Wednesday, December 1, 2010

December Update {God Multiplies}

(Please note that any time you wish to give you may reach our donation page by clicking on the picture on the right sidebar)

We originally planned to update the blog each month with progress and news from this project, but so much has happened in the first few weeks that we could not wait an entire month.

In a little over two weeks God has already used this project in ways we never could have imagined. God has brought people along to partner with us in ways we couldn’t have predicted. Within an hour after we made the first post on the blog, my brother Daryl called me. He graduated from UAB in May at the top of his class and married his wife Haley in August. Haley is still in school at UAB and Daryl has been unable to find a job. On the phone he told me that God had been stirring their hearts about giving above their tithe, but they didn’t really know what they were supposed to give until they read about this project. I would have never expected God to use Daryl and Haley, one without a job and one still in college, to partner with us to meet the needs of these people in Africa, but He has. It has also created many opportunities to have great conversations with believers and non-believers about what God is doing.

The most exciting news came this morning. There is a person who has committed to MATCH ALL FUNDS RAISED FOR THIS PROJECT! We were truly overwhelmed by this totally unexpected commitment. I didn’t mention this in the first blog post, but it seems more relevant now. The cost to drill a well in Sudan is actually $10,000, but the organization we are partnering with (Never Thirst) has a partner that matches all donations used in Sudan. Therefore if this project generates $5,000, the Never Thirst partner matches the $5,000 and there is now the $10,000 needed to drill the well. So now we have two partners matching all funds raised.

My thought went to the feeding of the 5,000 and how Jesus took very little and multiplied it to meet the needs of so many. While Jesus met the immediate needs of 5,000 people, the ultimate purpose was to give glory to the Father. It is overwhelming that God is doing the same thing through this project! For example, when someone makes a $25 donation, the matching partner for this project adds $25 to make it $50. When the project is complete, the Never Thirst partner matches the $50 to make it $100. It is amazing to me that God can take my $25 donation and make it $100 so that people in Africa will have clean water, will hear the Gospel, and that ultimately He would receive glory. We are so privileged that God allows us to partner with Him in this. Essentially God is going to take $5,000, which would normally only be half of what is necessary to drill a well, and turn it into $20,000 which will drill two!

Please continue to be in prayer for this project and for two things in particular. We want to be very careful that ALL glory, honor, and praise goes to the Father. We are thankful for everyone that is involved in this project, from the workers in Africa that will dig this well, to the workers at Never Thirst, to everyone who makes a donation or says a prayer, and for those matching these donations. However, as grateful as we are to them, they deserve no glory and honor from this. This belongs only to God. Next, continue to pray that the Holy Spirit would stir in the hearts of these people in Sudan that they would be receptive to the Gospel when it is presented to them.

As of today, December 1, there has been $635 raised (before any matching contributions). To raise the $5,000 in one year we need to be on pace for $417 per month, so we are ahead of that pace right now.

Finally, several people have asked about whether donations are tax deductible. I should have mentioned this earlier, but all donations are tax deductible. If a donation of $100 or greater is made, Never Thirst automatically sends a receipt for the contribution. If the amount is less than $100, you will need to send them an e-mail or give them a call, but they will be happy to send you the documentation you need.

No comments:

Post a Comment