I have been raising support for my work with EMI for a year and a half now. My transition into a staff role means I will continue to do this for the next few years. For those of you who had not had to raise support you may wonder what is it like? So let me share some of my experience of raising support.
First it is uncomfortable. I am a very independent person. I like to be able to take care of myself. I am also proud. I don't like to ask for help. When I was preparing to do my internship I had been working for a few years and had some money saved up so I thought I would cover all the costs myself. I wanted to do it all on my own. But I felt God telling me that I need to raise support, I am glad that he did as it has made continuing to raise support easier. It feels awkward to ask people for money.
It is time consuming. Money usually doesn't wall from the sky. You need to write letters and emails, make phone calls, visit people, fill out applications, and all while trying to work too.
There is also a time commitment to keep supporters updated. I don't always have time or energy or words to say to keep people updated on my life. I sometime feel that I need to have something new and exciting to share, which can be tough when life is in a routine. I am also a very private person and I don't like to share too many details with other people.
Being on support, there is an added pressure to be accountable to supporters. Am I working hard enough? Am I being wise enough in my spending? Can I spend money on myself? Can I take a vacation? There can be a feeling that I need to justify myself to others for all the things I do. That can be both good and bad.
You may be wondering if there is anything good in raising support. Let me assure you there is. Those negative aspect of support raising are often a result of a wrong perspective about the situation. It is not me asking people to give money so that I can do the work. Instead I have the opportunity to invite people to partner with me in investing in the God's kingdom work.
One of the blessings in that partnership is encouragement. Inviting people to partner with me in this journey has allowed me to share with many people about the work that I get to do. It is an encouragement to experience other people get excited about what I am doing. I also get to encourage other with stories of how God is working in my life and the lives of those around me.
It is a blessing to see God's faithfulness. God invited me to join him in the work he is doing in East Africa. He hasn't left me alone to make that happen. As I have been faithful to invite others, God has been faithful to provide for my needs. He has provided for more than just my material needs, but has provided friends and community in Uganda too.
People pray for me. One of the benefits of sending update letters and prayer requests is that people know how they can pray for me. Even though it is stretching for me to share some of these things, it is worth it to have people supporting me in prayer. I wished I had been more diligent in that before going overseas.
It has deepened my relationships. It has deepened my relationship with God. As I have stepped out in faith to join him he has shown more and more of his character to me. God is faithful. It has deepened my relationships with friends and family. I have shared more deeply with them than before and they have invested more in my life.
I could not do this work without God leading. I also could not do without people partnering with me. Thank you to everyone who has been part of this adventure.
Those are some of my thoughts as I look forward to more years of relying on God and people to meet my needs. Please consider if God is asking you to partner with me in his kingdom work. Click here details on how you can partner with me on this journey.
May you be blessed today,
Matt
