While we are talking about ways that anyone can get involved in God's mission, a big opportunity is coming up this fall.
Our denomination gives an annual offering each fall to missions. In the U.S. it is usually given at Thanksgiving. In other world areas it can be given anytime between September and December. The offerings go to our World Evangelism Fund, which is what lays the foundation for our entire mission enterprise in 157 countries. These funds support missionaries and ministries.
Even though we, as volunteer missionaries, do not receive direct financial support from WEF, the ministries in which we work would not exist at all if not for giving to this fund.
Because of the weakening economies in many countries, the fund is 20% short of what is required to simply maintain existing ministries and personnel this year. Many ministries' budgets have already been cut significantly in the past two years, and some mission personnel have had to go home sooner than planned. Much more drastic cuts are on the immediate horizon.
Yet, Andrew and I fervently believe that sometimes God must wait for us humans to recognize we've reached our human limits before He can step in and demonstrate his infinite power and resources. So many times we try to do God's work in our own strength, and that allows us also to take the credit.
It's time to step back and tell God we can't do this, but that we know He can. We are excited to see how God will work through our church during the upcoming Challenge 2010 offering.
This fall, talk with your pastor and Nazarene Missions International (NMI) president about when your church will give this special, one-time offering called WEF PLUS. There are videos, a planning guide, printable brochures and posters, clip art and other resources to help promote the offering at www.nazarene.org/challenge2010. There is also a prayer schedule here. This page goes into a lot more detail about WEF and how it works.
Consider praying about what God would ask you to give. Remember, He sometimes asks us to give more in faith than we believe we can give, and then He provides the resources to make it possible. When that happens, we know it was not something we could do, but only what God could do. These opportunities increase our faith.
Our mission leaders have asked each Nazarene to consider giving $10 to the offering, or an equivalent in one's local currency. Some may feel called to give one day's salary. Andrew and I have already given our offering.
Giving to this "WEF PLUS" offering is a chance for Andrew and I to say "thank you" to God for His blessings in our lives, and to pass that blessing on to others. It is because others invested in our lives when we were kids that we had the privilege to grow up knowing Christ personally. Not everyone has received that chance, and we want to pay it forward.
Besides giving, you can also pray for this offering, and for God to increase our faith as a church through our sacrificial giving.
Read more about Challenge 2010 here.
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