granted. Faced with the prospect of leaving our loved ones to travel so far away, we realized how important they are to us. More, we began to realize how important they are to the calling that God has given us.

When we saw that we needed upwards of 30 thousand dollars to make the move to Bolivia (2 families, 11 people), we were quite discouraged. Thinking about the fact that we, together, need $6500 a month in pledge support to live and operate, made me a little queasy. Anyone who has ever had to ask for money knows that is never a comfortable experience. Reading a great book about support raising, I now understand why that is.

Its uncomfortable because we like our independence. We like the strength and resolve that comes from being able to accomplish things on our own. The problem with this is that God intended for us to not be independent, or dependent, but interdependent. I think some of the most beautiful scriptures in the Bible are 2 Corinthians 8:1-5 and Acts 4:32-35. Both of these verses remind me of how awesome it is to have a God to supplies our needs, and that we are blessed to be a part of that.

In 2 Corinthians, Paul says that the church at Macedonia was in "a severe test of affliction" and "extreme poverty" but that "abundant joy" overflowed in "a wealth of generosity." He goes on to say that they gave as they had in their means and even beyond, to the point that they begged to give. My favorite part is that even in such circumstances, they had abundant joy that can only come from the Lord. I pray very often for God to increase this same level of joy in me so that my life could be spoken of in this same way. They didn't give for reputation or to receive a benefit but they were overcome with joy to partner with other believers to see the message of the gospel preached to the world. They knew what joy they were passing along in their giving and the investment they were making in their relationship with Paul and other believers.

Giving has little to do with resources and everything to do with relationship. God works our giving to accomplish His goals, but He provides us the opportunity of giving to sew into each other as partners in the gospel. We need each other and the joy of the Lord that this produces in us, which becomes our strength in our walk with the Lord.

In Acts, Luke tells us that the members of the church had everything in common, no one claimed anything for a personal possession. We read that there was "not a needy person among them." What a great example of God's love in caring for His people to produce "one heart" among the church to see His will accomplished.

I have thought long and hard about how to approach the whole "give to this ministry" thing that we are undertaking in support raising for missions. And, I have learned that it isn't about money at all. Its about people partnering with people with joy at our core and the commission of Christ to make disciples as our goal. Its finding that part of life that brings real satisfaction and meaning to our lives.

As we are asking people for their prayerful consideration of pledging their financial support, I pray that our hearts for partnership are evident. It's not about a monthly check, but a deep meaningful relationship. We want to pray for you, pray with you, hear about your lives, tell you about what God is doing on the field, hear about what God is doing in you, and for us to be able to encourage and affirm one another in our faith in Christ.

In love and grace,

Seth