A few weeks ago I was doing some work for the capital expansion fundraising team at the YWAM base in Mazatlan. I was working by myself in the fundraising office and there was a knock on the door. I said, “come on in,” and in walked 4 missionary students who were doing their DTS (Discipleship Training School). They proceeded to tell me that they were still raising funds for their training and asked me to consider financially supporting them so they could finish their training. I listened intently, partly surprised by their boldness, partly amazed by their humility and partly jealous of their lack of the fear of man.
I asked whatever questions I could in the moment, but it gave me great reason to have some deeper reflection time later on, around how I felt about being asked in such a bold way.
Culturally, it's really confronting as an Australian, as we tend not to be so straightforward around asking for funding like this from people we know. Or maybe it's just me. Either way I had to do some soul searching. The irony of course being that we had asked everybody we know before we left for Mexico, to support us.
So over the next few days I asked God to help me understand His heart around this and I was surprised by His answer. I felt like He said to me that “everytime a missionary asks someone for money, it is a sacred and holy moment. As they go into the nations with little resources, asking people to partner, it is a holy interaction”. I wasn’t expecting that answer but it has facilitated a radical shift in my heart both towards our asking family, friends and supporters as well as when others here ask us. There is a holy and precious moment when the generosity of givers and the humility of receivers partner together to see the nations reached.
In fact, God has been doing a lot in my heart around money and it feels liberating. I have started tipping whenever I can. Nothing massive but it feels liberating and wonderful. Historically, the idea of tipping has driven me crazy. To many Australians it feels like an extra unneeded forced tax. But God has helped me see it as a beautiful gesture towards those who work hard but struggle to make ends meet. I am now also doing what I can when I see people begging in the street. Somewhere over the years my heart seems to have grown cold to those who are destitute. I don’t know if it's from years of welfare work and compassion fatigue or maybe it was just always like that. But a few weeks ago I read Proverbs 21:13. It says “If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered”. Truthfully, this has really wrecked me. God showed me there is a really cold side to my heart and I’m so thankful He is thawing it out and showing me that we can always do more when confronted by people begging in the street. We can’t do everything but we can do something.
So more and more Jesus is doing a work in my heart around my money, the money you send us and ultimately His money. Thanks again for partnering with us as we long to see the nations transformed. Matt
Hey bro. Thanks for sharing. I struggled with approaching people for support during our first few years in missions. Then one day God showed me that the funds are His responsibility, and that partnering with us was an opportunity for others to be part of His work. My job was simply to tell people about the opportunity and leave God to do the rest. It was very liberating.