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Going With The Gruenings

Missionary Support

Updated: Aug 10, 2022

We still feel a bit weird calling ourselves missionaries. Who are WE? What do we BRING to the mission field? Why did God call US here? These are questions still fly about in our minds…


Yet, we knew when God called us here, what he called us for and why. We chose to be faithful and we are glad to be here.


But then there is that financial thing, that we all feel a bit awkward about. We are missionaries. We need financial support. We cannot survive without people like you generously supporting this effort!


Today is Giving Tuesday. It’s a time when people consider giving to important causes as many people and organizations have year-end needs. We would like to invite you to read on and consider how God is leading you.


WHAT?

God is about the proclamation of the good news about Jesus Christ. We participate in that by doing what we do here in Germany.


As we counsel the most hurting, we share the gospel. They need the gospel to deal with all that life throws in their way. It helps them with pain, suffering, sin, discouragement, fear and so much more.


We proclaim the gospel as we train people in Biblical Counseling - the trainees need the gospel because it is what they will need to give to those who are hurting around them.


We proclaim it as we partner with churches to help them build care structures in their midst so they can faithfully live out the call to shepherd God’s people and bring in those who have not yet heard the gospel.


Again, we are talking about money because God’s work depends on it. Not because God couldn’t do it other ways, but because he’s chosen to work it this way… which leads us to the next thing…

WHY?

Why what? Why are we talking about finances again? Because God’s work needs it and because God has always used his people in this way.


In the NT, we read about churches helping one another financially. It didn’t even matter how much was given, but the churches felt it was important to share as they were able. Check out these passages on the topic: 1 Corinthians 16:1-4; 2 Corinthians 9; Philippians 4:10-20; 1 Timothy 6:17-19; Titus 3:13-14;


WHO?

In 3 John we read this:

“Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.” (3 John‬ ‭1:5-8‬) The apostle John is telling the church how important it is to support the work because the people God has called depend on the support to do the work. But read carefully what this is about…


Three things: 1) John exhorts the church to consider what it would be “to send them… in a manner worthy of God.” Think about that for a moment. What does it mean to send someone in manner worthy? Does it mean they just need the bare minimum because God wouldn’t want people to feel too comfortable? Does it mean that they should be sent on chariots of gold, proclaiming the Kingdom? We’d encourage you to think about this phrase “send them… in a manner worthy of God.”

2) John says, ”we ought to.” Yes, there is some kind of pressure to say, ”We cannot let these people go without any support.” When we go on trips, do we not prepare? Do we not buy food, find lodging and figure out what it’ll cost? Of course. If your child said, I want to go here or there, would you be okay with them just leaving or would you make sure they will be taken care of? Whatever would compel you to do that is exactly what John is talking about we believers should do in support of other believers.

3) “That we may be fellow workers of the truth.“ Just as we have been called by God to go, you have been called by God to consider what it is you can do to be a “fellow worker of the truth.” To be clear, we are not trying to coerce you or shame you into giving. If you are not convinced God is calling you to take that step, don’t send a dime! But do consider the opportunity God is giving you to participate in His work of spreading the gospel, the word of truth.

In the end, we are all called to participate in God’s work. Some teach those who are called. Some are sent and go. Some support the local church work. And some financially support those who have gone to minister elsewhere.


WHEN?

The need is always now. The need of the past has come and gone. The need of the future is, to some extent, unknown.


However, there is a need, right now!


Not only because the logistics of supporting people financially takes time (unfortunately this is true even in the advanced technologic age we live in), but because if we waited until the current support has “run out” we will be in a bad situation. So, the need is now.


HOW MUCH?

Of course, this has to be talked about. What is the need as it stands right now?


God has blessed us tremendously in various ways and so, when we left the US we were already 87% funded. However, we are still about 13% short of the goal. This comes out to about $12000 that is needed by May 2022.


What we are looking for are people who are able to give monthly rather than making a one-time donation.


Here’s one way to break it down… If we had

2 people giving 250$/month for 6 months

3 people giving 150$/month for 6 months

4 people giving 100$/month for 6 months

5 people giving 75$/month for 6 months

6 people giving 50$/month for 6 months

the need would be covered.


PRAYER! PRAYER! PRAYER!

First then, we ask you to pray. Pray that God will provide for us. He ALWAYS has in the past, we are confident he will now too - in spite of Corona, difficult economic developments worldwide, etc.


Second, pray about your own participation in this and/or whether you know others who could also partner with us in this gospel work.


Third, pray for churches. We are looking for 20 churches in the next 5 years to help fund this work. We beleive that God’s work should ultima be carried not only by “individual believers” but by local churches. Pray God will bring the right people at the right time so God’s work can continue strong in the area of Biblical Counseling in Germany.


Thank you for your love and support and for listening to this important message.


Much love,

the Gruenings!


To give, simply follow the link to the REPLICATION FUND at Twelve Stones.


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