Showing posts with label contributions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label contributions. Show all posts

Monday, January 6, 2014

“How Shall We Then Give?” Ahava Love Letter (Steve Martin)

                   

                        “How Shall We Then Give?”


 “…and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means.” (Luke 8:3, NASU)


Dear family of friends,

Have you ever heard of the book, “How Should We Then Live?” It was written by Francis A. Schaeffer in 1955. I read it in the 80’s and remember it gave me something to ponder (dictionary: to think about (something) carefully, especially before making a decision or reaching a conclusion.)

Lately even more so I have been asking the Lord about the way we support Christian ministries - how they request funds, and how should we then respond. Or as I keep seeking of the Lord, “how shall we then give?”

What is His plan? Is His example the same as the model we have basically followed for the last 30 years, as we respond to requests from monthly ministry contribution mailings, commercials on radio and TV showing needs abounding all over, e-mails coming into our InBox, or through websites having ads on almost every site we get on? I have been pondering.

As I am sure you have, we have heard it all. Tithe here. Send your offering there. “This need is real urgent, call now the 800 number shown on your screen.” Is that really how our Prime Example, Jesus (Yeshua) did it? Of course, you and I know He didn’t have all this modern technology, but isn’t His Word eternal, the same yesterday, today and forever, and we can learn from Him? We should learn from Him. That also holds true in how we support ministry.

If you believe that, yes, His example given in His Word is true, there is something then that we can learn by HOW HE DID IT. We can learn from Him as to how His ministry was provided for. Might we then consider reconsidering how we give - in our support of those we do now, or for those whom we should be, but haven’t been supporting, and now should instead?

Here is one example of how Jesus did it. His ministry means was provided by those who knew Him. In fact, Scripture even gives specific names of some who gave provision for the ministry of Jesus. The first three verses of Luke 8 read, "Soon afterwards, He began going around from one city and village to another, proclaiming and preaching the kingdom of God. The twelve were with Him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demonshad gone out, and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means."

We can learn from the importance of why the writer Luke even specifies the names of some women (that note well taken.) These people were those who personally knew the one they were supporting. I would imagine they even walked with Him, saw how He ministered, knew His family and certainly knew His lifestyle. Because they knew, they gave in support of His work. They gave to the one they were familiar with and trusted.

How familiar are you with the one who has the costly half hour infomercials, and after convincing you to give your $10, $25 or more, “for the need is great”, do you ever see or know exactly where it has gone? (Most likely a good percentage of it will have to go to pay for the TV production, airtime, staff and more.)

Having worked with three major ministries, as the Director of Operations and Finances over a period of 24 years (these each having budgets of over one million dollars annually) I daily saw how money was raised and spent. And on a regular basis I did reviews of other ministries with large budgets and expenditures, to gain further perspective. It will amaze you, and at times it did me. Years later it caused me to seriously consider how funds for our ministry, Love For His People, would come in.

My encouragement to you would be to give to those ministers and ministry whom you personally know. By having a relationship with them, and not just in giving money, you can see how they themselves live. This will very well be a good indication as to where your generous gifts are actually going. Or you might even get to know the ones that their work assists. This too is a good indicator.

But if you can’t do that, might you yourself ponder for a bit and seek the Lord, if you are to redirect your giving? Jesus knew His supporters, and they knew Him. His ministry didn’t get so large that the relationship was no longer there among His supporters.

I believe the time will come, sooner than later, that the Lord will shake down in size those ministries that have gotten too big, and the relationships aren’t real. He will have caused us to join together and support one another in small teams, where the huge expenditures for big TV budgets, radio airtime, and staffs won’t be the norm. He will get us back to basics, just as He and Paul did it. And we know what they accomplished.

The Word also says to “Know those who labor among you” in 1 Thessalonians 5:12. It might also mean to know those who you support for the work of the ministry. To me, that speaks of an ongoing relationship.

Jesus knew how to do it. Paul knew how to do it. I want to follow their examples in how you and I do it.

Ahava to my family of friends,

Steve Martin
Founder, Love For His People


Love For His People, Inc. is a charitable, not-for-profit USA organization. Fed. ID#27-1633858.
Please consider sending a charitable gift of $5-$25 today, and maybe each month, to help us bless the known families in Israel, whom we consistently help through our humanitarian ministry. 

Your tax deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation.

Go here for safe ONLINEGIFT GIVING THROUGH  OUR WEBSITE using major credit cards: Love ForHis People

If you don't have a PayPal account you can also use your credit card or bank account (where available). 

Contribution checks can be sent to: 
Love For His People, Inc.  P.O. Box414   Pineville, NC 28134
Todah rabah! (Hebrew – Thank you very much.)

I hope you read my first two books The Promise (CreateSpace/Amazon 2013) and Ahava Love Letters (Xulon Press, 2013). Both available through Amazon.com Xulon Press.com, plus other website book stores.

You can also order both books, The Promise (on Amazon.com for $7.19 plus $3.95 S/H) and Ahava Love Letters Xulon Press for$14.90, plus $3.80) or you can get both from our office for $29. Send check to the address above. I will autograph all copies ordered through our office. (Hey, and please include a contribution for Israel too!)

Please share this Ahava Love Letter with your friends.

Email: loveforhispeople@gmail.com  

martinlighthouse@gmail.com

Facebook pages: Steve Martin and  Love For His People  
  
Twitter: martinlighthous, LovingHisPeople and ahavaloveletter 

           Ahava Love Letters
           
  Full website: Love For His People


Ahava Love Letter #98   “How Shall We Then Give?”   Steve Martin 
Date: In the year of our Lord 2014 (01.06.14) Monday at 9:00 pm in Charlotte, NC).


All previous editions of Ahava Love Letter can be found on this Blog, and our newest website: Ahava LoveLetters

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

"Israel Support for the Household of the Faith" - Ahava Love Letter (Steve Martin)


“Israel Support for the Household of Faith” 


 “So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.” Gal. 6:10 NASU

Dear family of friends,

Since the founding of Love For His People, Inc. was established in the spring of 2010, our main focus and effort has been to bless the people of Israel, in both practical and spiritual ways. We have been called to be ones who stand for the Lord’s purposes in His Promised Land. Our voice, spoken through written social media and public events, has daily proclaimed that.

Having been to Israel 10 times since 1988, our connections in Eretz Yisrael (the land of Israel) have been strengthened, especially with Jewish believers. Friendships have been built. Encouraging them face to face continues. With our annual Ahava Adventures fall trips to Jerusalem and the cities beyond, we can see the Lord Yeshua’s (Jesus’) will being accomplished, first hand.

Several of you have been to Israel. Many more would love to go. My prayer is that your heart’s desire, which the Lord Himself placed within yours, will come about. And when you go, I want you to meet these whom we love. So you can too.

When the nations increasingly turn their backs on the people of Israel, we proclaim that our stand for them and their families remains stronger than ever. As we push forward in proclaiming the eternal purposes of the Lord Yeshua for His Land, our strength and encouragement He gives through us grows daily. We know what His Word says. We are committed to standing on that solid ground.

Please consider sharing a portion of your regular giving also to the work of Love For His People. The monthly financial support of four families in Israel through this ministry has been ongoing these first three years of our existence. One family of six (with another on the way!) receives a $200 a month gift from this ministry. Another work there received $100 monthly to help supply lunch food for school kids in the poverty districts. We know others who could and should be blessed with yours and our support.

Love For His People does not have a paid staff. Those who do the work you have seen on the social media have secular jobs to fund what has thus far been accomplished. We ask you to be a part of sowing into this good field. It is a good work.

There are many ways you can send your contribution today. They are listed below.

Thank you. Eternity will know of your heart’s love for His people, and even today.

Ahava to my family of friends,

Steve Martin
Founder/President

Love For His People, Inc. is a charitable, not-for-profit USA organization. Fed. ID#27-1633858.

Please consider sending a charitable gift of $5-$25 today, and maybe each month, to help us bless Israel with our humanitarian ministry. Tax deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation.

Use this link for safe online giving now:

If you don't have a PayPal account you can also use your credit card or bank account (where available). 

Contribution checks can be sent to: 
Love For His People, Inc.  P.O. Box 414   Pineville, NC 28134

Todah rabah! (Hebrew - Thank you very much.)
Be sure to get my two books The Promise (CreateSpace/Amazon 2013) and Ahava Love Letters (Xulon Press, 2013). Both available through Amazon.com, Xulon Press.com, Barnes and Noble, plus other website book stores.
You can also order both books, The Promise and Ahava Love Letters direct from our office for $29 total (which includes S/H to USA addresses only. Please send your check to the Love For His People address above. I will autograph all copies ordered through our office. (Hey, and please include a contribution for Israel too!)
Ahava Love Letter #79   “Israel Support”  ©2013 Steve Martin 

Date: In the year of our Lord 2013 (10/02/13 Wednesday at 6:40 am in Charlotte, NC)







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We use PayPal for book sales and contribution giving.

We use PayPal for book sales and contribution giving. 
Please us the Donate button below. Thank you!

SAFE, ON-LINE GIVING TO LOVE FOR HIS PEOPLE, INC. (OUR NON-PROFIT MINISTRY)

 
You can give safely on-line to our non-profit ministry, a 501(c)3, through PayPal. Please share your love as we do ours.