Glory Be To God!

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! (Ephesians 3:20)

Later this month I will be ending nearly 20 years of active service with the Prayer League. Our young family departed Southern California for Mexico in September of 1998. After four years in Mexico we began service in the home office in Minneapolis. Now, in July – nearly 20 years later, we are leaving the Prayer League and heading back to Southern California. This seems like a great time to recount God’s faithfulness.

During our first couple of years of service we were immersed in our ministry and were mostly unaware of the financial workings of the Prayer League. Meanwhile, for the first year-plus the allowance checks came in at a regular amount and at regular intervals. Then one day we received an email from the Business Office stating we would not be receiving full support in the coming month. We did not have a lot of financial margin, so this concerned me. At the end of the month we received an amount $500 less than what we had been receiving. But within one week a co-worker from Gospel Recordings told us they felt led to give us a gift of $500 that month. It was a wonderful gesture, a blessing, an affirmation from God – and a faith builder! God provided what was lacking that month at just the right time.

During my time serving in the Business Office, I saw God’s hand in the League’s finances many times. One month we were in danger of running out of Estate Funds. In those days when allowance levels were low, we used Estate Funds to pay at least 65% of missionary allowance. Well, payday was coming, and we did not have any Estate Funds; some missionaries were about to receive no allowance at all that month. Then, with just one or two days to spare, an amount came into our Estate Fund to allow us to pay exactly 65% that month. Something similar happened the next month, and ultimately, we never did run out of Estate Funds.

God has been faithful in all ways and always during the past 20 years. Occasionally there was some anxiety, but those anxious moments were followed by wonderful, joyful, faith-building moments when God showed once again his love and care for his people. It has been a pleasure and an honor to serve God with the Prayer League these many years.