Wow, what a humbling night! Alabaster Ministries, the women's ministry group I am involved with, held our 2nd Annual Missions Fundraiser last night. You can learn a little more about Alabaster if you go to the site linked above. Make sure to read our MISSION and the ABOUT US tab. Anyway, back to the missions fundraiser. We hosted an event last night to raise money for four local missionary families. We had a catered meal, guest speaker, music, missionary updates and a live auction. It was SO much fun. I'll admit I was dreading it...just a little...because I had to help lead the program, I mean SPEAKING in front of PEOPLE on a STAGE!!! However, Praise the Lord, it went fine. Once it started, I wasn't even really nervous, yay for answered prayer :)
Our numbers (# attended and money raised) are still being totaled, but I think it was a success. For me personally, it was humbling. As I sat in my chair, trying to pay attention to the videos describing what our missionary families are doing, DAILY, for HIS kingdom...and still focusing on the clock, our night's schedule, and what I needed to say next, I was moved by what these families are doing. Imagine, giving up everything you know as "normal" (jobs, homes, family, friends, freedoms, AMERICA) to move to a foreign country not for some fancy job, not because you want to gain another perspective, not for an adventure, but because GOD has called you to do HIS work!?!?!?! Now, don't get me wrong, I believe God has called all believers to do HIS work, maybe not in a foreign country but maybe right in our own family, church, community, school, work place, etc
"And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. (Matthew 28:18-20)
...but the families we focused on last night, left everything that was comfortable to help grow GOD'S KINGDOM!!!! Wow, they took a giant leap of faith to answer God's call for their lives...HOW COOL!
Alabaster support The Coles and Andersons who are both in Germany with Military Youth for Christ. The Steenblocks who left recently for the Arabian Peninsula and are with Arab World Ministries. And The Terhaars, our neighbors, who returned from two years in Paraguay, with Christian Veterinary Mission, in June.
All of the proceeds from our night will be split equally between these four families. It's not too late, if you would like to make a donation, PLEASE let me know SOON!
jessvandewater@gmail.com
I could go on and on...but I'll leave you with this verse:
"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written,
"How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"Romans 10:13-15
If you have questions, I urge you to grab a Bible and turn to the book of Romans and read about how ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23), that the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life (Romans 6:23), that God died for US (Romans 5:8) and that if you confess and believe you will be saved (Romans 10:9)!!! Romans 10:13, again says everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved!
THAT is exciting stuff!! Obviously, we've all sinned...but to know, without a doubt, that we can be saved, not by anything we have to do or earn, but by simple, childlike faith in who God is and what he has done for us, we can be assured of ever lasting life!!!!!!!!!! This is truly life or death stuff...where will YOU spend eternity???
One more thing...my sweet Alabaster team surprised me with a thank you to Lee for his service to our country, by putting a family picture up on the screen, talking a bit about his, and our, sacrifice and gave me these gorgeous flowers!!! Yeah, I was a little teary, ON STAGE, but did manage to regain my composure and go on with the program. I love those girls!!!!!!!!
Our numbers (# attended and money raised) are still being totaled, but I think it was a success. For me personally, it was humbling. As I sat in my chair, trying to pay attention to the videos describing what our missionary families are doing, DAILY, for HIS kingdom...and still focusing on the clock, our night's schedule, and what I needed to say next, I was moved by what these families are doing. Imagine, giving up everything you know as "normal" (jobs, homes, family, friends, freedoms, AMERICA) to move to a foreign country not for some fancy job, not because you want to gain another perspective, not for an adventure, but because GOD has called you to do HIS work!?!?!?! Now, don't get me wrong, I believe God has called all believers to do HIS work, maybe not in a foreign country but maybe right in our own family, church, community, school, work place, etc
"And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. (Matthew 28:18-20)
...but the families we focused on last night, left everything that was comfortable to help grow GOD'S KINGDOM!!!! Wow, they took a giant leap of faith to answer God's call for their lives...HOW COOL!
Alabaster support The Coles and Andersons who are both in Germany with Military Youth for Christ. The Steenblocks who left recently for the Arabian Peninsula and are with Arab World Ministries. And The Terhaars, our neighbors, who returned from two years in Paraguay, with Christian Veterinary Mission, in June.
All of the proceeds from our night will be split equally between these four families. It's not too late, if you would like to make a donation, PLEASE let me know SOON!
jessvandewater@gmail.com
I could go on and on...but I'll leave you with this verse:
"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written,
"How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"Romans 10:13-15
If you have questions, I urge you to grab a Bible and turn to the book of Romans and read about how ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23), that the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life (Romans 6:23), that God died for US (Romans 5:8) and that if you confess and believe you will be saved (Romans 10:9)!!! Romans 10:13, again says everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved!
THAT is exciting stuff!! Obviously, we've all sinned...but to know, without a doubt, that we can be saved, not by anything we have to do or earn, but by simple, childlike faith in who God is and what he has done for us, we can be assured of ever lasting life!!!!!!!!!! This is truly life or death stuff...where will YOU spend eternity???
One more thing...my sweet Alabaster team surprised me with a thank you to Lee for his service to our country, by putting a family picture up on the screen, talking a bit about his, and our, sacrifice and gave me these gorgeous flowers!!! Yeah, I was a little teary, ON STAGE, but did manage to regain my composure and go on with the program. I love those girls!!!!!!!!
