Dear friends, family, and any others who have happily come upon this blog,
As many of you know, I am beginning a two-year internship with Reformed University Fellowship (RUF) at Belhaven University in Jackson, MS with the intent of loving college students. Our hope and purpose is to point them to the surpassing, never-ending love of God as he has revealed himself to us in the Scriptures.
How in the world am I going to do that?
Well, the short (though complete) answer is "by God's grace." Practically speaking, it means my full-time job will be being available for students as they enter this searching time in their lives. I will lead small groups of students attempting to connect what the Bible says with real life. I will encourage them to honestly examine what they believe because God is big enough to handle all their doubts and struggles! I will persistently show them that someone loves them when they feel unlovable. I will pray for them every day.
And I will fail them.
Yes, I will. I can guarantee it. And I wouldn't have it any other way. You see, I found in my own college experience that I don't turn to God until I have no other choice, so frequently the way he drew me to himself was to remove everyone else. Only then did I remember the point of everything my parents, my intern, my campus minister, and the rest of the believers in my life had been living out: Turn to Jesus. He's the only one who is always there, no matter what, and he loves you dearly! I love the way Sally Lloyd-Jones puts it in the Jesus Storybook Bible, that he loves us with his "Never Stopping, Never Giving up, Unbreaking, Always and Forever Love."
So that's what I bring to this mission, an experience of God's grace, a desire and call to share it with college students, a willingness to reveal myself as a broken sinner in specific ways, and the time to spend building the trust necessary for my words to have any clout.
BUT
I need help, and lots of it! The total cost of ministry for one year is $33,798, and I must raise 85% of that before I may move to campus. This amount is NOT my salary. I would be happy to go through each element with you, but for now know that RUF has streamlined this budget over many years so that interns have to raise as little as possible, but so that every cost of ministry is covered and the interns have enough to live on, albeit very modestly. At this point, I have just under $16,000 to go before I reach that 85%, and my target date to move is August 2nd. Yes, I do realize that that date is coming up exceedingly quickly.
My desire is to build a team of people who will come alongside me to pray for this mission and who are supporting it financially as they are able. Never, I repeat NEVER underestimate the power of and need for prayer, or feel that you are a lesser member of the team because your discretionary income does not allow you to contribute financially!
For those who can, here is a possible breakdown of giving that reaches our goal:
3 @ $100/mo. = $3,000
6 @ $50/mo. = $3,000
15 @ $30/mo. = $4,500
25 @ $10/mo. = $3,000
50 @ $5/mo. = $2,500
Total = $16,000!!!!!
Please look at this! Even if you have already given generously - can you add $5 or $10 per month? That adds up fast!
I believe this is quite doable, and certainly God has pulled off crazier sounding schemes before - think Noah's ark, Jericho, David and Goliath, and ......oh yeah - the Resurrection of Jesus Christ! Not to mention the way he works every day in ways we don't realize have anything to do with him! He loves to use people in his work though, so let's claim that privilege!
To give online or for more info on how to give, simply go to https://www.ruf.org/support-us/
-when giving online, be sure to select my name if you wish to support me!
-for checks, write Mary Hope Bray - Belhaven on the memo line
Questions, concerns or comments? Feel free to call me at (912)536-0642 or message me on Facebook! I'm the only Mary Hope Bray on there :)
No comments:
Post a Comment