In my message on “Why Give” in worship on July 24/25, I asked you to be in prayer for what God is calling us to do in the Sudan in 2011 and beyond. In the past six years, God’s blessings through this congregation have impacted nearly a quarter of a million children, women and men. Almost 22,000 kids have enrolled in our schools, more than 80,000 have been fed, and over 100,000 of our Sudanese sisters and brothers have benefited from our safe water projects. Currently in Darfur, 22 percent of all United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) projects are 100 percent dependent on Ginghamsburg Church. That means if we stop our investment at the end of this December, 22 percent of the lives being served will be drastically impacted—no schools, no food, no hope. Our faithfulness is keeping people alive. This is all the more critical since the Sudanese government in 2009 kicked out half of all aid agencies and is not permitting new ones in.

After six years there, we have also earned the opportunity to plant our first church in Aweil, South Sudan. I can state unapologetically that the world needs Jesus. God has promised the rain of the Holy Spirit, and by faith we have been preparing the ground to receive the rain for the last six years.

On September 27, three of us will travel to UMCOR’s offices in New York City to meet with the head of UMCOR and other key staff, as well as a specialist on church planting in Africa from the Mission & Evangelism arm of the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries, to map out strategies for our projects in Darfur and the first church plant in Aweil. I’ve been thinking about this incredible God opportunity while also asking, “Lord, how can we do this thing?” considering the difficulty of financial sacrifice during the midst of the economic crisis. The other day when I was looking through the newspaper, I kept noticing the Christmas in July strategy of many retailers as they try to give the economy a shot in the arm, and it occurred to me that we needed to do our own Christmas in July with the goal of finding 1000 of us who are willing to make a commitment to raise $1000 for God’s work in Sudan by Christmas, starting in July. Sound irrational? Maybe. But we have a God who says all things are possible.

If you give $45.50 a week toward an interest-bearing Sudan Christmas Club contribution plan, you will total $1000 by Christmas. For some of us, it may mean giving $100 per paycheck for the rest of the year. I remember in the past hearing the great servant stories of cell groups or individuals who held garage sales or cleaned houses to earn extra income to keep people alive in Darfur. If 1000 of us bring $1000, that is one million dollars to save lives in Darfur while also planting our first church. All we need to do is to trust the promise of the Lord, to seek first the Kingdom of God, knowing in full confidence that all else will be fully provided.

Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously…And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: "They have scattered abroad their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever." -2 Corinthians 9:6, 8-9

Please pray for me as I continue to pray for you and for the people of Sudan…