God will match your need with his blessings

You might have a need that seems entirely too big to fill. You might have a situation that seems positively too impossible to solve.

What if God were ALREADY at work setting up just the help you need for just the time you will need it?

There is an impossible need right now for the International Mission Board. They are doing a right thing, while doing a heart-wrenching thing. They are required to reduce the number of missionaries and workers in numbers as large as 600 - 800 people in order to be good stewards of God's blessings of financial receipts and of manpower. (See the story here.) This situation is in spite of an increase in annual receipts from their annual Lottie Moon Offering for International Missions.

I want to tell you an inspiring story. In the tiny town of Philadelphia, Mississippi, a high school senior, who is a leader in his church youth group, wanted to plan a 3 on 3 basketball tournament for his community. The church leadership here at First Baptist Church of Philadelphia wanted to equip this young saint in his work for the ministry (Ephesians 4:12). He wanted this event to undergird a worthy cause. We quickly remembered a man who was raised in our church who is currently serving with the IMB in Central Asia. Why not do something to benefit him and the ministry God has given him? Thus, Hoops for C.A.M. was born (C.A.M. stands for Central Asian Missions). Our local newspaper, the Neshoba Democrat, published a story on this event. (Read it here.) In God’s providence, God has been leading this high school senior toward this idea of a basketball tournament for a worthy cause for such a time as this – a time when the IMB is in its greatest need. God will bring a small gift from a youth group in Philly MS to his great work among the nations. Even during the IMB’s greatest difficulty, God is being faithful in his own ways for our piece of his picture of his Great Commission work. We look forward to donating all our proceeds from the tournament, concessions, admission, and shirts to the Lottie Moon Offering. Because God led us to do this. Because he wanted to bless the IMB with our gift. Because God is still at work, even when we are tempted to believe he is not.

Psalm 67

May God be gracious to us and bless us

     and make his face to shine upon us,

That your way may be known on earth,

     your saving power among all nations.

Let the peoples praise you, O God;

     let all the peoples praise you!

Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,

     for you judge the peoples with equity

     and guide the nations upon earth.

Let the peoples praise you, O God;

     let all the peoples praise you!

The earth has yielded its increase;

     God, our God, shall bless us.

God shall bless us;

     let all the ends of the earth fear him!


A prayer of blessing from us to God's people at the International Mission Board:

Numbers 6:24-26

The LORD bless you and keep you; 
the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.