// May 18th, 2009 // No Comments » // Life, Service
I’ve been sitting on this post for a while and now that my excitement overwhelms my disappointment, here goes…
Something has been gnawing at me for a while. I attempted to refrain from writing a blog post about it while I was still upset and I think at this point I can write without my emotions causing me to be overly abrasive. At the same time, I want to challenge you. We all have lots of great excuses. It doesn’t mean we should allow them to deter us. Here is my question: Why don’t we go out of our way to encourage our brothers and sisters when they step out in faith? Why don’t we support each other?
I received an email last week from a friend who is going to Kenya for 15 days. She was attempting to raise money for Rehema Ministries. Rehema is commited to taking care of the needs of orphaned and abandoned children. They strive to reach children before they are forced to the streets and do irreperable damage to themselves (usually by sniffing glue to ease their pain). I made a small donation. Partially because I think it is a good cause and someone I trust was involved and supporting it but mostly because I wanted to support her. I wanted her to know other people care about what she is doing and to keep stepping out in faith. This is part of the email I sent her in response to a thank you for my donation:
I’m just excited you are doing awesome things with your life. I’m encouraged and excited to see so many young people doing incredible things with their lives and committed to serving and helping others. My friend Ryan has started a Christian concert series in Tampa. My friend Jesse just became a director at an adventure ministry. He is going to be leading kayaking, rock climbing, paintballing trips etc. every weekend. Both are providing awesome things for Christians to do on the weekends other than going to dinner or a bar. I think there is a huge need for that. My friend Brett is working at Desire Street Ministries and getting ready for med school. Jordan is working with kids in Australia! Zack and my friend Kelley are doing Teach for America. She is looking at going to Uganda for 6 months to work at a community center her friend started for returning refugees. My friend Stacia started a non-profit to tutor and mentor kids in the foster care system that I think could scale on a national level. And there are countless others.
There are so many young people doing awesome work for God! That gets me really excited. What really frustrates me is I don’t see enough of the people around them willing to support, love and encourage them. Maybe I’m just weird but my heart beats to support, love and encourage people who are willing to step out in faith. That is my passion.
Like I said, maybe I’m just weird. But I am living to see other come alive. My heart’s desire is to help others pursue their dreams and visions.
To be honest, when I wrote this post it was out of an extreme sense of disappointment. I was excited about all the things going on but disappointed by the lack of support. Since then I’ve been completely overwhelmed by everything I see God doing in the people around me, especially here in Tampa. I think there is something special going on here. When I get back from Barahona, I’m not sure it is going to be the same city I left.
If you are one of the many that do support, thank you!
If you are one of the many stepping out in faith, keep up the good work!
If you are one of the people sitting on the sidelines oblivious to what is going on around you, wake up! You don’t want to miss this.
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