Hi Friends, Family, and Supporters,
I hope that as you read this post that your faith will be encouraged as much as ours has been! We have hit the 70% of our budget raised mark! We still have more to bring in to meet the deadline by April, but God is so faithful! We know that He does what He needs to do through His people. If you have not yet submitted your faith promise, will you do so today so that we can be to on campus this summer? Seriously, we can be there this summer! So exciting! Thank you for your continued prayers and support; don't stop now, we need you. Many blessings to each of you!
Much love,
The Kurz Family
Friday, March 28, 2014
Saturday, March 15, 2014
Sharing v. Justifying
Hi Friends, Family, and Supporters,
This isn't your typical update on how much we have brought in this week. Although that is very important to us, I believe what I am going to share with you right now is just as important.
Being a missionary can be difficult. Missionaries, whether US or World, have to become accustomed to new surroundings. They may, at times, question God's call. It can be a lonely place. I don't think anybody ever wakes up in the morning and says "I want to be a missionary and I can't wait to experience all the uncertainty that comes with the calling." Seriously.
The Lord has been using this time in my life to help me understand a few things:
1. I am not in control and that's okay, and
2. I do not have to justify the calling that God has on my life.
I want to spend a few minutes discussing sharing my calling versus justifying my calling. Most of you know that I work as a school counselor, I am finishing my dissertation, and I work with Chi Alpha. On the support raising trail, people have asked Tom, myself, and others around us, why I cannot just work and support the ministry. For years and months, I have struggled with having to justify that I am called to work with college students just as much as Tom is. Thankfully, the Lord has provided work for me so that we can actually support raise and still have food on the table. My work in the university as a doctoral student has opened opportunities to minister to faculty, peers, and students. Over the last month, God has begun to show me that I don't need to justify my calling to people. He has placed me where He has because He has a plan for all of this. The favor that I have received in my field, in relationships, in presenting research, and writing has been overwhelming. I want to share my calling not have to justify what I am doing. God has reminded me that He is the one that justifies the calling that He has placed on my life. I pray that the Holy Spirit prepares hearts to receive what we share about the vision and calling God has given us. I believe that God has already prepared the way and I am not allowing myself to feel like I have to justify my calling anymore.
What is "justifying your calling" mean? It means that you feel like you have to CONVINCE people that God has called you. In the New Testament, did the disciples have to justify that they were called? No. Even Paul, who persecuted Christians, did not have to justify his calling. He shared what God had done in his life and others came alongside him to support that calling. "Sharing your calling" is the opportunity to share what God has been doing through your life and the vision that He has given you. It's about answering clarifying questions but not about justifying what you are doing. God is the one that justifies our calling; I pray that people will see and feel that calling.
Can I tell you how freeing this has been for me? The call of God has become so much more exciting to me rather than a thorn in my side, which is how I was feeling for some time. It has allowed me to share more openly about what God is showing me without worrying about how it will be received on the other end.
Praying that God uses you this week in the mission field that He has called you to!
Blessings,
Charity
This isn't your typical update on how much we have brought in this week. Although that is very important to us, I believe what I am going to share with you right now is just as important.
Being a missionary can be difficult. Missionaries, whether US or World, have to become accustomed to new surroundings. They may, at times, question God's call. It can be a lonely place. I don't think anybody ever wakes up in the morning and says "I want to be a missionary and I can't wait to experience all the uncertainty that comes with the calling." Seriously.
The Lord has been using this time in my life to help me understand a few things:
1. I am not in control and that's okay, and
2. I do not have to justify the calling that God has on my life.
I want to spend a few minutes discussing sharing my calling versus justifying my calling. Most of you know that I work as a school counselor, I am finishing my dissertation, and I work with Chi Alpha. On the support raising trail, people have asked Tom, myself, and others around us, why I cannot just work and support the ministry. For years and months, I have struggled with having to justify that I am called to work with college students just as much as Tom is. Thankfully, the Lord has provided work for me so that we can actually support raise and still have food on the table. My work in the university as a doctoral student has opened opportunities to minister to faculty, peers, and students. Over the last month, God has begun to show me that I don't need to justify my calling to people. He has placed me where He has because He has a plan for all of this. The favor that I have received in my field, in relationships, in presenting research, and writing has been overwhelming. I want to share my calling not have to justify what I am doing. God has reminded me that He is the one that justifies the calling that He has placed on my life. I pray that the Holy Spirit prepares hearts to receive what we share about the vision and calling God has given us. I believe that God has already prepared the way and I am not allowing myself to feel like I have to justify my calling anymore.
What is "justifying your calling" mean? It means that you feel like you have to CONVINCE people that God has called you. In the New Testament, did the disciples have to justify that they were called? No. Even Paul, who persecuted Christians, did not have to justify his calling. He shared what God had done in his life and others came alongside him to support that calling. "Sharing your calling" is the opportunity to share what God has been doing through your life and the vision that He has given you. It's about answering clarifying questions but not about justifying what you are doing. God is the one that justifies our calling; I pray that people will see and feel that calling.
Can I tell you how freeing this has been for me? The call of God has become so much more exciting to me rather than a thorn in my side, which is how I was feeling for some time. It has allowed me to share more openly about what God is showing me without worrying about how it will be received on the other end.
Praying that God uses you this week in the mission field that He has called you to!
Blessings,
Charity
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
Another Update :)
Dear Friends, Family, and Supporters,
We hope that you are all doing well! So excited to tell you that we are now officially at $1455! God has been so faithful. Thank you for believing in the call God has on our life! It's so exciting to report to you weekly the faithfulness of God in this support raising process. If you have been meaning to support financially, please click the Missions Giving tab towards the top of the blog to pledge your monthly support.
We can't resist showing you this video about how our work is worship: click here. Worship is more than what we do on a Sunday morning or the songs that we sing to God in the car or the shower. Worship is a lifestyle. It can be more than working in a church; it can be working in the Marketplace (your jobs) to be the light into the darkness. It's serving as an employer or an employee. It's offering your life as a 'living sacrifice' to reach your coworkers, neighbors, family, and friends.
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." -Romans 12:1-2
May God show you how you can worship Him in the Marketplace this week!
Much love in Christ,
The Kurz Family
We hope that you are all doing well! So excited to tell you that we are now officially at $1455! God has been so faithful. Thank you for believing in the call God has on our life! It's so exciting to report to you weekly the faithfulness of God in this support raising process. If you have been meaning to support financially, please click the Missions Giving tab towards the top of the blog to pledge your monthly support.
We can't resist showing you this video about how our work is worship: click here. Worship is more than what we do on a Sunday morning or the songs that we sing to God in the car or the shower. Worship is a lifestyle. It can be more than working in a church; it can be working in the Marketplace (your jobs) to be the light into the darkness. It's serving as an employer or an employee. It's offering your life as a 'living sacrifice' to reach your coworkers, neighbors, family, and friends.
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." -Romans 12:1-2
May God show you how you can worship Him in the Marketplace this week!
Much love in Christ,
The Kurz Family
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Update :)
Hi Friends, Family, and Supporters,
I know many of you have asked about an update regarding Tom's most recent journey to northeast Ohio and our budget. You asked, and now you receive. :)
Tom (and Jeremiah) had the opportunity to travel to northeast Ohio last week to meet with pastors and churches regarding our work with Chi Alpha Campus Ministries. Tom was blessed to share our heart and passion for students and the NEED for Chi Alpha support on campus. During this process, we picked up a supporter and have a few verbal commitments. We would say it was fruitful! :) We continue to pray that God would go before us and prepare hearts. We believe that before we make any phone calls or have face to face meetings that the Holy Spirit has already stirred hearts to hear and see the call of God on our lives.
Many people have shared their concern for the deadline of April 2014 that was placed before us. We want each of you to know that the deadline has actually been a blessing! We are able to express the urgency of the students' need and our need to get to campus. I think it puts a larger priority on completing the Faith Promise form (paper or online) for people who have verbally committed to support financially. Currently, we are at $1345.00 in monthly support with a few verbal commitments that have not been processed. This is HUGE. This last month and a half has been a testimony of God's calling on our lives. Churches and pastors have been encouraging and reminding us that we are right where we need to be. The encouragement that God gives through people is what is sustaining us. Support raising is difficult. Seriously.
Most recently, a Chi Alpha student at OSU became a monthly supporter and she challenged other students and alumni via social media to give, no matter how small, in order to get us to campus faster. You see? God is in this. He is SO in this. So blessed.
Will you continue to pray that God will lead us to the people that He wants us share with? We believe that God is strategically working on hearts to support His work at OSU. If you have been meaning to give or if you have verbally committed and never completed your form, will you do that today? Each day as we check the file to see the activity on the account, it is SO encouraging to see the names of those supporting us. We pray for each of you that God will use you right where you are because that's your mission field. He has called you to your place of employment, your community, your church, your family "for such a time as this." It's not an accident; God was very intentional.
Blessings,
Charity
I know many of you have asked about an update regarding Tom's most recent journey to northeast Ohio and our budget. You asked, and now you receive. :)
Tom (and Jeremiah) had the opportunity to travel to northeast Ohio last week to meet with pastors and churches regarding our work with Chi Alpha Campus Ministries. Tom was blessed to share our heart and passion for students and the NEED for Chi Alpha support on campus. During this process, we picked up a supporter and have a few verbal commitments. We would say it was fruitful! :) We continue to pray that God would go before us and prepare hearts. We believe that before we make any phone calls or have face to face meetings that the Holy Spirit has already stirred hearts to hear and see the call of God on our lives.
Many people have shared their concern for the deadline of April 2014 that was placed before us. We want each of you to know that the deadline has actually been a blessing! We are able to express the urgency of the students' need and our need to get to campus. I think it puts a larger priority on completing the Faith Promise form (paper or online) for people who have verbally committed to support financially. Currently, we are at $1345.00 in monthly support with a few verbal commitments that have not been processed. This is HUGE. This last month and a half has been a testimony of God's calling on our lives. Churches and pastors have been encouraging and reminding us that we are right where we need to be. The encouragement that God gives through people is what is sustaining us. Support raising is difficult. Seriously.
Most recently, a Chi Alpha student at OSU became a monthly supporter and she challenged other students and alumni via social media to give, no matter how small, in order to get us to campus faster. You see? God is in this. He is SO in this. So blessed.
Will you continue to pray that God will lead us to the people that He wants us share with? We believe that God is strategically working on hearts to support His work at OSU. If you have been meaning to give or if you have verbally committed and never completed your form, will you do that today? Each day as we check the file to see the activity on the account, it is SO encouraging to see the names of those supporting us. We pray for each of you that God will use you right where you are because that's your mission field. He has called you to your place of employment, your community, your church, your family "for such a time as this." It's not an accident; God was very intentional.
Blessings,
Charity
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