Provision


We are deep in the fundraising season for our staff right now. Fundraising can be scary and stressful. But it can also be encouraging and faith building. When I fundraised last summer for the apprenticeship, it was quite the trust exercise for me. For the first time in my life, I was acutely aware of the fact that I was depending on God completely for my income. My whole life God has provided everything but in ways that don't require much of my trust. Both of my parents work for a salary that their company pays them they don't live off the generosity of supporters. But God came through and provided. This time around He is providing once again and once again I am confronted with my distrust in Him.

Recently I have been struck by how insane it is that our whole staff gets fundraised every year. Currently, 36 of us are fundraising our whole salary for the school year. That is not a small amount of money. That requires a generous God and a generous group of supporters. God is so beyond generous to us. Not only does he provide monetarily and physically, but he gives us His only son to die on the cross for us. I am humbled by this. I know I don't deserve it. But praise God that he is so generous in providing. And thank you again for supporting me and being generous like our creator is generous.

I got the chance to go to Houston this past weekend and spend time with core girls who are there for the summer. It was a sweet weekend of fellowship and meeting families. I feel so beyond blessed that this is part of my job, that this is ministry.

I really failed to take pictures on this trip(and this month) but here is one of the few I took!
Summer FOCUS is still going strong this month! In fact, we will be having and ordination ceremony for all the FOCUS staff making commitments for either the next year or next couple of years at an upcoming Summer FOCUS and I would like to formally invite you! It will be July 18th at 7:30 in Care Church (1504 E Campbell R.). I will be committing for another year at the ceremony and it is a great way to get a taste of what the ministry you are supporting is like since the ceremony is embedded into our normal service. Hope to see you there!

Don't forget to check out the student testimony below!

Many Blessings,
Emily Umstead


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