Lost power at the office today and the sky is crazy looking! Welcome to FL!
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Jonny shares about the person and problem before solution and situation
Jonny needed thousands of dollars in only a few weeks. He had experience, passion, skill and the willingness to change the world, but needed to articulate the inspiration and information that would draw a tribe of prayer warriors to his cause. I am often asked by people like Jonny to review a support letter they have written. Many times the majority of their letter focuses on a vague dream for some program or situation that will provide a possible solution to an undefined problem.
I told Jonny “Start with a clean slate. Start your story with a name of a real person, real time in your history, real emotions, real quotes, and real feelings. Verbally make me see a situation where God used you....through your eyes, ears and heart! Use your words to show me the tear in the eye of the orphan instead of simply stating that Asia has problems and showing me a generalistic and fuzzy image of the continent. Introduce me to the PERSON then the PROBLEM.... Only then will I care enough and take the time to read about the SOLUTION and SITUATION.
P.S. Look for a followup post about how I recommend asking for the money you need with out making people hide around the isle next time you are in the grocery store.
I told Jonny “Start with a clean slate. Start your story with a name of a real person, real time in your history, real emotions, real quotes, and real feelings. Verbally make me see a situation where God used you....through your eyes, ears and heart! Use your words to show me the tear in the eye of the orphan instead of simply stating that Asia has problems and showing me a generalistic and fuzzy image of the continent. Introduce me to the PERSON then the PROBLEM.... Only then will I care enough and take the time to read about the SOLUTION and SITUATION.
People want to be INSPIRED and INFORMED but you must remember that what God has been doing in your life over the past 20 hours, 20 weeks, 20 months, or even 20 years must catch their interest on paper in less than 20 seconds. Otherwise many will put the page down in hopes of reading it later. If you can minster to the desire to find a BRIDGE connecting their LOCAL life to a GLOBAL solution many will gladly join your tribe and help be the SOLUTION to the PROBLEM you so clearly identified!”
I then challenged Jonny to do something counter-intuitive “Don’t ask for the money you need in this letter...don’t even make it a prayer point. Instead, in this letter you will only ask for their prayers. Imagine with me if each person that received this letter was so inspired and informed that they began to immediately pray for you and the solution to the problem you identified. Imagine if each of these people, while praying for you, had the chance to hear about your financial need first from God with out you mentioning or hinting about money. Imagine if when you ask for money it was not a new idea to them but instead only confirmation to what God had already been speaking to them. By only asking for prayer in your first letter you allow the God who knows your need to speak to His people first.”
Jonny sent me a draft of His letter and I hope you find it as inspirational and informative as I do. Please pray for Jonny.... not for His need but that he will continue to be a solution to the lack of worship in many nations, one of our wolds greatest problems!
“Mala is a young boy in the slums of Pattaya Thailand. While in his slum I helped teach English. After a few days of playing games with him I spoke the words "I Love you" through a translator. He turned and gave me the biggest and strongest hug I have ever gotten from a child. Then I told him "Jesus loves you" and he squeezed me even harder. At that moment my heart broke for those children. When ever I think of missions I think of Mala and his smile… his great big smile! I wanted to be a roll model for him and wished I could show him a way to worship God with music but I didn't have the courage or ability to lead in a time of worship. I wish so badly that I can see him again. I don't want to miss another chance to lead others into a time of worshiping God. The next 3 months I will be at YWAM Orlando increasing my courage and ability to worship musically. By spending 12 weeks with experts with experience from across the globe, I will gain the confidence to lead people from many nations into a true form of worshiping God. Together with your prayers we can give many new friends, like Mala, a chance to know and worship their creator.
Thank you for your partnership, -Jonny”
P.S. Look for a followup post about how I recommend asking for the money you need with out making people hide around the isle next time you are in the grocery store.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Crying in Louisville!
The YWAM Team in Louisville KY asked me to come teach in their staff training retreat about personal sponsorship team development. I am so glad for the opportunity. For the past two days I have been teaching and meeting with staff to discover their calling, vision and how to communicate that to sponsors. Each day someone has literally shed tears… I have come to believe wasn't because of me but simply because they were overwhelmed by the vision God has for their life and the need of those who they are called to. I feel funny saying it but I pray that I will get to see someone else cry today! I will return to Orlando Wednesday evening.
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