Fundraising?

As the members of this mission team (23 individuals) step out of our normal routines - out of our comfort zones - we are opening our hearts for God to prepare us.  One step in this preparation process is humbling ourselves to ask for financial support.  Support raising always seems to start out as one of those dreaded "gotta do its."  Its easy to feel that way...right up to the time that God blesses you with that contribution that you didn't expect.  He really has a way of doing that.  It just blows you away.  Right then you realize that its not all about the money or the trip and its especially not about me - its about God's mission in this world.  I'm not talking about the mission trip to Bolivia, I'm talking about God's mission to draw all people of this world to Himself. So, instead of seeing fundraising as a pain, maybe we need to see it like it is - a way of uniting the body of Christ in His mission.  For example, this week over 200 people ate lunch and/or dinner at La Cocina to support the mission trip to Bolivia. Instantly, our team grew from 23 to more 223! Now that's uniting the body of Christ!  From this point forward instead of thinking "fundraising," I'm going to be thinking "body of Christ raising."  Praise God for all who join Him in mission to share, reveal and reflect the light and love of Jesus Christ as He draws all people to Himself.