During the next 30 days, I need to raise $10,000. Is it possible? Will it take a miracle? Will you help?
Christmas is one week away. Like you, Norma and I are busy getting ready for the big holiday. We will be going out this weekend to do some last-minute shopping. We expect a full house of kids and grandkids on Christmas Day.
But another BIG DAY is also on our minds. Exactly one month from tomorrow, on January 18, we leave for San José, Costa Rica. Norma and I are leading 32 people on an eight-day evangelism adventure in Central America.
Young preachers at our January 2008 Costa Rica evangelism trip. Rodrigo Rojas is standing in the back row, far left.
Some members of our team will be building a classroom building in San Miguel, a southern barrio of San José. The classrooms will be used by the new Bible Institute Rodrigo Rojas has been leading this year. Rodrigo is the senior evangelist of Costa Rica For Christ, one of the ministries of Joshua One Ministries. Two years ago Rodrigo told me of his vision to start a Bible Institute. So, last year, we built the first classroom. All this year, Rodrigo has been teaching about 20 young pastors and church leaders in weekday classes in that classroom.
This year, we are going to build the ground floor of a two-story building which will have six classrooms when it is finished. More classrooms will make possible more teaching and training for more pastors, who in turn will reach more people for Christ and make more disciples.
Meanwhile, other members of our team will be offering free health clinics in villages near San José. We have six registered nurses on our team this year! On Tuesday we will go to Santa Elena, where Rodrigo has been working to build up a small church there. On Wednesday we will go to Rosario, where Rodrigo has been leading a Bible study. On Thursday we will go to Itaipu, where Rodrigo has been working to gain a foothold for the gospel.
Our health clinics in these villages will meet people’s physical needs, while communicating the love of Christ and giving a big boost to Rodrigo’s evangelistic outreach there.
Of course, all of these projects are expensive. The estimated cost of the classroom building project is $12,000. The cost of the medical supplies for our health clinics will be $1,500 or more. In this short note, I haven’t even begun to describe everything we will be doing during our week in Costa Rica, and all of the expenses we will have. I won’t even try to mention the car we plan to purchase for Rodrigo on the first day we arrive in Costa Rica. Believe me, that’s going to blow Rodrigo’s mind. I will tell you much more about everything we have planned in future notes during the next 30 days.
But the bottom line for right now is this: I have to raise $10,000 during the next 30 days.
Our team members are donating or raising $1,650 each to participate in this adventure. That money covers their personal expenses — transportation, lodging, food — plus, it includes about $400 above and beyond, to apply to our project costs. Without their enthusiastic involvement, it would be impossible for us to do everything we are doing.
But the money they are giving is not enough by a long shot to cover the entire need. We need some additional help to make this work. Lots of it. We need your help.
Would you please send a gift? Somebody reading this letter could send $1,000. That would close 10% of the gap for us. A couple of people reading this letter could send $500. That would be such a huge help! Several of you could write a check for $100 or $200 or $250. And if lots of people sent checks for $20 or $25 or $50, our need would be met. Please send what you can.
Norma and I have been leading evangelism adventures like this for many years. Every time we begin such an adventure, we have no idea exactly how it is all going to work out. Today, just 30 days from our departure, I do not know exactly how it is all going to work out.
But I have a pretty good idea. Like all of the times before, the Lord is going to meet our needs to do what He has called us to do. And I imagine He will do it the way He almost always does it.
Through you.
Please make your check to Joshua One Ministries. Write “Costa Rica For Christ†(or just “CR4C”) in the memo field. Send your check to Joshua One Ministries, P.O. Box 8464, Edmond, OK 73083. Joshua One Ministries is a non-profit Christian ministry, and your gifts are tax deductible. Thank you very much for your support.
