Hey hey all! Marissa here:)
I just want to reach out and give a little update as to how this support raising journey is going, and share a bit of what I’ve learned thus far.
Here’s an update:
- I have held my first couple support meetings.
- T-shirts are in the works!
- I am in the process of setting up a pit beef/pit turkey fundraiser.
The Lord has taught me SO much over the course of the last month…
I’ve been reading a book called “The God Ask,” by Steve Shadrach, (I highly recommend it). This book has truly shifted the way I view support raising. It has taught me that it is, indeed, very biblical to support raise, that we are to make “the God ask” first, and instead of this process being “fundraising,” it is actually “supporter raising,” and “treasure transferring.”
Let me explain: Philippians 4:17 says “Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit.”
When we invest in God’s ministry here on earth, our reward is increased in Heaven. Our treasure is transferred to our Heavenly account. I have the opportunity to encourage so many believers to invest in God’s ministry and have their treasure transferred.
In addition to treasure transferring, I have the opportunity to raise supporters ~ to bring so many others into the amazing work that the Lord is doing all across the globe. 3 John 1:8 states, “Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.” People who may never have the opportunity to leave the country on missions get to join God’s ministry across the globe, with me, being fellow workers. What an incredible thing.
The book demonstrates the God ask as a triangle. God is at the top, the support raiser at one bottom corner, and the supporter at the other. Instead of me, the support raiser, horizontally asking people to support me, (making it about me), I get to look up, and vertically ask God to provide my every need and to bring people into my life with whom I will be able to share His incredible ministry. The supporter also looks up to God and asks where He would have them invest the money He has entrusted to them. Both parties look up. The more we look up to God for guidance, the closer we get to each other, as He is at the head of the triangle.
God is making this all about Him, and I am so, so grateful. He has already brought many people into my life and deepened connections all around me. I went into this feeling a bit lost, like I needed to raise the support. But, the Lord has shown me that this is ultimately His task, and that my identity is in Him, not the “yeses” or “no’s” I receive from people. I get to boldly share, and trust that no matter the response that I receive from people, the Lord has led them to it, because we have both made “the God ask.”
So here it is, a little life update. My mind has been blown with this new way of thinking, so I thought I’d share!
Thanks so much for following along with me and I look forward to sharing all that is to come!
Much love,
Marissa Nappier 🙂
