Nepal Mission update
What’s our mission? Making champions for Christ, in the home, in the community, in the world.
As a coach, missionary, and pastor, I want to do my best to have my life match up with what the word declares as our model.
The transition from pastoring for the last twenty years to raising mission support has at times felt like an intimidating task. How did the missionaries before us do it and be responsible for a family at the same time? It was simple. They believed that preaching the gospel was the greatest mandate a person could have. They believed and expected that other believers would help support the mission. Apostle Paul’s attitude was if you can’t go send me as your representative. Bold talk for this era isn’t it?
This text gives great context to where my life is at: 1 Corinthians 9:3-12 "I’m not shy in standing up to my critics. We who are on missionary assignments for God have a right to decent accommodations, and we have a right to support for us and our families. You don’t seem to have raised questions with the other apostles and our Master’s brothers and Peter in these matters. So, why me? Is it just Barnabas and I who have to go it alone and pay our own way? Are soldiers self-employed? Are gardeners forbidden to eat vegetables from their own gardens? Don’t milkmaids get to drink their fill from the pail? I’m not just sounding off because I’m irritated. This is all written in the scriptural law. Moses wrote, 'Don’t muzzle an ox to keep it from eating the grain when it’s threshing.' Do you think Moses’ primary concern was the care of farm animals? Don’t you think his concern extends to us? Of course. Farmers plow and thresh expecting something when the crop comes in. So if we have planted spiritual seed among you, is it out of line to expect a meal or two from you? Others demand plenty from you in these ways. Don’t we who have never demanded deserve even more?"
Some people believe that Christian ministers should serve at their own expense. This passage clearly gives a number of reasons why the flock needs to take very seriously its responsibility to financially support its ministers in proportion to their labor and effectiveness. The general rule is simple: "the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel."
Thank you for supporting the Hands on Mission.
Fundraising Update
Truth be told, I was reluctant to take on this new mission and ask for support. Pride, change, fear of failure and rejection battled me greatly. An emotion we all will fight in trying to walk the path of obedience, but God always shows himself faithful.
Our initial goal was to raise $6000 for Nepal and Pakistan. Hands on Mission is also believing for supporters for continued work in Las Vegas and now locations around the world.
We’ve now raised $5600. Praise God! Just in the last few weeks I’ve been invited to China and India. My mentors have cautioned me that the need is so great around the world and the invitations to minister will continue to pour in. This will require wisdom and discernment on which opportunities to say yes to.
These invitations are not like state side ministry, where the guest is expecting lodging, food, and a-honorarium. These trips are fully funded by the missionaries. In some regions of Nepal, the average income is $500 a year. Our intent as missionaries is not be a burden, but a blessing to the local pastors and churches.
The mission support will all go towards Nepal and Pakistan. It will not be used for personal use. We’re still able to support ourself here locally. Until I am able to raise enough support, I will continue to run my cleaning company. God will and is providing for this transition and I thank you for being apart of that.
Apostle Paul said it best in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23: "Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized—whoever. I didn’t take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ—but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I’ve become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life."
I hope to model what Apostle Paul did.
If you want get on board and support missionary Dan to Make champions for Christ in the home, in the community, and in the world, I will go as your representative.
I commit to rep Christ and you, well.
Love you champs.