What the GCF Means to me
Wednesday, October 22nd, 2008
BY DAVID KINDERVATER
Five dollar apples, fifty dollar melons, 7 dollar gallons of gasoline – things are not cheap in Japan, but 126 million people there still need to be told about Jesus Christ. Because of the high cost of living, the Alliance has not sent large numbers of missionaries to Japan. Yet, we desperately want to reach this nation – the largest unreached people group in the world!
Your giving to the Great Commission Fund makes it possible for us to live and minister in Japan. The Great Commission Fund not only pays our allowance, but it also pays for all of our ministry expenses. We have been able to hold parenting seminars for unbelievers, Christian day camps for unbelievers, even Black Gospel workshops where we teach classic gospel music to unbelievers and then teach them about the real Gospel. Most of the people being reached through these ministries have never heard about Jesus Christ.
Because of your giving, Hideji, a young construction worker, heard of Christ and was baptized. Because of your giving, Kumiko saw the cross of an Alliance church when she was at the bottom of despair and thought, “perhaps THAT God will help me.” Today, Kumiko has the hope of Jesus Christ in her heart. Because of your giving, Hitomi has found Christ and is learning to forgive. Because of your giving, Eitaro, a 60-year-old business man heard for the first time what “sin” is and that there is a Savior. Today, he is attending night seminary so that after he retires in a few years, he can serve the Lord full time. These people have met Jesus Christ and have been transformed. It was your giving to the Great Commission Fund that made it possible.
Last year, the U.S. dollar began to decline against world currencies. As a result, when the Alliance sends $1000 dollars to Japan, it is now worth only about 75% as much as it was last year. Europe has also seen huge declines in the power of the dollar. On top of this, the Great Commission Fund has been very strained in recent years as giving to the GCF makes up less and less of overall giving in C&MA Churches. As a result, our Japan Alliance mission budget was cut approximately 52% this year. Can you imagine what it would be like to cut your budget in half in just one year? Obviously, activities and ministries have been eliminated to accommodate the decrease.
Your faithful giving to the Great Commission Fund this year is more important than ever. Frankly, it may determine whether we, as an Alliance missionary family, can return to the field for ministry in the coming year.
Each time we thank the Lord for a meal in Japan, each time we get assistance from the mission to hold an outreach event, each time we return to Japan for another four years, we are reminded of the many Alliance believers who are faithfully giving to the Great Commission fund and making it all possible. We thank God for your faithfulness. 
RSS Feed
Comments are closed.