Hey everyone! For almost a month now, I have been in Gainesville, Georgia for the first part of my race! The past 3 weeks have been more amazing than I could’ve ever dreamed of or expected. Getting to devote this time of my life fully to the Lord, and getting to do it with a community chasing after the same thing has been such a blessing. I’ve been able to live in simplicity, come together with my squad for worship, eat lots of rice, have dance parties, call a tent “home,” engage in both meaningful and fun conversations, pick flowers, and watch strangers turn into family. Above all of these things, the Lord has been working so much in my life and the lives of those around me. I am beyond grateful for where he has put me in this season and truly couldn’t have asked for anything more. To think that I get to live this life for another 8 months is crazy exciting and I can’t wait for all that is in store.
So yes, my squad will be launching internationally in January! YAY! Our flights and lodging will be booked in October which is so soon! With this, I have a fundraising deadline that needs to be met in two weeks. I need to have raised $10,000 in order to stay in Georgia and launch in January, and I am currently about $1,500 away from that. With that being said, I want to take some time to talk about fundraising, but please keep reading because this isn’t going to be me telling you to give me money. I want to explain my heart, and God’s heart behind it.
Fundraising is not about me, it’s not about me getting your money. It is so much more because it is about the kingdom. In giving, we have the opportunity to partner with each other and Jesus in fulfilling the great commission.
So, what is the great commission?
“Jesus came near to them and said, ‘All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’” – Matthew 28:18-20
These are Jesus’s last words in the book of Matthew, following his resurrection and seeing the disciples. I love this scripture because it proves how never changing, he is, and how he commands his disciples to do this today. He didn’t have to give us a purpose in advancing his kingdom, but he chose to. We get the privilege of being a part of his movement and bringing heaven on earth. We get to choose to partner with him!
The great commission is fulfilled through two primary ways:
- Going: whether that be evangelizing in the grocery store or in another country, the great commission requires us to go out and tell others about Jesus. We can’t fulfill the great commission without going.
- Sending: The great commission is also accomplished by Jesus sending us out and giving us the resources to send others. From the beginning of the church, Jesus commanded us to use the resources he entrusted us with to help send people out. Prayer is also part of sending- people coming together in prayer asking God to send people out and provide the resources to do so. Yes, I am willing to go, but I need the resources to go.
So what does this mean for me and you?
This means we all have the opportunity to be a part of fulfilling the great commission. I am currently in a season of life where God has blessed me with the privilege of going and being sent. You may or may not be in the same situation. Maybe you currently are not able to go to the nations, but you have been blessed with the financial resources to send others like me. The great commission is not just about bringing his kingdom, but also about the body of Christ being able to come together and offer up to him the resources he has given for his glory. The thing about the body is that it strives off of unity not uniformity; we have been blessed in different ways and are able to use those blessings to come together in his name. The great commission involves us choosing to personally partner with God in His work, and partner with fellow believers. The amazing this is, he is always willing and wanting to partner with us, we just have to be obedient. When we do so, we see him move in our lives and the lives of others. God transforms our hearts through generosity and blesses us in obedience. It is so much more than just being generous because it is investing in eternity.
So today I want to leave you with this: Are you willing to give the resources he has given you to do his work? Are you willing to partner with him in how he asking you to fulfill the great commission? Are you willing to step out in confidence knowing that he will use you for his glory? Whatever it might look like, would you be willing to partner with me in bringing the kingdom? I would so appreciate prayer- that he would provide, that he would allow me the opportunity to partner with others, and that others would be willing to partner with him and me through giving. You can donate at the top of this page of you feel led. Sharing this page on social media would also be blessing. If you are unsure of how you can partner with me, please reach out!
With all of that being said, I want to thank you if you’re reading this. I want to thank you all for supporting me in so many different ways- whether that has been through prayer, financial blessings, resources, or more. It truly means the world to me, and I wouldn’t be here without you.
Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
– Hebrews 13:16
For where your treasure is, your heart will be also.
– Matthew 6:21
