Something has taken place that has not happened in the three years that we have been pursuing the missions call of God for our lives. For the first time we did not have sufficient funds to meet our living and ministry needs as missionaries. Our expenses did not go up, but giving did not match the need for the first time in the month of September. We try to live on a modest salary and to be frugal but effective with ministry expenses. There have been several months which came close to not meeting the need, but at the end of every month we always had a positive balance of some size in our account. This last month this was not the case.
For us this is kind of puzzling. We have always trusted God to supply our need and He always has. So, the natural question is "Why is this happening now." It causes a great deal of soul searching and challenges the way we have always thought and operated. In the past three years we have not made a direct appeal for funds from the standpoint of lack or concern. Our desire was to present the mission, pray for the need and trust God to provide through His people. We do not have any doubt in God's ability to do that very thing. He has done it over and over again. What we do doubt is whether we are doing all that we should. With that question in mind we are writing this post. We have always said that you are our partners in what God is doing through us here in Mexico. It is our obligation to treat you as partners and let you know where we are and what the need is.
In the Word of God, we see men of God who were called of God asking the people of God for that which is needed for the work. Moses did this when building the tabernacle. Solomon did this when building the temple. Ezra and Nehemiah did this when reconstructing Jerusalem and the temple. Paul did this when seeking to minister to the Jerusalem church. Now, we are doing this to continue the work God has called us to do.
We have tried to be faithful in letting you know periodically what God is doing through us here in Mexico. Hopefully we have been faithful in that task, but, let us remind you. We are here to take the gospel to communities which do not have it. We are here to seek, as God leads, to plant churches in those areas. We are here to encourage churches and pastors to do what God has called them to do to reach Mexico. We are hear to train pastors and leaders to prepare to better serve the kingdom of God and His church. God is leading us forward on all of those fronts and we are trying to be faithful. Those of you who have been kind enough to visit us here have seen how that works.
Let us say that we are so grateful for you who have given to our mission and ministry so faithfully. Are we saying that we expect you to give more than you are already giving? No. Are we saying that we expect those who haven't given or haven't given lately to start giving? No. It is not ours to ask anything of you that God is not asking of you. What we are doing is presenting the current need and humbly asking that if God lays it on your heart to give something extra or to start giving again or to give for the first time please be obedient to HIS call. Remember also, that whether you can give or not, we desperately need your prayers. Pray for God's continued leadership and blessing in the work here in Mexico. Pray also for every need to be met and thank you very much for your prayers. We are confident that if God's people do as God calls them to do, the need will be met. Thank you for reading this post and thank you in advance for your obedience to God's leadership. Please click on "Give" on our blog to learn how you can give.
Tony and Beverly
