“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Words of Jesus) Matthew 7:7-8
I write today in a humbled state of need, on behalf of an organization and a people (precious children) in need. One of my many roles, as Abogar’s Founder and CEO, is fundraising, and to be honest I feel inadequate and insufficient in my efforts. However, I know the importance and necessity of the funding that I am required to seek. It not only provides me with an income, but also enables our organization to love on, provide for, and fight for the children of Latin America!
So, when you do a fundraising event, people say the most important part is the “Ask”. I have, in the past, found this to be the most difficult part of speaking and presenting for me. I have not always been the best at the “Ask”, and have had to talk with God a lot about it. His response and insight to me have been very important!
Coming from a very poor and neglectful situation, I have often felt that to ask someone for something is almost an equivalent of begging, or admitting weakness and need. As I have never wanted to be equated with poverty (fear from my own childhood life experience), I have seldom asked for help for myself. God has been faithful to provide for me, and has kept me better that I can even keep myself. However, God has shown me that this perspective concerning the action of asking is a bit skewed from reality.
God has revealed to me that the “Ask” that I am to give, in my fundraising attempts and presentations, is more to be an offer and opening for donors to enter into an opportunity of investment into eternal purposes, for the glory of God! As I “Ask”, it opens an opportunity to those who have the ability to bless and financially invest in the ministry and work of Abogar, that not only changes the current lives and situations of these children, but also offers them a change in their eternal destination; as they encounter the Gospel love and transforming power of God in their lives through our ministry! The “Ask” that I am to give, is an invitation into partnership with God’s heart and command for us to care for precious children who are orphaned, abandoned, abused, and/or homeless, throughout Latin America!
Abogar International Ministries is currently just over $30,000 short of it’s budget for 2017. These funds help us to be present on the ground in Guatemala with gas and a running vehicle, to help feed, love on, share the gospel with, and encourage and strengthen family for these children, who come from very severe, traumatic, and poor conditions. We need funding for materials and foods, for administrative costs, travel, website, fees, our partnerships with other organizations, and general needs. We support the education for 15 children in the Special Kids school, and in 2018 we will also financially cover the salaries of three of the school teachers. The funding we receive enables us to have mobility on the ground in Guatemala and in the US to advocate for, and minister to, these precious children. These funds enable us to grow our outreach and ministry, and to have an even greater impact on the lives of these children!
So here I now “Ask”… Would you be willing to invest in the great work of Abogar International Ministries? We are seeking to raise up monthly donors, who support us every month with a consistent amount ($5, 10, 25, 40, 50, 75, 100, 200, or however much God impresses upon your heart), as well as year end one-time givers, who might be able to give a larger amount, as led by the Lord!
I have a dream that one day Abogar will be at a financial state that the year end fundraising trip will become a year end celebration of the generosity and overflow of our donors, that we will be future planning, and not having to scramble to catch up for our budget to be fulfilled! Would you prayerfully consider giving a generous donation and gift this year, and help us raise and maybe even exceed our financial need? For me, it is not about the money, but about the investment and opportunity these funds provide, to see precious children’s lives changed for the glory of God. If God touches your heart for this same cause, you can visit www.abogarim.org/support and see what the best option is for you to make your donation. Thank you in advance for considering investing in the ministry and work of Abogar International Ministries. God knows that we need your help, and there are treasurers stored up in heaven for those who are investing in the lives of these children! Please make a great investment today!
