Let's Go!

John Piper has famously categorized Christians into 3 groups when considering missions: zealous goers, zealous senders, and disobedient.


In a month or so I will be sending out a support letter asking people to help monetarily and prayerfully send me to Uganda for 2 weeks. In the meantime I have been trying to come up with ways for myself and others to become active, zealous senders. I remember the only concern that my dad had before I left for my first mission trip to Kyrgyzstan was that I would raise 100% of my finances and not contribute from my own bank account. At the time I thought it was so strange. I had the means to pay for it all on my own why should I fundraise. Part of the reason why my dad wanted me to fundraise was because he knew that it made me uncomfortable and he believed that if I paid for it on my own it would fuel my pride. The other reason was because he believed that the church should support its missionaries (short and long term) and he wanted me to give others the opportunity to be zealous senders and not disobedient.


I have found that it is far too easy for me to give $20 to this person or that person or to pray for missionaries only when I get their support/update letters or when I am handing the check over. To me this isn't right, that can't be what a "zealous sender" looks like. So I have come up with a few ways to be a more active, zealous sender. They are pretty easy and don't roll in a ton of cheddar but they have helped me, I hope they will be beneficial to you too.


1.) Recycle: I have been collecting recyclables to raise some of the support I will need to go to Uganda. At about $0.05 a bottle it's going to take a while to reach my goal, but it has helped me be more active in my sending. Every time I finish a Gatorade at swim practice or see water bottles in my sisters' cars I immediately think, "Here we go, Africa!" (sometimes I say it out loud, which is fine at home... but kind of strange when I am just picking up an empty bottle on the ground at school...) Because the monetary worth of a plastic bottle isn't really anything to write home about, my mind doesn't think about money or fundraising first, but the people and I am reminded to pray.


2.) Collect Change: I always have a ton of change at the bottom of my backpack and purses. I have a magic wallet that has no place for change. Since change usually just sits in my bags, I decided to put it to use. I decorated a shadow box and made my own piggy bank. Even my sisters have helped me with this one saying "Here you go, Africa!" and then handing me their change. As with the recyclables, a penny isn't the same as $100, but with each penny I am reminded of the people and I pray.


3.) Buy My Stuff: I've been putting my limited crafting skills to work making things to sell to try and help raise funds. Right now I have headbands and slippers. I sold my first headband to Kim for $2--Hollah! Look for pictures, more junk, etc to come.


4.) Sponsor a Child: Personally, I haven't done this one...YET. There are numerous organizations that you can partner with to help give children food, clothing, medical care, education, and the gospel. A Ugandan missionary couple just visited out church and shared about their ministry. Jackie, the wife, is the product of COMPASSION and is now working with UNREACHED AFRICA that works to sponsor older (15+ year old) children in Uganda.

Here's the video of Jackie.

For those of us who want to give but think we're too poor, there's AMAKA! At $5 a month we can all afford this. It's the like replacing one Starbucks a month to help a child in need.

So, whether you want to do some of these things to help support me or other missionaries you know--just do something! Let us go! As goers or as senders--let's!

"Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth." 3 John 8