SHOULDER TO SHOULDER #123 ----5/22/00
Posted by: lifeunlimited <lifeunlimited@...>
As We fight The Good Fight
(A letter of Encouragement to People in
Vocational and Lay Ministry)
SHOULDER TO SHOULDER #123 ---- 5/22/00
TITLE: "Crisis of Belief"
My Dear Friend and Partner in Ministry:
Today my mind and body are a mixture of excited anticipation,
"time-is-running-out" frustration, physical and mental weariness, and a
driving determination to press on in the thrill of Kingdom Work.
You guessed it ---- Tuesday morning fourteen of us fly out of Kansas City
to join with eight other team members in Chicago and launch our 2000
Balkans ministry trip. Jo Ann and I have made such a trip nine times
since 1995, and we have three more planned during the next twelve months.
This will be our largest team ever ---- 22 of us ---- but absolutely one
of our best. So, Lord willing, I will be writing my next three letters
to you from cities in the former Yugoslavia ---- namely, Sarajevo for the
first two, and Karlovac or Zagreb for the third.
We covet your prayers ---- more than you can imagine. The needs are
enormous, the opportunities are limitless, the tasks are exhausting, and
our own resources are totally inadequate.
Even the preparation time has been filled with challenges. We have never
had such a "disconnected" time of preparation over the past nine months.
So many things took forever to fall into place. In spite of the
unbelievable faithfulness of our entire team, we still find ourselves
feeling totally unprepared.
Even up to the very last minute we have seen things happening that were
distractions and inconveniences. Ten days ago we discovered the company
printing our T-shirts didn't remember that we needed them for our final
team meeting. They got them to us ten minutes before the meeting began.
Last Sunday during lunch I broke a tooth off. My dental appointment
Wednesday revealed there was not enough tooth left for a cap or crown,
and it was too late in the week to have an extraction and expect the
healing to be sufficient before the trip. The best I can hope for is a
"hole-ly" smile with no pain.
My sinuses are raw from chemicals I had to put on our lawn Saturday
morning. Saturday night the people we hired four months ago to build a
couple of cabinets finally delivered them ---- and added the odor of
fresh finish to my already inflamed nostrils. Then Saturday night we
heard the report that one of the airlines we use Tuesday had cancelled
over 1,000 flights across the U.S. as a pilots' protest against "unsafe"
policy changes regarding landing and take off time spacing.
I don't mind telling you that I have clearly seen my "humanity" during
some of these episodes.
Now ---- before you think this is all an exercise in complaining ---- IT
IS NOT!
I'm trying to make a point.
The point being ---- This trip has become, both for Jo Ann and me, as
well as many of the team members, a Crisis of Faith. And we think all of
these months of confusion, tortoise-like plodding, and unexpected
surprises have been part of God's plan for a very special trip. In no
way do we see this as an attack from the enemy.
Too often we give the Devil far more credit that he deserves. Frankly, I
think he has been blamed for lots of things he had absolutely nothing to
do with. And, I'm not about to tell you that all these obstacles,
hurdles, and setbacks were demonically caused ---- because I don't think
they were.
I believe God has something extraordinary in mind for this journey, and
He has seen the necessity of preparing us by stretching, pummeling, and
straining both our personal and corporate faith.
And ---- virtually everyone has risen to the occasion! It has been an
incredible journey, filled with amazing stories of young college students
being challenged and stretched to the max.
CRISES OF BELIEF:
Let me share just a few examples ---- with real names.
1. Tom. A really neat guy who went with us last year to the Balkans.
We always invite past team members to go again; they are tremendous
assets to inexperienced teams. Tom is no exception. Intelligent,
athletic, hard worker, outstanding in speech and debate as part of the
University's team, winner of national awards.
Making a second trip is always difficult when it comes to raising prayer
and financial support. So, Tom plopped down more than one third of his
$2800 trip cost out of his own pocket. Only a small amount of funds came
in from other sources ---- right up to three weeks ago.
He began to wonder ---- was he making the trip because God really wanted
him to go, or simply because he wanted the adventure of going back, and
of seeing friends from last year in Croatia? Was he going because of
God's plan, or because of his own personal desires?
Then, I got the following letter from Tom two weeks ago:
"I wanted to write you also to tell you about another praise that
recently happened. As you know, I have currently put approximately 1,100
dollars of my own money into my account. Sure, I had the money to do it,
but by doing so, it made me feel as if I was going to Bosnia because I
wanted to go....and not so much because God wanted me there.
"Yes, I have felt God calling me there, but regardless financing the trip
largely on my own gave me the feeling that it was more my desire than
His.
"Well, today, to my surprise I received a scholarship for ......you
guessed it, approximately 1,100 dollars!! Go figure. Its simply
amazing. Its not just the fact that it 'helped out', but more so that I
know its not just me wanting to go to Bosnia, but God wanting me there as
well. It's truly a blessing and I just wanted to let you all know. "
Tom had experienced a "Crisis Of Belief" ---- a crisis of walking by
personal desire or by divine call. A crisis of walking by feelings or by
faith. A crisis of walking by sight or by faith.
I might add that from that day on, the money began to flow in, and Tom
has more than enough funds for the trip.
2. Brandon and Kassie. They were still single when we interviewed
them. One of our questions pertained to what they might do if one raised
the money and the other didn't. Kassie's comment, with tears in her
eyes, was, "I just don't think God would do that to us."
We laughed. (We remembered our own naivety.)
They were married over Christmas break ---- and now life became more
challenging and complicated. Same church, same friends, wedding
expenses, and so forth. But not enough jobs. She had a mediocre one,
Brandon had none. You get the picture.
And ---- double the money for the trip.
The money was ever so slow in coming in. Whereas they should have had
75% of their funds, they had less than 40%. Their emotional roller
coaster ride had begun. They'd be so discouraged. We'd tell them God
was going to honor their faith and obedience. They would hang on like
the little man at the bottom of my letters.
Then one day they spoke in a tiny church, and they gave an enormous
offering. Then one of their Dad's called telling them an uncle had
committed himself to $1,000 for the trip. Then the snowball effect began
to intensify, and by the end of last week, they not only had all their
funds, but had extra to give to other team members.
They'll never be the same. If the trip were cancelled today, their lives
have been changed for ever. They both had a Crisis of Belief.
3. Mandy. A hard working, quiet and shy girl from a farm family ----
minus a mother who died five years earlier ---- Mandy almost didn't
interview for the trip. But, she felt the Lord wanted her to go.
She knew her family didn't have much money, so in addition to carrying 20
hours of class credit, she asked for extra work on her job at Pizza Hut.
She'd work right up until team meeting time and then rush over to the
campus in time to catch most of the meeting.
Most of her money from her job she immediately put in the account toward
the trip ---- sometimes even doing without a meal in order to have more
to deposit.
And, her church was a tiny country church made up of ordinary people ----
farmers, factory workers, teachers, etc. Some of them held down two or
more jobs. Her little church ran only about 35 on Sunday. She knew she
couldn't count on much from them.
When she should have had $2,000 already paid, she had less than half of
that.
Then her little church took their offering ---- and those 32 people gave
$1,700!
Needless to say, Mandy was changed forever ---- she'd had a Crisis of
Belief.
And she passed. Stronger. More convinced of God's faithfulness than
ever.
4. Erin: A local gal and member of the church where I serve as interim
pastor, Erin has some really neat parents. She was so excited about the
trip, and committed herself to go. She was so excited, in fact, that she
told her boyfriend in a neighboring university, and he decided to go.
Everything was wonderful ---- until his parents had a major fit. After
weeks and months of praying, he determined he should not go, but should
abide by his parents' plans for a family holiday at the same time of the
trip.
Erin was devastated, and things went emotionally and motivationally down
hill from there. On numerous occasions she almost dropped off the team.
Through it all, however, she managed to raise about half the money
needed, and then things stopped. For weeks there was no movement in her
account, and she began skipping weekly team meetings, so great was her
discouragement.
Then, about four weeks ago ---- an anonymous gift to her account of
several hundred dollars shocked her into renewed enthusiasm. Then her
church added several hundred dollars, and before long, she was only about
$500 short of having her money raised.
Last Wednesday, I got the following from Erin:
"On Monday I went and set up a payment plan with Diana (that's part of
the requirement if not all a team member's money comes in).
"[Then] on Tuesday she called to tell me that I had an anonymous donation
for about $600. I was so excited, that mean I could cover the rest of
the trip myself.
"Then last night Karen and Gary gave me more than enough money to finish
covering the trip. So, as of last night my trip is all paid for. Yea!!!
"This last week end I have been wondering if God didn't really want me to
go on this trip because I was so far from having all my money. Now I
know He was just teaching me to wait on His timing and trust that God can
do everything.
"Thank you for being patient with me. I know God meant for me to go on
this trip. I can't wait to leave."
Erin faced her own crisis of belief ---- and God taught her a bunch about
His faithfulness.
5. Angie: Unlike Mandy, Angie came from a very large church with lots
of university students ---- so many, in fact, that it was going to make
very little difference in the outcome of her support raising efforts.
The church could have paid for several such trips, but moneys were tied
up in many other ministry responsibilities.
In addition, Angie's family was not supportive ---- at all ---- regarding
the trip. We ask all our team members to get both permission AND
blessing from their parents. She got no blessing, and only resigned
permission ---- "You're 18, you can do what you want."
However, they did put one stipulation. "You must have 100% of your
money, or you can't go. And don't plan on any help from us." In their
defense, they are a financially strapped family.
With less than eight weeks to departure date, Angie had less than $500
---- and she was totally discouraged. Even though she was absolutely
convinced God wanted her to go on the trip, she nearly dropped from the
team several times.
Jo Ann and I would meet with her, encouraging her. She didn't even have
enough money to buy stamps for her letters soliciting help. We kept
telling her that if God had really made it clear she was to go on the
trip, then He would supply. We quoted George Muller's famous quote over
and over just about every time we saw her ---- "God's work done God's way
never lacks for God's supply."
She'd go away encouraged ---- until another encounter at home, or another
disappointment.
One day she came flying in elated ---- another student handed her $50 for
the trip, totally unsolicited. Another person gave her $300. One of her
professors sent $100 ---- and she hadn't even talked with him about the
trip.
Then things leveled off, and she was struggling again.
Recently I shared her story in a conference where I was speaking. After
the service, an old couple in their 80's came up to me. He took my hand
and, placing something in it, said, "I know this isn't very much, but
please give this to the little girl you mentioned."
The next week, in front of the rest of the team, I gave her the five
wadded up one dollar bills. She cried ---- and so did most of the other
team members.
Then, about four weeks ago ---- an anonymous gift of $600. Then another
of $300, and another and another.
I wish you and I could have been in the car the night she told her
parents she had over $2,000 of her money raised.
Here's what she wrote, with "Yea!!!" in the subject line of the e-mail:
"Hi! How are you? I have two things.
"One, all of my money came in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so-o-o-o
excited, you should have seen my dad's face! Wow! I am so happy, I have
been blown away!
"Thanks for all your support in this, you knew all along, huh??
Yea!!!!!!!!!!! Anyhoo, sorry to chatter but man, this is exciting! God
is so awesome! What a testimony!"
By the time the deadline had come, Angie not only had all her money, but
most of it came from anonymous gifts, and she had some to spare which
was to bless other team members as she had been blessed.
Why is Angie so wired? Because when she experienced a Crisis of her
Belief, God responded in a way that she knew it was Him alone, and that
He was trustworthy.
6. Jo Ann and me. Because this story affects several on the team, I
want you to know about this little exercise in obedience. Jo Ann and I
have a policy that anytime money unexpectedly comes our way, we pray
about giving it away instead of keeping it.
Since we hadn't planned on it, we weren't anticipating it being there,
therefore had made no plans to spend it. So ---- why spend it on
ourselves if it wasn't part of the scenario in the first place?
Apparently God has put it in our hands to pass on to someone else.
One day I dropped Jo Ann off in front of WalMart. As she got out of the
car, she looked down, and there lay a $20 bill. She checked with the
greeter at the door, and with others, and nobody claimed it. Being
advised by an employee that the Walton family didn't need it and that she
should keep it, she immediately decided to find a way to give it away.
A few days later we had one of our little conversations with Angie
(above) who had no money for stamps. So, Jo Ann gave her $10 and told
her to go get the stamps and get the letters mailed. When she refused
the money, I asked, "Angie, are you going to force Jo Ann to disobey God
by not taking the money?"
She took the money.
A few days later we were feeling the need to perhaps personally help some
of our team members with their fund raising, and had decided we should
give $500 to a particular individual, and then $100 each to two or three
others ---- knowing full well that we really didn't have that kind of
money, especially with the trip coming up.
A week later, one of our regular donors for Life Unlimited Ministries,
gave us his monthly support check ---- with over $500 more than his
regular monthly income. His comment ---- The Lord put this extra money
we hadn't planned on in our hands, so we knew He wanted us to pass it on
to someone else. We feel it is to go to you."
Well, there was $500 to cover our commitment to give what we didn't have
to give.
A few days later, the same thing happened in the amount of nearly $400.
So ---- that $20 which Jo Ann gave away, multiplied to nearly $1,000
within three weeks, and blessed us over and over again ---- and blessed
some others at the same time.
Why?
Because we, too, faced a Crisis of Belief.
In our case, it was the crisis of deciding we would give what we didn't
have, knowing we'd find a way to give it. In the donors' cases, it was
the Crisis of obeying God in giving.
Then, in our case again, it was the crisis of deciding whether we would
maintain that practice in light of such large sums of money. And, in the
cases of four or five of our team members, it was the crisis of
continuing to trust God in light of insurmountable obstacles, and with no
reasonable hope of seeing all their needs met.
So, what about the $56,000 budget for our trip? As of yesterday, when I
shared some of these stories in church Sunday morning, one of the men
came to me after the service and indicated he would cover whatever was
still needed in Tom's account. Then Tom's Dad told Jo Ann that someone
had just given him a check for Tom's account and wondered what to do with
it.
Those two episodes Sunday, along with other recent events, brings our
team to have not only fully met its budget of $56,000, but having an
overage that can be used for another team or for future trips.
Isn't God good?!?!?!!!!
WHAT ABOUT YOUR CRISIS OF BELIEF?
Frankly, I'm not sure why I felt prompted to share these stories ---- but
I've learned to follow the impressions God gives me when writing to you.
I don't know, ---- maybe someone just needs to be reminded that God is
faithful. Whether it is health, a ministry change, a broken heart, a
wayward child, a financial crisis, or a church conflict, ---- God loves
us so much that He arranges circumstances that often force us into a
Crisis of Belief.
My friend, don't blame all your struggles in the Devil ---- it may be God
dealing with your faith. Anytime we are faced with God's intentions for
our lives, we will ultimately be confronted by a "crisis" to our belief
---- what we *really* believe, not what we say we believe.
Henry Blackaby, in his book, "Experiencing God", makes seven fundamental
statements that are indispensable to our effectiveness as ministers (or
as any other vocations, for that matter).
1. God is always at work around you.
2. God pursues a continuing love relationship with you that is real and
personal.
3. God invites you to become involved with Him in His work.
4. God speaks by the Holy Spirit through the Bible, prayer,
circumstances, and the church to reveal Himself, His purposes, and His
ways.
5. God's invitation for you to work with Him ALWAYS leads you to a
CRISIS OF BELIEF that requires faith and action.
6. You must make MAJOR ADJUSTMENTS in your life to join God in what He
is doing.
7. You come to know God by Experience as you OBEY Him and He
accomplishes His work through you.
GET TO THE ROOT OF THE MATTER:
So, what do you think may be the bottom line, my friend, in your present
challenge? Do you think it is the Devil trying to destroy your ministry,
your family, or your life? He may not deserve that much credit. After
all ---- he IS a defeated foe, and can only go so far.
Or, are you entertaining the thought that God is mad at your and is
punishing you for your failure? If He IS chastising you, be sure to know
He is not Mad at you. He's your Father and loves you deeply. And, if he
is punishing you, His goal is always to correct ---- not destroy. While
it may hurt, it will never harm.
Or, consider the possibility that this is God's way of bringing you to a
Crisis of Belief.
Belief, like muscle for strength, must be exercised. And, sometimes, if
we don't do it voluntarily, God does it for us.
Has He called you to a "holy workout" lately on the big machines of
spiritual fitness? Have you, like I have physically, developed a
spiritual pot belly because of over eating and under exercising? Have
you been eating the wrong food (Egypt's leaks and garlic or the
Wildernesses Manna) instead of the milk and honey of Canaan? Have you
become so slothful in your spiritual call that God has had to drag the
gloves and pads out just so you can discover the truth?
FINALLY:
Because Jo Ann and I literally crave your prayer in our behalf, I'm
adding a letter after my little "Hang In There" guy that we have sent to
a number of friends and relatives. It describes something of our current
trip. At the end of that letter is an itinerary with daily prayer
requests to guide you as you pray.
Thank you for praying. I look forward to writing next week from
Sarajevo. You will understand that I will not check my e-mail until I
return June 15th.
HOWEVER, if you want to write me while enroute, you can each me May 26
through June 7 at <[email protected]>. Then you can write me June 8
through 11 at <[email protected]>.
BE SURE TO PUT MY NAME IN THE SUBJECT LINE.
In His Bond,
Bob Tolliver ---- (Rom 1:11-12)
Copyright April, 2000. All rights reserved.
We would love to hear from you ---- prayer requests, insights, etc. Feel
free to drop us a note at <[email protected]>.
If this letter has blessed you and you know of someone else who needs to
be encouraged, feel free to forward it in its entirety to all such people
you know.
If you would like a list of past issues which you could receive upon
request, just let us know. Write <[email protected]>.
__
/ |
(_/____)
/ ^ ^
{ (O) (O) }
------oOOO---------U--------OOOo------
Hang in there! I'm with you!
-------.ooooO--------------- Ooooo--------
( ) /
| | /
(_) (_)
BALKANS MINISTRY PRAYER ITINERARY
May 22, 2000
To Our Dearest of Friends:
I Timothy 2:12 says it all for us ---- "I thank Christ Jesus, our Lord,
who is my strength and has considered me faithful putting me in His
service." In all our years of ministry, we have never felt more
privileged than we do today. The expanse and diversity of ministry He
has given to us keeps us constantly in awe.
The day is finally approaching, and yet it's hard to believe it's almost
here. After months of preparation, we, together with 20 college
students, will leave Tuesday, May 23, for the Balkans. This will be our
ninth trip since 1995.
We have already experienced God's mighty hand at work as He selected such
a wonderful team of talented students. We have watched Him miraculously
provide all of the finances needed (over $56,000!) ---- giving the
students life-changing experiences in trusting God.
Over the past eight months we have witnessed God bringing together a
group of students, most not knowing each other before, creating a bond of
love and caring for each other, and a readiness to be His servants as we
go.
For all of this we are so grateful, and we look forward with joyful
anticipation to what God is going to do as He has been preparing the
hearts of the people in the Balkans, just as He has also been preparing
us.
Included with this letter is our itinerary, with notations of specific
prayer needs. We covet your prayers more than you will ever know. We
know that without Him, we can do nothing, and we Are nothing (Jn 15:5).
We take seriously the need to depend fully on him, and depend on
intercessors such as you who believe in our ministry.
Perhaps you might want to share the itinerary with others. We trust
you'll find a place of prominence where you can place it as a reminder to
pray for us.
If you would like to contact us via e-mail during our travels, you could
write to us, with our names in the Subject Line at <[email protected]>
from May 23 to June 7, and then <[email protected]> from June 8 to 10.
We will be enroute home June 12 to 15.
Thank you for praying!
In His Bond of Grace and Sufficiency,
Bob and Jo Ann Tolliver
Daily Prayer Needs . . . . .
Pray For ----
Bob's parents (both age 85).
Wisdom and clarity of mind for all the daily decisions.
For Bob and Jo Ann as they try to keep everything in line and as they
lead this team, safety for everyone, divine appointments as we meet
people spontaneously, certain contacts in Vienna, Sarajevo, Tuzla,
Zenica, Zagreb, Karlovac, and Glina regarding future ministry needs and
opportunities.
Travel To . . . .
Tue, 5/23 ----Fly from KC, StL, Omaha via Chicago & Amsterdam to Vienna.
Pray For ---- Safety, successful schedule, safe arrival of all luggage.
Wed, 5/24 ----Arrive Vienna, check into hotel.
Pray For ---- Same as above, plus good rest.
Thu, 5/25 ---- Sightseeing in Vienna.
Pray For ----Safety, nobody gets lost/hurt.
Fri, 5/26 ---- Train to Zagreb. Fly to Sarajevo.
Pray For ---- Safety, good connections, arrival of all luggage.
Sarajevo Ministry 5/27 -6/7 . . . .
Sat, 5/27 ---- Sarajevo. Orientation. Big youth event p.m.
Pray For ---- That team & youth will "click", & many unsaved will
attend.
Sun, 5/28 ---- Sarajevo. Church services -- testimonies, music,
preaching, skits, mimes, fellowship.
Pray For ---- That God will use us in powerful ways in services.
Mon, 5/29 Thru Wed, 6/7 ---- Sarajevo and surrounding area. Humanitarian
work, repair work, Bible studies, evangelistic outreach, work in refugee
camps, church services, youth events, etc.
Pray For ---- That people will have open hearts to the Gospel & our
Servant spirit. Christ be exalted. Team Unity.
Karlovac Ministry 6/8-11. . . .
Thu, 6/8 ---- Fly to Zagreb, Cro. Evening of sightseeing, and then to
bed early.
Pray For ---- Travel safety, good sleep, preparation for youth retreat
beginning Friday night.
Fri, 6/9 ---- Sightseeing in Zagreb morning. Train to Karlovac, Cro
afternoon. Youth retreat evening in Karlovac.
Pray For ---- Local transportation arrangements to be satisfactory for
week-end. Team fatigue. Local youth ready for retreat.
Sat, 6/10 ----Youth retreat, Karlovac. Bob/Jo travel to Glina, Cro to
check on future ministry opportunities, and minister to believers
escaping Serbia back to their homes there.
Pray For ---- Effective ministry/outreach to area youth. Ministry to
believers in Glina. Safety in traveling there and back. Wisdom and
preparedness for rest of team as they lead the retreat. Encourage
believers.
Sun, 6/11 ---- Churches in Duga Resa, Plaski, Blata, Karlovac. Travel to
Zagreb late night after Sunday night services. Short night in bed (maybe
four or five hours).
Pray For ---- Effective witness and encouragement to small churches.
Late travel p.m. Good rest during a very short night. Have to get up by
4:30 a.m.!
Return Trip Home 6/12-14
Mon, 6/12 ---- Train from Zagreb to Salzburg, to Munich
Pray For ---- Energy for early 5:45 a.m. departure, safety,
connections, fun time during afternoon stop over in Salzburg, continued
safety to Munich.
Tue, 6/13 ---- Sightseeing Munich.
Pray For ---- Safety, luggage arrival, fun day of sightseeing, good
rest tonight, etc.
Wed, 6/14 ---- Fly Munich, Amsterdam, Chicago, home!
Pray For ---- Safety, successful connections in Amsterdam and Chicago,
easy customs check, safe arrival of all luggage, etc., safety for those
continuing their travels home, Rest!, Rational speech!
Thu, 6/15 ---- Travel on from Independence to home in Collins.
Pray For ---- "Stay awake" power, energy for the next project, fast
recover of time change, preparation for next Sunday's messages.
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