Provision For His Purpose

Want to read an amazing story about a loving God? Keep reading. 

I’m often asked (as recently as Sunday) how my family survives on my small pastor’s salary and how our church, filled with many poor members, can afford to serve so many poor in our community… especially since we never ask for money. In addition to my pastor’s salary and living in the church-owned house, my family is supported by generous extended family and friends, and the government (including food stamps and Medicaid). I also receive a stipend from another job, where my boss refuses to fire me for my poor job performance! God has provided our every physical need and given us a comfortable life. I’ve shared in detail on my blog how God has miraculously provided for my family. 

But today, I’ll share some events showing how God provides all our church needs to serve the people He wants us to serve. And God provides without us begging for money:

I recently posted on Facebook that I wanted to buy a used crib for an Iraqi refugee family. I met Gaaith and his pregnant wife when our church met at the park. They are from Baghdad. Now read how God worked…

My friend Christina read the Facebook post and tagged her friend Melody. I was looking to BUY a crib, but Melody offered the crib and mattress for FREE. I had never met Melody until today, when I picked up the crib from her house. 

I drove to Melody’s house in our church van, which we bought for a bargain from another church. 

We paid for the van using money from an insurance check. 

The insurance check was intended to repair water damage in some rooms we had planned to rip out anyway for future renovations. 

But a volunteer work group completed those renovations for us. I had never met a single person in this group before they came to work here.

They came because someone outside of our church recommended the group serve at our location. 

The group donated all their time and materials. So the insurance money sat unused in our bank account.

In addition to the van, we put the remaining insurance money towards replacing two large sanctuary a/c units for $14,000. Our church doesn’t even use the sanctuary. We meet in my backyard, in the gym, and at the park. But the church renting out space from us has now been blessed with working a/c. 

I left Melody’s house in the church van with the donated crib in the back and to Gaaith’s apartment. His wife’s c-section is Friday, May 12 at 3:00pm. Please pray for her. On my to Gaaith’s, I asked Jordan to meet me. Jordan is our volunteer associate pastor.

Jordan first visited our church on accident! He and his fiancé intended to visit another church one Sunday morning almost two years ago. But he received incorrect directions as he tried visiting a church with a similar name to ours. Once inside our building, he didn’t even enter the right worship service! They entered our main sanctuary, used by another church. After a few moments, some church ushers suggested they might be looking for our worship service on the other side of the building. One year later, Jordan told me God called him to serve at our church even though we couldn’t pay him. Jordan is our new summer day camp director and will volunteer at the camp every day for 9 weeks this summer. 

Yesterday, I posted on Facebook the exciting news about another refugee who called me. She has an apartment with no furniture. I didn’t ask for money or furniture, only prayers for this new ministry God seems to be starting through us. 

Lindsay saw my post and offered to donate a couch and some other furniture. I’ve never met Lindsay. We’ve only been friends on Facebook for about 48 hours. 

I connected with Lindsay through Karey. Karey and I used to be neighbors. Karey shared a Facebook post about our church’s upcoming summer day camp. Lindsay asked Karey more about it and offered to volunteer. 

Then Karey commented on yesterday’s post, saying she has an old kitchen table she’d like to donate. I’ll pick up Karey’s table and Lindsey’s furniture next week. 

And my friend Greg saw the post and connected me with an organization that can help us with funds and resources to help in ways our church cannot. 
Dear friends, I believe Jesus loves you and me more than we know. He’s a loving father who provides for his children. And he will gladly provide the resources for you to obey his purposes. If you need something in this world, Jesus is the first one to ask. You may find, as I have found, Jesus often uses others to answer your prayers. Just like any loving parent, he gladly gives to his children when we ask.