From the Helm – Thursday, July 14, 2011
To begin, I thank all those who contribute monthly and periodically to AMOR’s ministries. I ask that you continue to do so. Your sacrificial gifts are what God has chosen as the back-bone of His provision for the work in the Valley.
I’ve not written for a good many days now. There has been much on my heart and mind. There has been much to contemplate; much over which to seek clarity. What follows is the result of the journey. I trust, for your own sanity, you will find a PC to read this from instead of the confines of a ‘smartphone’ screen.
For a long while, I’ve felt at a crossroads regarding AMOR’s direction and my place within it. As my mind raced away to grand ideas of how to cause the ministry to not only survive, but grow, so decreased guidance from the God who created the ministry in the first place. To the extent that I planned and schemed of my own resources, God’s voice in it all became softer, more difficult to hear over the bellowing committee of my thoughts.
The Walkers have been in the process of seeking God’s leadership on where to seek opportunities to provide for our family, outside the scope of AMOR’s financial support. We’ve chosen two paths to pursue. Neither is yet fully defined. The processes necessary are moving forward.
With regard to AMOR, I’ve much to say. Over the past several years (and most recently the last weeks), I have approached two churches here in the USA, asking they assume responsibility for the work God has set aside for AMOR to do, or at least help shoulder part of the burden. Each of the church’s leadership has a long-term, intimate relationship to the work in the Valley through AMOR. One of these leaders has offered to help meet the immediate shortfall within Paranorte. For this, I am truly grateful. However, both came back with the same answer regarding the long-term, couched differently. Regardless of how it was expressed, the answer was ‘no’.
Over the past several days, God has made clear to me, once again, a few fundamental truths: First, God gave AMOR the conviction and primary responsibility for whatever the work in the Valley has become, thus far. Second, we’ve been fallacious to expect all others to share the same enthusiasm for that which God has called AMOR to do. Thirdly, What I have actually been doing in requesting total or partial “adoption” by these churches is: to seek relief from what God has placed in AMOR’s hands to tend. In permitting myself to become wearied by seemingly endless quests for financial help due to pressing needs both here and on the field, I’ve wanted to just walk away and seek out a quiet, comfortable rock under which to live out the rest of my days in cool, quiet bliss. As I read the words I’ve just written, the absurdity of the notion is more biting!
What is becoming clearer to me is that we should continue on. The work of AMOR is not ours. We are but the temporary steward of its efforts – replaceable and expendable in any endeavor God chooses to bring to fruition and sustain. Also becoming clearer is the realization we should depend on His provision through individuals. It has always been the individual, seeking to do the right thing on behalf of another, who has quietly and consistently sustained AMOR through the years. God has put in place good leadership both in the USA and directing Missao Paranorte, our sister organization in Brasil. The work in the Valley continues to grow in awe-inspiring ways. The new regions and peoples being reached are unprecedented. This is a work I’m grateful to be part of, in any capacity at all!
On the home front, the fear and uncertainty brought about by new economic realities has caused a new dynamic to evolve within all ministries, with few exceptions. How this fear has affected the way church bodies operate, is disconcerting, alarming and saddening. I have become acutely aware that unless an endeavor ‘pays for itself’ or, at the very least, provides an avenue by which to raise funds for other activities, it is rarely considered as something viable for serious investment of either human or financial resources.
This reality is saddening for a couple of distinct reasons: First, it completely illuminates the element of seeking and following God’s leadership, with faith that He will provide for what He has shown us to do through opportunities presented. It reduces all giving to an equation of cost/benefit instead of the ‘giving of what you have in your hand while trusting in the unseen abundance of God’ (REW). Secondly, the choice God gives to each of us, both individually and collectively, is to ‘go, send or disobey’ (DY). This is the tall and short of it. It’s just the way it is. No exceptions to this basic truth. We do this not based on cost/benefit. We do this based upon the opportunities He provides for us to take part in.
What all this means to me is what I’ve stated earlier: The individual touched of God to help in our work is how God provided in the beginning and continues to provide today. I am in no way saying that church bodies do not play an important role in AMOR’s ministries. The full teams of volunteers they organize and send are of vital importance in opening closed doors in the remote regions of the Valley. There are also several who selflessly help AMOR from time to time. Two of which even provide monthly support on some level. However, it is the Sunday School Classes and individuals within the local churches that have been unfailing, consistent and persistent in their faithfulness.
For each of His children, God has set aside that which He desires for him or her to do. He has done so with such compassionate perfection that it is the only destiny that will keep our relationship to and with Him, unimpaired.
Some, He has called to be pastors, teachers, bricklayers and entrepreneurs. Other, He has set aside as dentists, sanitation workers, physicians and nannies. For each of us, He has a specific life to be lived out. The most profoundly beautiful and inspiring truth of this dynamic is: He causes all of these different personalities and walks of life to work together for the Good He has designed – a design we need not fully understand except that portion He chooses to reveals to each of us, individually.
Where most of us fail in this whole endeavor is in our inherent need to direct what we do and also impose what we feel others should be doing as well. In essence, we attempt to play ‘god’ just as soon as we feel we have a good grip on what He would have us and others to be about doing or not doing.
‘Ego’ (pride and fear) is the greatest inhibitor to peace and right-relationship to our God and Father. Until there is full surrender of our ego, we are pretty much on our own. This truth also applies to church bodies. The truth is, ‘a man is limited in where he goes and how much he is able to accomplish to the extent he feels the need direct the path and achieve credit for what is accomplished’. (RR)
In conclusion, I once again thank all those who contribute monthly and periodically to AMOR’s ministries. I ask that you continue to do so. Your sacrificial gifts are what God has chosen as the back-bone of His provision for the Valley. To those of you reading this note who has not yet become a contributor to the work, I ask that you begin now.
Our monthly needs are US$ 17,312.00. This sustains what is already taking place and, at the same time, keeps us able to act upon new opportunities as God presents them along the way. This covers our USA administrative obligations, the Itinerate Pastors support, basic upkeep of all 5 AMOR vessels and Missao Paranorte’s operating budget. Our current need is in meeting this budget for the month of August, 2011.
You are the key. If led to join us, I encourage you to do so, now. We will be grateful for your participation. Please visit our website to read more about AMOR and make a donation while you are browsing around.
www.amor-brazil.org
