"i support you 100%”

in 2020 while at camp bighorn with my youth group I was sitting during a sermon and suddenly realized “i think i need to go on a mission trip”

the context of this realization came from 6 months before hand when I heard about missions. I was immediately intrigued but thought that I wasn’t ready yet. I wasn’t old enough, I didn’t know enough, I wasn’t good enough. however, that day God had taught me something that I needed to learn. even my claim on myself doesn’t withstand His hold on me. though I may doubt and call myself unworthy, unequipped, and unwise, He speaks something greater.

Through Him I am justified. Jesus Christ has made me worthy, He is equipping me to serve the Kingdom, He is making His wisdom mine.

so almost 2 years later, where does that leave us?

as most already know, I was invited to Papua New Guinea to lead children’s ministry for 5 weeks. you can read a bit more about that in my previous blog titled “where to next?”. underneath my note that says “i think i need to go on a missions trip” is a smaller note written by a friend. “i support you 100%”. Now I'm looking for more friends, much like the one who wrote me this note, who are willing to support me 100%.

How do you support someone "100%"

By no means am I suggesting that if you want to fully support someone you should pay all of their financial needs for them. Even if you were to do that, you still wouldn't be supporting them 100%. Supporting a brother or sister in Christ who is in pursuit of missions combines 3 aspects of Biblical support.

1. Prayer and intercession

above all, prayer is the most important aspect of support. there is always more to pray for than there is to pay for. no amount of money can supplement a heart change, there’s no price we can pay for salvation.

Scripture consistently calls us to pray for one another, even those who do not yet know Christ. From Moses praying for Israel to Paul giving thanks for those he wrote for, praying on behalf of others in a recurrent action in scripture.

asking those you plan to support, even if they aren’t going on a missions trip across the world, makes them feel loved and cared for. I remember on my previous trip recalling all the people who had been praying for me as well as my team and realizing that God was answering those very prayers in that moment. it not only encourages us when we are preparing to go, but gives us courage on the field.

some things you can be praying for as my team and I prepare to go:

• that we could represent Christ well to those we meet and serve.

• that the Lord would stir up the hearts of those we will encounter.

• that my team and I could strive for peace with one another to further benefit the Kingdom of God.

• that travel days would go smoothly and we could be consistently reminded of Gods presence.

2. financial support

possibly the most spoken on and anticipated support related with missions work is financial support. while it isn’t the most important aspect, it is still a need. giving what you feel called to and spending time in prayer asking God what you should contribute is vital to this step of support. whether it’s 500 or 5, you are still helping send those who have been called to go.

this is by no means a new practice and though I am using an online platform to help raise funds, even the early church supported each other financially.

“All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭4:32-35‬ ‭NIV‬‬

now I'm not asking that you sell your house to help send me to Papua New Guinea, but I am asking that you would go to God and ask Him what He’s leading you to give.

3. emotional support

Missionary or not, Christian or not, checking in on someone emotionally is an obvious and very impactful way to show your support.

"Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." Galatians 6:2, NIV

Carrying each others burdens can look vastly different in differing circumstances. However, simply asking those around you how they’re doing whether that’s spiritually, emotionally, mentally, or physically can uplift them. my team in Guatemala would do these types of check-ins on a daily basis and it was so incredibly helpful. it’s more than a simple “how are you?” and it encourages meaningful conversation.

how can you support me specifically?

Again, I cannot make this plea any clearer: be praying for me, my team, and those we will serve. I will continue to post prayer requests here on my blog and on my support page. Along with that, my support page has an area to give financial support. Please spend some time asking God what you should give. Note that these funds go towards purchasing my flights to and from Papua New Guinea and my visa into the country.

My support page is https://givesendgo.com/PNGSGR

Finally, supporting me emotionally can be reaching out through a direct message or even just engaging with my writing. Knowing I have a group of Christ followers behind me as I approach this trip is so encouraging and meaningful to me.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read. Make sure to sign up on my base page to get notified when new blogs are posted. As always I am beyond thankful for each of you, God Bless,

-Sarah grace