Faith When Only God Can Do It!

Only God Can Do It…

I’ve often taught about the importance of having goals and objectives in serving Jesus and his church that were so big, only God could do it, and if he didn’t, the task would fail. I thought that I knew something about setting those kinds of goals.

Then Kathy and I joined Indigenous Ministries!

Years ago, I read a book on leadership that inspired me to think about this kind of planning—the author called these targets “BHAGs” for Big, Hairy, Audacious, Goals.

• Big—larger than normal growth or expansion would allow
• Hairy—they are going to be messy, unpredictable, hard, and full of surprises
• Audacious—no one, including you, thinks you can do it

I know that, in the pastorate, we sought to stretch the church body to do what was beyond us, but I confess, I don’t know that I’ve ever been part of a work where BHAGs seem to be the standard for our goals. 

Let me share one of these goals that could make me nervous, if I didn’t know that God can do it.  Our faith grows when only God can do it! 

BHAG — Finding another 300 sponsors for children in Iraq and Egypt

We’ve seen over 10% of our goal met this year for new sponsors, but there are still so many that are needed. While God has brought sponsors for our first ten Yazidi children, more are coming into the program. More are seeking our help in Baghdad and in other parts of N. Iraq. Two new child sponsorship centers are on the verge of launching in Egypt among refugees and Orthodox Muslims. And the city in the east of N. Iraq that we have spoken and written about is ready for us to launch a center. But we cannot begin without sponsors willing to join us at $39 a month. The small congregation that Kathy and I attend has chosen to take on eight children as a church. Others are sponsoring individually. Perhaps your church could do something similar. For a mission with so few personnel to get the word out, this seems impossible. But God can do it.

Have I given you a pretty big, hairy, audacious prayer request? Well, the good news is that God told his Son, “Ask of me, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance” (Psalm 2:8). Jesus has declared his purpose to gather a people from every tribe and tongue and nation, and has given us the authority to ask that mountains be removed (Mark 11:24). He told us to ask him, in his name, for those things that would glorify the Father (John 14:13). I think this would qualify! So, I ask you to join us in praying for BIG things that only God can do!

– Craig Miller, Director for Educational Development