We have just concluded our Missions Conference here at Lancaster Baptist Church and I am so grateful for the work God did in my life! I was encouraged, challenged, and convicted about my role in world-wide evangelization.
Throughout the week, I was thinking about those who have had the greatest influence on my life in the area of missions giving (grace giving). I quickly thought of my father who modeled sacrificial giving and instilled in me the principle of the fact that you can never out give God. I thought of Dr. Don Sisk and Dr. James Rushing, two men that have had a significant impact on my life in the area of giving. Both men have challenged me to increase my missions giving every year. Just this week, Dr. Sisk said he and his wife, Virginia were increasing their missions giving for the 46th year in a row. Both of these men have modeled cheerful giving. I will never forget hearing either one speak about giving and the joy that it brings.
I learned early on in life, once I accepted Christ as my Savior, that I had been commanded to tithe. The tithe is the Lord’s. Based on Proverbs 3:9-10, I believe I am to tithe off of my gross income (my first-fruits). I have also been taught that I am responsible for reaching my generation for Christ. I love what Dr. John Halsey said this week, “You are not commanded to give to missions but you are commanded to reach the world with the Gospel. If you do not give to missions, you better figure out a way to reach the world before you give an account of your life.” For nearly twenty years, I have given a grace offering towards world-wide evangelization.
Currently, when Susanah and I prepare for a Missions Conference, we no longer ask should we give and we no longer ask should we increase. The two questions we do ask going into a special week like we just had are these: Lord, do you want us to go to the mission field ourselves? and How much do you want us to increase our giving? By God’s grace, we have increased our giving each year and God continues to provide in a miraculous way!
This year, I had an extra special blessing. I came home one night after the conference and Moriah, my oldest daughter, asked me to come to the kitchen. I walked in and Lydia and Annalene were there waiting for me and my three girls had written me a note. It said, Dad, we want to be involved in missions giving and want to do without juice-boxes for the rest of the school year. We can just bring cups of water and that money can help support more missionaries. I was so proud of them and their heart to participate and am grateful for children who see the need of reaching people with the Gospel both where we live and spending others to reach people we cannot. I am challenged by my children’s heart to give and am praying that God will continue to increase our faith.
