We have been blessed to raise half of our budget right on time. We were given fundraising benchmarks when we began our missionary service. We needed to raise 50% of our budget by February of this year and thanks to the generosity of churches and individuals who have seen the great open door of opportunity that Ecuador offers we made our deadline. Our next benchmark is coming up quickly, we need to raise our next 50% before we depart for language school in August. This seems to us to be a daunting task. Yet, when we consider what it will take to make our next benchmark we can see a way to meet our partnership goals….And We Need Your Help.
First we should say that we are not asking you who have already given to give more (unless the Holy Spirit prompts you), we are simply asking you to share our need with your friends, family and social networks. You see an interesting event has just occurred about the same time we reached 50% of our funding, we also have reached about 100% saturation in our natural networks. Just about everyone we know has been asked to partner with us in various ways. Many of our family, friends and members of our social networks have given generously and many more have indicated that they will give soon.
Five simple ways you can help!
Please pray for us regularly. We know of no missionary who can fulfill the call of God on their lives without people at home continually taking them before the throne room of grace on a daily basis.
Please speak about us to your family. Take a moment and think about which of your family members would like to extend their ministry far beyond their current reach. We have found that many people what to be apart of something with an eternal impact. (Here is a downloadable bio to help facilitate your discussion)
Please speak about us to your friends. Some of your friends would love the opportunity to invest in a good cause. For motivation, consider the words of J. Stuart Holden, “‘Go ye’ is as much a part of Christ’s Gospel as ‘Come unto Me.’ You are not even a Christian until you have honestly faced your responsibility in regard to the carrying of the Gospel to the ends of the earth.” Help your friends honestly face their Christian responsibility.
Please speak about us (or invites us to speak) to your small group, Sunday School, Church or Bible Study. Once again for motivation, consider the words of Nate Saint, missionary who was martyred in Ecuador, “People who do not know the Lord ask why in the world we waste our lives as missionaries. They forget that they too are expending their lives … and when the bubble has burst, they will have nothing of eternal significance to show for the years they have wasted.” The bottom line is that the Christians you know need to be part of the Great Commission.
Please share us on your social networks. You would be amazed how much a simple endorsement from you expands our reach. When we post an update on our site just take the time to share it.
Can we count on you? We absolutely need you help to keep our momentum going and to reach beyond our natural networks. Thank you in advance!
Some Good News!
Here is some good news, when we reach 75% of our budget (only $21,000 more to go!) we have a generous donor who will partner with us for another $20,000. So, in effect every dollar that is pledged to us between now and when we reach 75% has the effect of two dollars! We are closer than it seems, with your help we can get there!
In His Grip,
The Downings
