Going, growing, giving – moving forward with the missoin of Equipping For Life. But seeing it helps more than just saying it again. So this post is all about showing our mission work so we can move it forward…together!
Going, Growing, Giving
Yes, we use that word combo on the website because it summarizes the ways people engage with us. The going part is easy since mission volunteers are involved in so many ministry activities – from teaching, medical and much more. And while everyone can’t go they can engage through prayer and equipping the mission teams with many things.
Believers grow immensely by going. But they also grow through the devotional materials on the blog, the Truth Hunter Podcast and the courses available on the learning platform. And that is an aspect of this ministry that if easy to overlook.
Giving is necessary and leads some to assume that is the only way to help. That is definitely not the case. But it’s vital that churches and inviduals donate monthly, or annually or for specific projects.
These things all come together as our Helping Hands teams engage on the mission field. And that’s what this post is meant to show you!
Seeing Is Believing
The pictures in this post were taken during our November mission to the Dominican Republic. And I’m sharing them with you because they show us going, growing and giving. So my comments will be focused there.
Here, we see Equipping For Life in action. Obviously, believers are to equip others for spiritual life. That’s why we should be faithful to let people know that it is possible to have peace with God. At the same time, we are instructed to love others in word and deed (I John 3:18). In other words, don’t just preach at people but show them what the love of Christ looks like.
I often sumarize that thought by reminding mission teams that we declare the Gospel as well as demonstrate the Gospel. So equipping for spiritual life must be accompanied by equipping people for life in the here and now. A friend has famously said that people cannot hear the Gospel if they are too sick to listen. His assessment is correct.
The images to the right show our team helping to build yet another church. This is helping to equip that congregation. Their pastor is part of our pastor’s seminary. And you also see some of us teaching the pastors. But you also see the results of equipping pastors and churches. New believers, and them being baptized, is always a cause for gratitude and celebration.
The Unseen – Moving The Mission Forward
EquipUs Mission Team
What cannot see are essential elements of mission and ministry. We obviouly cannot the prayers offered for any team. But we can see how God worked in the mission. Furthermore, you cannot see the thousands of dollars donated to help build this church. And we had no idea that we would move this project forward to the point that their denominational headquarters made a commitment to finish the project. So we can move on equipping another congregation! God is good!!
The other thing you cannot see is the donation that came in to send someone who could go and help. That was the intent of the donor – to make it possible for someone else to join our team. And what an answer to prayer that was – for us as well as the one who got to be part of our Helping Hands team.
From Macro To Micro
Our usual mode of operation is to help churches. That’s the macro. It really has to be that way – at least for the vast majority of the time. Every now and then something comes up that demands individual attention. That’s the micro. The images here show you one of those times.
In our November mission we are blessed to have some local pastors work alongside us. They have been part of this ministry since the beginning. At first they were students in the seminary. Over time, their roles changed to ministry partners. Some of them now teach with us. It is an extra ordinary blessing to see that happen as the ministry grows year after year.
The images here were taken by one of these pastors in his own bedroom. But they don’t tell the whole story. The pastor was on his way into town to teach his assigned material in the evening class section. Before arriving in town, he noticed that the headlight on his motorcycle was not working. Knowing he would have to travel home in the dark, he had to turn around and go home. He sent me a text message explaining the situation and letting me know he would not be present to teach.
When he got home, he knocked on his front door. His wife was lying down on their bed. She got up to answer the door. As she opened it they heard the crashing sounds of the ceiling crumbling and raining debris all over the room – and on the be she had just walked away from. In the aftermath, I’ve remembered several times not to get too worked up about things that appear to be going wrong. We would never have thought to celebrate a broken headlight. But God knew what was coming!!! And we now have the opportunity to raise about $2,000.00 to help this family repair their home.
Going, Growing, Giving – Faith To Faith
As they say on TV, this is breaking news! I’ve known since this past Spring that a new opportunity would likely present itself. And just a few days ago that became reality. Our Board has met and approved an exploratory trip to Peru. This would just be the latest step of faith and a new opportunity for going and growing and giving – moving the mission forward.
Mission volunteers are never asked to go into an unknown setting. That means I have to make a personal visit to all potential new ministry sites. We have to:
- Know our potential ministry partners
- Confirm how teams will be provided for
- Identify safety issues
- Evaluate our transportation options.
In this case, the potential ministry city is Lima, Peru. So that would mean being reasonably close to our mission site when we land. Mission volunteers know that is not usually the case. We fly and then ride. But for the moment, the concern is funding something we didn’t plan for this time last year.
Next Steps – 2 To 1
I’ve previously promised to share our upcoming ministry opportunities. There are multiple reasons to do that. First, success in the new year depends on year-end fundraising. And when people can see the difference their donations have already made it gives a confirmation of past efforts as well as encouragement for new ones. That’s living from faith to faith. So those who can give are helping with:
- Our 2026 budget in general
Tools in God’s tool box!
- Helping restore a pastor’s home
- Investigate a new mission site
But donations aren’t possible for some. And this is the two-to-one I mentioned above. Here are two things everyone can do:
- Pray for our fundraising, our opportunities and our mission teams
- Share this info as often as possible – especially this month!
And sharing this post will expand the number of people who will be going, growing, giving – moving the mission forward. Sharing really does have a great multiplier effect. Whether you share personally or on your social media outlets, it doesn’t matter how you share just that you share.
Our donation page gives all the necessary information to donate electronically or through the mail. Please take a minute and add a Mission Gift to your Christmas list.
In the meantime, keep praying and keep sharing. And I’ll share some more EquipUs mission info very soon!
Soli Deo Gloria!
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