Wednesday, June 20, 2012
This may be my least popular post, but on the way to Illinois on Sunday God spoke to me about something and I need to share it and see what comes of it. I had 6 hours to think and pray and listen to what God might say to me. Now, I had to listen through some screaming and fighting, but I got the message. God placed Chicago on our hearts about 10 years ago. We both loved Chicago! We had talked several times throughout our married life about moving up there just because we wanted to live in such a great city. You all know that over the past few years God has turned our love for the city into a love for the people of the city. I think Emma summed up our feelings when we told the kids back in February that we would not be moving this year and Emma said, "But Dad, WE HAVE TO!" Our hearts are no longer leading us to Chicago just because we want to live there, but we HAVE to. Our hearts are longing for the city of Chicago. Last week when we were at the assessment one of the speakers said that you know when you are ready to launch into a city when it no longer is just a desire but a necessity.
Last month when Jeremy got offered that job we could not be more thrilled! And yet, the issue with our house still hangs like a noose around our neck. It does not make sense to us. It does not make sense to our realtor. Last week I went into the post office and one of the parents of a child I taught in K4 seven years ago was working and asked if we had sold the house yet. She let me know that their family was praying! Everyone I know is praying (well, they say they are:). My children pray every day that some one would buy our house and still nothing! I say all of that to say, I am no longer depending on my house to sell to get me to Chicago. God will provide. So people who keep saying to me,"Oh but your house has not sold," you can stop now. Oh what, that is not what this post was about! Sorry.
A few weeks ago I saw a post on FB from a family that has started a church over two years ago that said that their house in the other state they moved from had finally sold. It occurred to me that missionaries, home or foreign, and church planters of all denominations have financial support. They raise money from churches, from people who are saying by their giving, that they believe it what they are doing. We believe with all of our heart that God has given us the gift of teaching to reach the community that we will be living in, so we are going as bi-vocational church planters. Because we will have other jobs many assume that we do not need financial support. We have not asked for money support because we do not want churches to pay our salary because we are not taking one from our church plant. So it hit me Sunday that basically $1,200 a month is what we lack monthly to move and start our ministry in Chicago (that would be the amount of my house payment). So, here come the not-so-popular part of this post.
I am asking that churches, Sunday School classes, youth groups, small groups, or any organization in your church, to make a $100 pledge to us for 6 months. If we could get 12 groups to help us for 6 months we could move and get started on our ministry. I would also encourage that those who support make plans to come to Chicago and see what God is doing through their generosity. I know you cannot make your churches do any thing, but maybe if you could just pass our story on to them. Maybe there is somebody in your church or your circle of influence that has just been waiting for an opportunity to be a blessing to someone.
So, we need 12 $100 pledges of monthly support for 6 months.
If you are still reading this:), we had a good day today. We were back to work today and the kids were so much better behaved. We did have a bribe that my dad would take them fishing after work. Chloe had never been fishing before. The last time they went I was too scared to let Chloe near the water. It was really windy this afternoon so it was hard to get the lines out far enough to catch much. Sam and Emma did manage to catch a few. Emma actually caught a pretty good size fish. Poor Chloe was not getting any luck. She would get a bite but the fish would take the worm but not take the hook. We had to get going so we could get ready for church but we could not leave without Chloe catching a fish! We let Chloe use Emma's fishing pole and she finally caught a little fish. She was so happy!! Tomorrow we will be going back to work but then we will be doing some shopping! I slept horrible last night so tonight I am sleeping by myself, well Lucy will be with me but she does not kick me all night.
Here are a few pictures from today.
Sam's fish ate the whole hook. My dad was trying to get the hook out and of course it was kind of gross. Sam said, "Grandpa, your kind of grossing me out!" The poor fish did not make it.
Last month when Jeremy got offered that job we could not be more thrilled! And yet, the issue with our house still hangs like a noose around our neck. It does not make sense to us. It does not make sense to our realtor. Last week I went into the post office and one of the parents of a child I taught in K4 seven years ago was working and asked if we had sold the house yet. She let me know that their family was praying! Everyone I know is praying (well, they say they are:). My children pray every day that some one would buy our house and still nothing! I say all of that to say, I am no longer depending on my house to sell to get me to Chicago. God will provide. So people who keep saying to me,"Oh but your house has not sold," you can stop now. Oh what, that is not what this post was about! Sorry.
A few weeks ago I saw a post on FB from a family that has started a church over two years ago that said that their house in the other state they moved from had finally sold. It occurred to me that missionaries, home or foreign, and church planters of all denominations have financial support. They raise money from churches, from people who are saying by their giving, that they believe it what they are doing. We believe with all of our heart that God has given us the gift of teaching to reach the community that we will be living in, so we are going as bi-vocational church planters. Because we will have other jobs many assume that we do not need financial support. We have not asked for money support because we do not want churches to pay our salary because we are not taking one from our church plant. So it hit me Sunday that basically $1,200 a month is what we lack monthly to move and start our ministry in Chicago (that would be the amount of my house payment). So, here come the not-so-popular part of this post.
I am asking that churches, Sunday School classes, youth groups, small groups, or any organization in your church, to make a $100 pledge to us for 6 months. If we could get 12 groups to help us for 6 months we could move and get started on our ministry. I would also encourage that those who support make plans to come to Chicago and see what God is doing through their generosity. I know you cannot make your churches do any thing, but maybe if you could just pass our story on to them. Maybe there is somebody in your church or your circle of influence that has just been waiting for an opportunity to be a blessing to someone.
So, we need 12 $100 pledges of monthly support for 6 months.
If you are still reading this:), we had a good day today. We were back to work today and the kids were so much better behaved. We did have a bribe that my dad would take them fishing after work. Chloe had never been fishing before. The last time they went I was too scared to let Chloe near the water. It was really windy this afternoon so it was hard to get the lines out far enough to catch much. Sam and Emma did manage to catch a few. Emma actually caught a pretty good size fish. Poor Chloe was not getting any luck. She would get a bite but the fish would take the worm but not take the hook. We had to get going so we could get ready for church but we could not leave without Chloe catching a fish! We let Chloe use Emma's fishing pole and she finally caught a little fish. She was so happy!! Tomorrow we will be going back to work but then we will be doing some shopping! I slept horrible last night so tonight I am sleeping by myself, well Lucy will be with me but she does not kick me all night.
Here are a few pictures from today.
Sam's fish ate the whole hook. My dad was trying to get the hook out and of course it was kind of gross. Sam said, "Grandpa, your kind of grossing me out!" The poor fish did not make it.
Comments
Post a Comment