Hello all.
Well, in this one year internship I'm four months through and looking toward another eight months. These past four months have been amazing and I've learned more during this time than in any other ministry environment. God’s grace has been more than sufficient and His provision has been more sure than northwest clouds.
Today I specifically want to share with you where Sarah and I have been financially and what God has been doing with us during this time.
I’ll start by saying that thus far we have been able to pay every single bill and rent only because Jesus has poured out overwhelming grace to us and has moved the hearts of those whom we fellowship with at Mars Hill to gift us with cash, groceries and hospitality. Our families have also played a huge role in supporting us through finances and prayer. No matter who signs the checks, we know it has all come from Jesus and we praise Him for this. It is our prayer that it will be made fruitful for the kingdom of God.
About a month ago I went through my hardest time yet. I came to this point of extreme frustration as I had been seeking ways to make some extra cash on the side; I was scheming up ways that could bring some relief from the anxiety such as learning the stock market, (I laugh now but I was getting desperate), building art easels and selling them at the local community market, working at a metal shop, finding a barista job in the mornings or a restaurant job in the evenings, selling my art online or in a gallery, mowing lawns for people in the neighborhood and so on and so on. I tried to think of anything I could that would provide some extra cash. The weight was becoming unbearable. The problem was this: I was frustrated that we were barely making our financial obligations every month and nothing was left, we couldn't go out with friends or afford gas to get out of the city. But the root of my frustration was that I was constantly tempted to be distracted from my ministry, to pretty much rebuke the calling I had been given by God. I was constantly lusting over a pair of shoes that I would see in a store window and coveting those who were enjoying sushi as I walked home from the campus on 1st avenue. I was becoming bitter and I hated it. If only I could make a paycheck.
I have since come to the following conclusions through much prayer and meditation on scripture including 1 Corinthians 9, Philippians 4, Hebrews 13 and 1 Timothy 5:
First. I was living in sin and have had to repent of my covetousness and discontent. Hebrews 13:5 says "Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have," for he has said 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.' So we can confidently say 'the Lord is my helper, I will not fear, what can man do to me?”
Secondly. I do need to find a way to provide for Sarah and I so that we are not distracted from what God has called us to. It is my responsibility to provide a standard of living for my family as 1st Timothy 5:8 says “If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”
Third. I need to do this by raising support as I don’t believe God is calling me to get an outside job but rather to serve the church full time. This calling has been confirmed in three distinct ways which you can read about here. Practically, working an outside job would severely impact my ability to serve in the capacity that I now do, working at the campus 40 hours a week developing a ministry and training ministry leaders, leading two community groups and carrying the study load of a part time student as I go through the MHC deacon process and receive ministry coaching.
As there doesn’t seem to be a suitable transition Ill state it plainly. For Sarah and I to be faithful to what God has for us we must raise support. I would like to humbly share our need with you in the hope that you would partner with us in seeking the Gospel known in downtown Seattle. Here is the breakdown of our financial obligations per month:
Rent $1020
Car Payment $160
Credit Card Payments $175
Car Insurance $120
Utilities $95
Groceries $400
Bus Fare $20
Gas $60
Cell Phones $80
Laundry $30
Home Internet $40
World Vision $35
Entertainment $40
TOTAL $2275
A huge blessing is that Sarah has been given a promotion at work and will begin working full time in June, her monthly income after taxes will be about $1460. To have a bit of a cushion we would like to raise $1100 dollars every month.
We would like to ask you to commit to a monthly pledge for eight months, whether it’s $10 or an amount you may feel called to. This is very easy to do by donating through our paypal link on the right side of the page at the top, or through either of the following links:
$10 a month
$25 a month
This is the desire of my heart, that God's glory will be known and my faith will be grown during this season of trusting in His promise. Please pray that God would continue to build us up in faith and that we would be fully convinced that God is able to do what He promised. Also pray with us in confidence that God would move the hearts of those who are partners with us for the gospel, that the Spirit would remind them of us.
God is good. We have been absolutely blessed by those of you who have partnered with us and we thank God for you. We look forward to testifying of God's continual enduring grace and work.
With thanks from the bottom of our hearts.
Grace, peace and love to you.
Joel and Sarah
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