I'm preparing to send out support letters soon for my upcoming mission trip. Though I only lack $800 (which is not much in terms of trip costs!), my main purpose in sending this letter is to let people know what the Lord is doing in my heart in regards to long-term missions in Germany. Here's a rough draft of my letter (I've never been short winded...)
My prayer is that this letter finds you in a time of
blessing and growth in the Lord. I am currently finishing up my junior year at
the University of North Texas as an Entrepreneurship Major, minoring in German.
A covenant member at The Village Church, I am growing spiritually and am
involved in leading a middle school home group. My heart is filled with so many
wonderful, exciting, terrifying (in a good way!) things that this letter won’t
do them justice—the Lord is working in powerful ways!
This summer, I will be spending almost seven weeks in
Germany through Kontaktmission (KM), a Europe-based mission organization, on
staff with a series of Bible camps in Paderborn, Germany. For the past year, I
have been in prayer that the Lord would open the doors for me to spend the
summer abroad, and He has provided beyond my imagination. Through my mission
trip this summer I will be immersed in the German language, surrounded by the
gospel, and will have the opportunity to share Christ cross-culturally with
German students. Much more than a summer-abroad, though, I am viewing this trip
as preparation to relocate to Germany as a full-time missionary, possibly in
partnership with Kontaktmission.
The Lord has wired into me a desire and love for the
German-speaking world. I’ve been aware of the Lord stirring my heart and
affections towards the lost from the age of 14, after having completed
my first year of German and taken a short-term mission trip to Cologne,
Germany.
It is difficult to describe why I am drawn to this particular culture-group;
all I can explain is that I have an unquenchable longing deep within my soul to
join a people whom I have never met, which to me only exhibits God’s
sovereignty. In Europe, the resistance to the gospel is primarily through
personal choice as the result of post-Christian societal and culture trends.
Though once the primary sending hub for missionaries, Europe’s percentage of
the population of evangelical Christians is only 3.1%,
with Germany weighing in at 2.9% and Austria at a mere 0.4%, according to KM.
With my time in
college nearing its end, I am seeking the Lord’s guidance in long-term
relocation to Germany upon graduation in May 2013. Through the past few months,
I have definitely felt the Lord solidify in my heart that I am called to
Germany, however that may look. This trip will serve as a stepping stone into
the culture and will provide clarity into my next step in this journey. Though
I am still in prayerful consideration and seeking the Lord, KM has a 3-year
mission school on-site in Germany that will provide cross-cultural missionary
training, equipping me to join a church-planting team in Europe.
My main purpose
of this letter is to ask, first and foremost, for your prayer. I believe the
power of prayer is the most important aspect of this journey I am on towards
relocation. Please pray for discernment of the Lord’s will for me in long-term
missions. Pray for clarity through this trip, that the Lord will solidify in my
heart if this is His calling for my life, and if I am to partner with
Kontaktmission. Pray for the hearts of those I will come in contact with in
Germany, that even now they will be softened, ready for what the Lord will do
through Padercamp.
The Lord has been
incredibly faithful in providing the funds for this trip, as my airfare is
already purchased and paid for! All I am lacking to make the trip from June
27-August 13 is around $800, which will help to cover transportation in
Germany, food and the few overnight stays that are not included with the camp.
I am confident that the Lord will provide the last portion of my financial
need, but I implore you to prayerfully consider being a part of something much
greater by helping to send me to Germany this summer. There is no gift too
small, the Lord will use everything! If you find yourself able to help support
me financially, please see the attached commitment card for a tax-deductible
gift. Any non-deductible gifts you choose to give can be sent directly to me at
this return address.
Once again, I
covet your prayers throughout this summer and beyond, as I discern what the
Lord has for me, and any financial contributions you feel led to donate are
most appreciated. The Lord is doing so much in my heart and in my life that I
cannot express everything in this letter (it’s already “too long” as it is!),
so please do not hesitate to give me a call or drop me an email if you want to
further discuss any aspect of how the Lord is working. I would love to hear
from you! Over the next month I will follow-up with you to assure you received
my letter and answer any questions you might have for me.
Blessings in
Jesus Christ,
L. Meaghan Brown
“How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!’ “ Romans 10:14-15
“How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!’ “ Romans 10:14-15
Sounds great!!
ReplyDeleteI love you. This is going to be awesome :)