Impact August 2013

8/1/2013

Impact August 2013

Impact

The Past Month

Each month I meet with at least a dozen different ministry partners to assist them in their fundraising efforts. In July I had the unique opportunity to put on four different fundraising training courses for different ministry partners of ours. These have been great to encourage them with scripture, to get staff on the same page, share ideas and begin to come up with a plan for the future.
In the past I haven't thought much of one-time training but I've learned that when we incorporate it with continued coaching and accountability it acts as a launch pad and I've seen our ministry partners succeed sooner.

Impact Story

From our Ministry Partner: New Summit Church

Perception Funding has been partnering with New Summit Church since January of 2009. Since then we've assisted them in raising money for an adoption ministry, partnered on a disaster relief trip to Haiti and recently put on a silent auction to help raise funds for their July missions trip. Below is an update on their missions trip to Kayenta, Arizona where they serve along side the First Presbyterian Church of Kayenta which is on the Navajo reservation.

The church in Kayenta was established as a mission and is over 100 years old. It is the only Presbyterian church on the reservation that still offers services in the native language. Being a mission church and because of the extreme poverty on the reservation, Kayenta relies heavily on missions offerings from the denomination. Sadly, missions giving has declined heavily in recent years and in 2014, the church will no longer receive this stipend from the denomination, leaving the local church to face a grim future.

In July, we came to host a VBS in a city park in order to let the children know that they are not forgotten and that not only do we care, they have a God who loves them and knows them by name. We also came to help with some critical building repairs in order for the church and fellowship buildings to be more usable. What we didn't expect is that we would be offered such comfortable accommodations, that we would be showered with gifts and that we would be treated to some of the wonders and beauty of God's creation in Navajo land - taken to places that are seldom seen by those outside the reservation. They generosity of the people we encountered was beyond anything we came to offer them.

God used our team to infuse hope into a dying congregation that had all but given up. And out of their gratitude, they opened their hearts and gave gifts they could not afford to give. They loved us and treated us like family. We learned that God's love restores and builds bridges where there are broken relationships. His love welcomes the stranger and makes a home in an unfamiliar place. His love brings together those who love him. His love brings hope where none can be found. We are so grateful to God for his unimaginable love that does not fail and accomplishes his purpose when we simply make ourselves available to follow and obey.

Prayer

Potential to hire additional staff

We are in the discussion and prayer process of bringing on another full-time staff person. It’s been encouraging seeing how God has shaped peoples lives to serve. We are hoping and praying for the funds needed and God’s guidance.