“Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account.”
— Philippians 4:17
Within the past few years, we have had the incredible opportunity to disciple inner city teens in Minneapolis, mentor young men struggling with sexual sin, share Christ with college students in Asia, and witness to people in Israel and Greece. We’ve been busy, huh? Well actually, these are things we have not physically done ourselves, but have gotten to be a part of by serving as senders- sending financial gifts and praying frequently for people doing these ministries. The verse noted above says that when people give to missions, God actually counts what that missionary does as something that the giver did as well- He gives the giver the reward for the work done. In that verse, Paul is talking to the Philippians, asking them to give towards his ministry, and saying that he is not ultimately seeking their money, but seeking that they be rewarded by God for giving.
So, this is what our past month has entailed. We have been meeting with people, sharing with them what God has laid on our hearts to do, and giving them an opportunity to be involved. We have been very encouraged as we have talked, prayed, laughed, and cried with God’s people, and some people have decided to join our team. As of today, we have 6 new financial partners and 5 new prayer partners! Praise God for laying reaching the unreached on people’s hearts!
Lord willing, in just a year and a half, we will be heading off to Papua New Guinea, often referred to as “the land of the unexpected.” That phrase makes us think of Ephesians 3:20, which says that God “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.” Will you begin praying with us that Papua New Guinea will be for us a land in which God does such great things that we never could have expected them? And of course, continue to pray that God will prepare the Umeda tribe to hear greater news than they ever could have expected.
Till all know,
Matt, Karissa, and Ty Long
Please Pray:
that we will have a safe trip to Missouri (we are going the end of this month to do some partnership development)
That Ty will start doing better in church childcare
that God would begin to prepare the hearts of the Umeda to hear His Word
Praise God:
that Ty and Karissa are over sickness
that Karissa has been able to start substitute teaching
for good time with family lately