It's only lunch money, but....

A week ago, we were very blessed to have a missionary, the Rev. Katie Longkumer, deliver a message to us at church.  She and her husband, the Rev. Taku Longkumer, are missionaries (not called that anymore, there's a different term used these days for their safety, something like development coordinator or something...I forget) but they're working in India and the church there is seeing some serious growth.  I think that's a great thing...especially in a part of the world where you can't just throw up a church building on every corner. 

I listened intently (as much as I could....these six day weeks are killing me) as she explained what they do, where their area they work in is, and the progress and difficulties they see and face.  It was interesting, so much so that I decided that I need to help support them.

Well, pretty sure the Holy Spirit had something to do with that, but it's one of the things that's a core belief of our church that we send and support missionaries.  I'm down with that.  I know missionaries in Utah (NOT LDS).  They taught classes I attended and got so much out of, but it's through them I learned about the concept that missionaries are self-funding.  Those that God calls rely on those that God calls to support them.

I would now be among the latter.

My pastor asked me to talk about this today, and include why I gave.  Here's the big reason I chose them from among the many causes I'd like to support, but financially, just can't right now:  Her story of how God put her and her husband where they needed to be to meet.  That's the part that had me understand again how God, in His Providence, works things the way He wants them.

I began to understand their calling, how they're doing God's work, and how God had paved the way for them to be at our church that day.  He BROUGHT these folks to Utah; we needed to hear their story, and we were being called to join Him in His work, through them.

I am not gonna tell God no.

I did that once, inadvertently, and not gonna do that again.

Part two of the story is this:  figuring out HOW to give.  Through the church?  Our church as a collective body is choosing to support them financially as well, so that was one avenue.  Another was to just throw some money in the plate for a love offering that was taken yesterday.  If I had been able to find my wallet, maybe I would have just done that.  But the other option was to give a monthly gift directly to them through ABC-USA ministries.

I chose the latter because I was running late after baking a batch of eclairs for fellowship time and my billfold was strategically misplaced.  It was easily found when I got home.

Proverbs 25:14  NLT is a verse I read today, after being reminded gently that I'd promised myself to commit to giving them a small gift per month.  It says:  A person who promises a gift but doesn’t give it is like clouds and wind that bring no rain.

I'm finding things out as I grow as a Christian, and God in His time opens and closes doors.  Giving to anybody more than my church for the past few years hasn't been an option, and this small gift per month isn't an exception to that.  I have to sacrifice that money out of my me budget and although it's a small amount, I feel God can use it for far better things than I ever could.  And I feel like I'm taking an important step in committing to the things of God.  That's kinda cool.

Life, well it's not about me, and advancing the Kingdom for His glory seems like about the best investment of self I can make.  If you'd like to join in supporting the Longkumers, please google ABC-USA missionaries and look for Taku and Katie Longkumer under the "give" tab on the website.

I hope you will.