God's provision for Elijah in his ministry

I posted this on my personal devotional blog, but I wanted to share this and my other blog with you:
http://danielharrison-trustinthelord.blogspot.com/


The story of Elijah's first recorded step in ministry is one of great boldness and dependence on God. Elijah challenges the King of Israel who is leading the whole nation in sin. As a result Elijah faces persecution and God guides him to a place of utter dependence on God and his provision.


Now Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe[a] in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.” 2 And the word of the Lord came to him:3 “Depart from here and turn eastward and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. 4 You shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.” 5 So he went and did according to the word of the Lord. He went and lived by the brook Cherith that is east of the Jordan. 6 And the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook.
1 Kings 17: 1-6


God you have called me into this ministry with InterVarsity. As you have called you will provide even if it is in unexpected ways like from ravens. Lord I want to trust in you to provide and take bold steps of faith in my fundraising as I work to invite people into partnership in my ministry. God help me to be faithful and make bold asks inviting others to partner in your work.
Amen

Why do I work for InterVarsity as a staff member?

You may ask and I ask myself this question:

Why do I work for InterVarsity as a staff member? 

• Why am I not using my engineering degree in the traditional way? 
• Why do I fundraise in order to do this work?
• Why have I devoted my career to lead a group of college students in following Jesus and his mission? 

God put the verse below from Romans on my heart as I first applied to the internship and began my journey to staff for InterVarsity

Romans 10:9, 13-15 NIV

9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

13 For “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 anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!""

This is my calling that God has placed on my life to be sent to bring the good news of Jesus to the college campus as I lead students to come alongside with me in this mission. I work for InterVarsity so that students at CU would hear the gospel of Jesus Christ and first repent and then believe and be saved. God has sent me and his work is good and the harvest is plentiful. In this past year many have repented and believed the gospel and the entire trajectory of their lives and eternal destiny has changed. As students believe and their lives are changed I also have seen college students share their faith and begin to spread the gospel even farther. That is why I love what I do. All praise and glory be to God for saving those souls!

Why do I work for InterVarsity as a staff member? 

God has sent me

To advance of the gospel

on college campuses

through witnessing communities 

who follow Jesus as Savior and Lord

How?
through partnership
With the Spirit

And with you!

Amen

A Biblical View on Fundraising for Ministry

I felt called to look at a biblical view of fundraising and share this with you.

What is Fundraising and what does the bible have to say about it in regards to ministry for the gospel?

We also call it Ministry Partner Development because we believe this is a partnership of giving and receiving that advances the gospel. When I ask for supporters to give financially I am not begging or asking anyone to be an ATM. This type of partnership in financial giving is biblical and a blessing for those who give and those who receive.

Both Jesus and Paul are excellent examples of ministries that relied on partnership of others in both giving and receiving.

Jesus: In Luke chapter 8 we read how Jesus’ ministry was supported by a group of women.

“Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. . . Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; 3 Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.” Luke 8:1-3

Jesus sends us as he sent the 72 in Luke 10 to advance the Kingdom of God by proclaiming the gospel of Jesus and calling all to repent and believe. As Jesus sends them he tells them to take nothing but to depend on the generosity of others for the worker is worth his wages. (Luke 10:1,7) As staff for InterVarsity my full time work is the gospel and the advancement of the kingdom.

Paul:  Paul’s ministry was supported by the people in the church of Philippi and Paul writes this to the Philippians in chapter 4 of his letter as part of prayer letter of thanks. As Paul did before me I send out my regular prayer newsletter to my partners in the gospel to encourage, update and ask for continued prayer.

"And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only." (Philippians 4:15)

Remember that this is a partnership of giving and receiving. As I receive your gifts of prayer and fincancial giving I am equipped to work full time on the college campus. Through my ministry I also hope to give back to you in stories, fruit in the kingdom, encouragement and prayer.

We are all called into partnership in ministry of the gospel to advance the kingdom. But we each have different callings, gifts and resources. Some are called to preach and some are called to encourage and support but all are important. God has called me to this work as a minister of his gospel to college students through my work with InterVarsity to college students at CU Boulder. That is why I have and will continue to invite you and others into partnership with me in giving and receiving for my InterVarsity ministry. 

I trust God will provide for me and my ministry as he also provides for you. For God is the only provider and we are all dependent on him whether we work as engineers, moms, or ministers of the gospel. 

Thank you and as Paul said to the Philippians (ch 4) "May God supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen."

-Daniel