Update from the CEO – This is a Risky Read

Risks –  Are you risk-averse? Most people I talk to say they aren’t big risk takers. Yet we often take risks without even realizing it. This month, as I reflect on my birthday, I’ve been thinking about how the risks of faith in missions are not unlike the risks we face daily with our health, choices, and priorities. Nutrition, exercise, financial decisions, and even our thought life reveal how willing we are to risk.

Walk with me for a bit down this path. The choices we make with regards to nutrition and exercise are actually a risk indicator of our health and all-cause mortality. (I say this because this is my birthday month and guess what I’ve been fine tuning?) This is proven science and fairly easy to research online, yet most of us would rather put our health in the hands of food manufacturers, fast food, social media scrolling and Netflix (guilty!) than make the better choices lowering our risk of disease and early death. Other risk indicators are our financial decisions, reading habits, thought life, and so on.

Bigger risks – This month we are spectators to an intriguing new scene on the World Stage as we watch world leaders meet in Alaska, Europe and the White House to discuss peace. On our phones, we have front row seats to history in the making. Millions of lives hang in the balance as words are said, hands shaken and treaties are signed, or not signed. Stakes simply couldn’t be higher. Talk about prayer fodder!

Biggest risk – Would that we would be as driven as world leaders are with their various positions and motivations for peace – to see hearts and souls come to know Christ. Truly the biggest risk anyone can take is to put off the decision to secure their eternal destination. And is it not also true that the biggest risk we who have this message take is not giving someone this opportunity?

Mark 8:36 says, “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”

I have aways known that the children in our programs will be the change agents in the Middle East and India in the days to come. The biggest risk, therefore, I believe, is not to invest in these children, not to sponsor children.

Thank you for risking – I can’t thank our faithful, generous Indigenous Ministries family of prayer partners, donors and sponsors enough – you know who you are – and you constantly amaze, surprise and humble me with your actions of risky giving.

Take a risk – But if you’re reading this and you’ve never donated, never sponsored a child, a Bible college student, but are thinking to put your toes in this water with us, yes, it is definitely a risk. But, on the nitty gritty faith level, what is the bigger risk? So here’s my promise to you: I promise you we will continue to faithfully steward donated resources to the highest standards. But we can’t steward what we aren’t entrusted with. Either way, it’s a risk.

With Christ’s love, Dee
Dee A. Cook, CEO