Black Friday, Money, & Missions

In the United States, the day after Thanksgiving is sometimes referred to as “Black Friday.” It’s often the CRAZIEST and busiest shopping day of the year. For many, it’s the beginning of busy Christmas preparations, and annual traditions of giving . . . and often needless overspending. It’s a good day to realign our priorities and our pocketbooks to line-up with God’s purposes, and to remember what’s really important. How we spend our money is a direct reflection of where our heart is focused.

How your family views money and possessions is intrinsically connected with how you view God’s priorities in life. As Christians, we should have the perspective that everything belongs to God: all of our time, all of our talents, all of our life decisions, and yes, all of our money.

I believe it’s important to teach our children about God’s principle of tithing (giving 10 percent of our income to Him), but even more importantly, we need to instill in our family that 100 percent of everything in our lives belongs to God. This principle is much easier caught—by our example—than taught by our words.

Even if your family never lives in a foreign country, you’re still called to be fulltime mission-minded followers, and to participate in expanding God’s kingdom—both locally, and throughout the world.

As Hudson Taylor, the famous missionary to China, often said, “The Great Commission is not an option to consider, but a command to obey.”

There are many ways your family could raise extra money to support international mission projects. Here is a list of activities commonly used by children’s churches, youth groups, and short-term mission teams. The time will come, however, when these efforts won’t be enough.

A true mission-minded family just needs to earn and save money, step out in faith and trust, and manage (or “steward”) those resources according to what’s important . . . for eternity.

Ten Ways to Raise Money for Missions

• Have your children decorate a special container, perhaps with a photo, and begin saving coins for a specific mission project.
• Make a “thermometer” to chart a specific family mission goal, and put it on your refrigerator.
• Have a yard sale with all proceeds going for a specific mission project.
• Have each family member offer to do work for relatives or friends (such as housecleaning, laundry, child care, or yard work) in exchange for people donating toward a special mission project.
• Collect newspapers for recycling.
• Recycle aluminum (and go around neighborhoods to get even more).
• Organize a car wash; rather than charging a set amount, receive donations.
• Make and sell something, like a craft project or a baked item.
• Receive mission donations fo r after-church lattes and espressos.
• Have a “multiply your talents” project. Give each family member a certain amount of money with the mission-minded purpose of using this money, along with his or her talents, abilities, and creativity, for a specified length of time (perhaps two weeks, or one month) to raise money for a specific mission project. A child could use the money to buy gas for a lawn mower, to buy lemonade to sell on the corner, or to buy ingredients for a neighborhood bake sale. At the end of the designated time have each family member return the original money, along with the surplus he or she raised, and give it toward the mission project.
• Remember, “A penny saved is a penny earned.” A great way to “earn money” for missions is simply to SAVE MONEY for MISSIONS. Instead of window-shopping through the malls, or overspending on too many Christmas gifts, stay away from the stores and be on-the-lookout for international mission needs and local benevolence projects.

What is your part in God’s Great Commission?

The Challenge: DAY 30 - Giving to God! #5

GENEROSITY

Welcome to DAY 30 of the 40-Day Mission-Minded FAMILY CHALLENGE!

Giving to world missions can be an exciting adventure of faith. When God calls you to give, don’t be moved by fear. Instead, be moved by faith . . . and give with generosity!

C’mon . . . Take the Challenge!

• Recommended Mission Resources:
  Daring to Live on the Edge - The Adventure of Faith and Finances - by Loren Cunningham, Friend Raising - Building a Missionary Support Team that Lasts, by Betty Barnett
• Today’s Mission Quote: “You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.” - Amy Carmichael
• Geography Quiz at lizardpoint.com: AUSTRALIA & OCEANIA,
• Memory Verse: II Cor. 9:7
• Today’s 5-minute online video

The Challenge: DAY 29 - Giving to God! #4

HOSPITALITY

Welcome to DAY 29 of the 40-Day Mission-Minded FAMILY CHALLENGE!

Today’s challenge focuses on supporting and caring for Christian missionaries, specifically through mission-minded family hospitality - honoring international ministers and missionaries, and inviting them into your home. This act of love and support will be a blessing - both to the missionaries, and to your family!

C’mon . . . Take the Challenge!

• Recommended Mission Resources:
  Serving as Senders - by Neal Pirolo
• Today’s Mission Quote:
  “Never pity missionaries. Envy them . . . ” - Robert C. Shannon
• Geography Quiz at lizardpoint.com: AUSTRALIA & OCEANIA,
• Memory Verse: Romans 12:9-13
• Today’s 5-minute online video

The Challenge: DAY 28 - Giving to God! #3

CREATIVITY

Welcome to DAY 28 of the 40-Day Mission-Minded FAMILY CHALLENGE!

If your family has a desire to support world missions, God can give you creative ideas to raise extra money. It doesn’t have to be anything elaborate. Even something simple can make a huge impact!

C’mon . . . Take the Challenge!

• Recommended Mission Resources:
  The Mission-Minded Child, The Mission-Minded Family
• Today’s Mission Quote: Hudson Taylor, Missionary to China
• Geography Quiz at lizardpoint.com: AUSTRALIA & OCEANIA,
• Memory Verse: Matthew 6:33
• Today’s 5-minute online video

The Challenge: DAY 27 - Giving to God! #2

SACRIFICE

Welcome to DAY 27 of the 40-Day Mission-Minded FAMILY CHALLENGE!

As we consider our commitment to mission-minded giving, we’re going to look at the sacrifices of full-time foreign missionaries and Christian martyrs. Are you really obeying and following the Lord? If your family is called to support the Great Commission through your GIVING, then give with sacrifice!

C’mon . . . Take the Challenge!

• Recommended Mission Resources:
  Foxes Book of Martyrs, Jesus Freaks
• Today’s Mission Quote: Jim Elliot
• Geography Quiz at lizardpoint.com: AUSTRALIA & OCEANIA,
• Memory Verses: Luke 18:22-23
• Today’s 5-minute online video

Mission Giving: “Can’t you do just a little bit more?”

As Christian families, we need God’s perspective on finances, and a vision for how our resources can help to expand His kingdom - especially in tough times.

In our family’s living room, a small handcrafted treasure chest displays simple coins from around the world. Most of the pieces are dull and worn, while some a new and shiny. Our children often enjoy fingering the various francs from France, pulas from Botswana, and euros from Europe, to mention just a few. My favorite is an intricate gold-and-silver-colored piece from Italy, although, as with most of these coins, I have no idea of its worth. Some of the coins are no longer in circulation; some of the countries they’re from no longer exist. All are simply extra pocket change left over from years of past mission trips, each saved as little souvenirs and little reminders that money is only a temporary “little thing.” Each coin is (or was) valuable only because some government somewhere determined it would have value.

But money is also a “big thing” - and we can’t underestimate the importance of training our children to have a godly perspective toward money and financial stewardship. Our money represents our life; our time, our talents, our education and experiences, and our priorities. In fact, if we really want to find out what is important to us, we can simply look back through our checkbooks and credit card statements over the past few months. Our true priorities are right there in black and white (or red!); and the numbers don’t lie.

It’s really very simple. If we have a heart for the Lord and for the lost, we will give our resources to glorify Him and to help spread His Gospel message; and if our children are raised with this perspective, it will affect their bottom-line attitude toward the purpose of money. Both parents and children need to acknowledge regularly that everything we have ultimately belongs to God: our life is God’s, our home (or bedroom) is God’s, our car (or bicycle, or special toy) is God’s, our money is God’s. We’re all simply stewards of God’s “stuff.”

During the Great Depression of the 1930s, J.G. Morrison urged Nazarenes to increase missionary support, as he earnestly pleaded, “Can’t you do just a little bit more?”

When times are tough, our families need to “sow in famine” (like Isaac in Genesis 26:12) and “lay up treasures in heaven” (like Jesus commanded in Matthew 6:20). Physical needs worldwide are greater than ever; orphan children desperately need help; sacrificing missionaries need continual support and prayers; and billions of people need to hear the Gospel message of Jesus Christ.

During today’s economic downturn, let’s do more for the needs of world missions. Let’s be faithful stewards of the many resources God has given us, and let’s encourage our children to participate. As mission-minded families, let’s do just a little bit more.

This article by Ann Dunagan, is an excerpt from her newest book, The Mission-Minded Family - Releasing Your Family to God’s Destiny (Authentic Media, 2008). It is also published on The Christian Post’s “Better Parenting - Better Families” blog.

Kid Orphan Sponsor Featured on TV News

KELOLife Television in Aberdeen, South Dakota ran a feature about one of our Osanidde orphan sponsors, an energetic 10-year-old, named Ethan, who’s been selling lemonade (for three years!!!) to support his friend, Allan, in Uganda. Ethan really takes his sponsorship commitment seriously!

It’s a sweet news clip . . . and a blessing!

You can view the TV station’s video file right here. And if any of you could take a moment to log in to view the article on the TV station’s website, it would be wonderful to add some positive comments about the feature. Please keep Harvest Ministry and all of our orphan children (currently 610 kids!) in your thoughts and prayers.

P.S. Ethan was inwardly “moved with compassion” with a specific burden on his heart; he felt that if he didn’t raise that last $4, his orphan friend would “die.” We’re all so inspired by Ethan’s commitment; but be assured that if any of our sponsors are unable to meet their commitment (of $1/day), we’ll simply trust God together for His provision!!! Amen???