This week's story is from Gary Thies, Mission Counselor for LCMS Foundation Ministries Support in Iowa and Nebraska. Gary loves to tell stories from God's mission. He also loves to tell what he calls "stories of God reaching down and touching the lives of individual donors." He says, "God is still calling people and performing great miracles by sending the Holy Spirit into the hearts of people."
Acts 3:12
When Peter saw this, he said to them: "Men of Israel, why does this surprise
you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made
this man walk?"
I can still hear the voice of Pastor Peter Kirby on the phone as he called from Jamaica. He said they desperately needed a van to transport poor families, children and the elderly to church services at his congregation in Kingston, Jamaica. LCMS World Mission had approved the project, but a new van cost $20,000. I secured the project number and started visiting families and congregations.
After the service and my presentation at one congregation, a family came over and said, “Do you mean we could have our own mission project and help with a specific missionary’s needs? Can our gift go directly to that project?” I assured them it was true and they were very excited about helping. They asked for a specific project and I told them about the van project in Jamaica. They seemed to be interested and took an "adoption" agreement and one of my envelopes. I encouraged them to pray about it and assured them that God would direct them.
About a week later, I received that envelope along with a letter of apology from this dear couple. They said they were very sorry they couldn’t do the project, but that they wanted to help. They had sent a check for $10,000. I was absolutely “blown away.” When I called them I remember being so excited and convinced that “I” was going to do something special. I told them that the next Sunday I was going to visit a congregation that had $250,000 in their savings account. "I" would ask them to provide the additional gift of $10,000 to finish out this project so that the van could be purchased.
When I arrived at the church, I noticed that the congregation had remodeled the inside of the building, spent $75, 000 remodeling the parsonage and had a brand new organ. I told them in my presentation that when God called them home He would not ask them about the organ, the parsonage or the redecorated church building. He would ask them if they had told people about the Lord Jesus. I challenged the congregation to provide the balance of this special project for the van. I even urged the elders to take the entire gift to Jamaica in person, go with Pastor Kirby to purchase the van and photograph the van being used to pick up children and elderly people to bring them to hear about Jesus. They seemed so excited and told me that the next week they would be having a voters’ meeting and would get back to me. When I called that next week, they told me they felt that it was too much money and they could not afford the $10,000.
I was somewhat shaken, but then the Lord teaches us all lessons. The balance of the funding for the van came in small amounts...$10, $50, $25...until at last the amount grew to $17,500. As I spoke at another, an elderly couple came over and said, “For our fiftieth wedding anniversary, we would like to do a special project!” From their general appearance I inferred that they had only moderate means. I decided not tell them we needed $2,500 for the balance of the project because my human nature expected another gift of $10-$50. I handed them the project in an envelope and said, “You pray about it and God will give you the right amount to provide.”
About a week later, I received their check for $2,500. They were so glad that God had called them to be a part of this special project! God loves to surprise us. Just at the right time He picks people to have the privilege of being a part of His mission.