pictures: 1) I prepare a display table before speaking at a church. 2) Every penny helps. A friend collected almost $50 in pocket change for my ministry.
One dollar. The “biggest” gift I’ve received from ten weeks of raising support.
While I was in Indiana, a girl about nine gave the softened, old bill to me after I spoke at her church. She wanted to help African girls, especially poor ones who come to Burkina Faso for jobs, but are tricked into prostitution or slavery. “I wish I could give more,” she said, “but here’s everything I have.” She reminded me of the biblical widow who impressed Jesus by her temple gift of two measly coins, all she had.
I would never have met this girl if a friend hadn’t suggested I share my prayer and financial needs with one of her friends, a complete stranger to me. When I nervously introduced myself by phone, wishing that not being allowed to talk to strangers was still a valid excuse, the lady surprised me by being so excited about my ministry that she wanted to involve some relatives. Before we could arrange a meeting, however, she called, inviting me to speak at her church in a town I had never before heard of. When I called the pastor to work out the details, I discovered he is also from Kansas. “Oh yeah,” he exclaimed. “I remember your town. We creamed your junior college in basketball!” After this gracious introduction, he started a generous, preacherly kind of coercion, forcing me to speak as long as I needed during the service on a date he forced me to choose.
Of course I pray for people who can give more than a few extra minutes of speaking time or a one dollar bill, but I am thankful for people like these. They make the long, sometimes discouraging process of sharing the need and laboring to trust God for provision worth it.
God Bless,
Chelsey Horkman
Praise God For:
· Opportunities to share about the work and the needs of my ministry with more people than I expected.
· People at home and in Indiana who have provided for my ministry through praying, giving, hosting, introducing, and encouraging.
Please Pray That:
· I will be able to minister to others even as I share my needs with them.
· God will continue to lead me to people who can join my support team.
While I was in Indiana, a girl about nine gave the softened, old bill to me after I spoke at her church. She wanted to help African girls, especially poor ones who come to Burkina Faso for jobs, but are tricked into prostitution or slavery. “I wish I could give more,” she said, “but here’s everything I have.” She reminded me of the biblical widow who impressed Jesus by her temple gift of two measly coins, all she had.
I would never have met this girl if a friend hadn’t suggested I share my prayer and financial needs with one of her friends, a complete stranger to me. When I nervously introduced myself by phone, wishing that not being allowed to talk to strangers was still a valid excuse, the lady surprised me by being so excited about my ministry that she wanted to involve some relatives. Before we could arrange a meeting, however, she called, inviting me to speak at her church in a town I had never before heard of. When I called the pastor to work out the details, I discovered he is also from Kansas. “Oh yeah,” he exclaimed. “I remember your town. We creamed your junior college in basketball!” After this gracious introduction, he started a generous, preacherly kind of coercion, forcing me to speak as long as I needed during the service on a date he forced me to choose.
Of course I pray for people who can give more than a few extra minutes of speaking time or a one dollar bill, but I am thankful for people like these. They make the long, sometimes discouraging process of sharing the need and laboring to trust God for provision worth it.
God Bless,
Chelsey Horkman
Praise God For:
· Opportunities to share about the work and the needs of my ministry with more people than I expected.
· People at home and in Indiana who have provided for my ministry through praying, giving, hosting, introducing, and encouraging.
Please Pray That:
· I will be able to minister to others even as I share my needs with them.
· God will continue to lead me to people who can join my support team.
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