Jesus Raised Support?

I recently had the privilege to share missions (and ice cream) with 20+ students at a Bible college in Saskatchewan. We asked the students to list the reasons why people might not want to be a missionary.

Besides learning a new language and adjusting to strange food and customs, they cited support raising as one of the biggest drawbacks to choosing a life in missions. Some students disliked the thought of needing to “beg” from friends and relatives. One young lady mentioned that most men feel the need to be a provider for their family, and therefore they want to be employed and earn their money.

After listening to their comments, I shared what an enormous privilege it is to have a team of supporters who believe in your ministry. What a donor can’t do by themselves in another country, they can do by partnering with someone who is able to go.

I also noted that Christ, as a man, chose to be supported by a group of women so that he could commit to full-time ministry. Jesus’s focus wasn’t on earning anything other than the approval of his Father.

  “Now it came to pass, afterward, that he [Jesus] went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him, and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities—Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons, and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who provided for him [Jesus] from their substance.” Luke 8:1-3

Let me take a moment to say that we are so grateful for those of you who continue to support missions and enable us to encourage even more people to fulfill the Great Commission cross-culturally.