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Any successful ministry venture is the result of passion, prayer, participation and persistence. These factors will also be the keys to the success of the Burn the Mortgage Campaign. I know that the mountain of $1,765,840 seems to be insurmountable and unachievable. I realize many of our faithful friends are on fixed or limited incomes. I realize that the economy is at its recent all-time low. Yet, I also know that there are many friends of this ministry with passion, who know how to pray, who can find ways to participate, and who are strong enough to help us persevere to victory! I also know we serve a great big God who has never let us down! Since we announced this campaign in December, many have stepped forward with a desire to preserve Harvest now and perpetuate it far into the future.
I am so thankful for all of those who have and will help. I could never mention all of them. But to encourage you to think outside of your comfort zone, here are a few examples that I feel I can share with you:
- One long-term friend of our ministry sent his $1,800 sponsorship. Along with it he wrote, “I believe in this ministry and what you are doing so much that I borrowed this money so that I could be a sponsor.”
- Jennings Dotson, Chairman of the Board, encouraged us to initiate this campaign after the Lord spoke to his heart about this great need. Personally, he sent letters to many people he knew including his family, doctors, and business associates asking them to match his personal sponsorship.
- Becky Hilliard, 15 year Residential Counselor, is putting legs on her prayers. She has set a personal goal to raise $20,000 this year for this campaign. How is she doing it? During the last month, she made and sold over 500 chocolate / peanut butter eggs and crosses - raising over $1,100 dollars. Other fundraisers she has planned include a bake sale, car wash, yard sale, and more candy making.
- My uncle, Jim Harvey, from Bluefield, WV shared with some of his friends at the East End Baptist Church about the success of our ministry and about this campaign. His casual conversation resulted in them becoming a $1,800 sponsor.
- Several donors have accessed their company’s “matching gift programs” to double their sponsorship.
- Some friends have used their income tax refunds to provide a sponsorship.
- Matthew 18:19 “Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in Heaven.”
- Martha Stone, Advancement Director, at a recent meeting of our administrative and advancement staff gave us many ideas for success. She encouraged us to focus our efforts, put legs on our prayers, and not give up. She reminded us that God said, “For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills” (Psalm 50:10). We know there is Victory in Jesus!
Our goal is to be debt-free by the end of December, 2008. God has impressed us to search out 1000 friends of the ministry - churches, auxiliaries, businesses and individuals - to help us eliminate this debt. If 1000 friends will commit a sacrificial gift of $1,800 dollars the debt will be gone! Your monthly gift of $150 for the next year will assure that Harvest is financially secure for years to come. Please join me in my passion for this most needful cause. Pray for this campaign and our special offering dates. Participate by encouraging your pastor to take up a special designated offering on these dates; and by finding a way to personally become a sponsor. I appreciate your love and support of this ministry and our children. I know that together we will “Burn the Mortgage”. God bless you.
