What is "Partnership?"

Perhaps you have heard me over this past year talk about "partnership" with me in God's work in New Zealand, but you really don't know what that means. Let me explain! On my blog and when I speak, I talk about the work of a missionary being like a thousand piece puzzle. The only way the ministry happens is if the missionary as well as other members of the Body "claim their piece" of the work through partnership. Here's what partnership "looks like."

1) On my part...

• I become an extension of YOUR ministry in New Zealand through sharing the life-giving hope of the Gospel with students and helping equip national leaders and churches in New Zealand for on-going, sustainable youth ministries.
• I keep in touch with you, updating you on what God is doing and how you can pray through quarterly newsletters and monthly prayer/praise updates (via email or regular mail) as well as at least weekly blog postings.
• I lift you up to the Father in prayer on a regular basis.

2) On your part...

• You claim the ministry in NZ as YOUR ministry through a monthly financial investment.
• You pray for the ministry in NZ regularly in response to the prayer needs expressed in my regular correspondence with you.
• You keep me updated on how I can pray for you, your family, and your local ministry involvement.

Is there any reason why you couldn't partner with me in this way? If not, sign up today! CLICK HERE!

Another 4%!!

WOW! Another 4% of verbal commitment has already come in this morning!!!! Once all this officially hits, we should be at 75% ALREADY! My pastor in Mississippi told me at the end of last month that he would not pray for 75% by the end of November--he would only pray for 100% by the end of November. Pastor, your prayers are powerful and effective--God is increasing my faith and bringing my goals closer to alignment with yours!!!!

I have to confess a recurring theme in my life from the past week or so. I have been praying for God to give me more discernment and boldness about actually asking people to become financial partners. Almost unwillingly at first, I obeyed the Holy Spirit's promptings multiple times this week. No joke, every time I heard these words, "I was just waiting for you to ask!" Wow. What a lesson this has been for me!!! How many times do we (1) fail to ask God to meet our needs or (2) fail to ask our brothers and sisters in Christ to partner with us in God's work!!!! The Body of Christ is meant to operate in COMMUNITY, but we will be "going solo" until we are willing to invite people to join us in what God is doing. Holy Spirit, thank You for the lesson.

Another 11%

I'm amazed as I watch God move. Another 11% or so of verbal commitments have come in over the last 24 hours! I can't wait to see the percentage officially start to go up, up, and up! I want to welcome new churches and individuals to the team--it's so good to have you all on board!

I am enjoying my time in northern Indiana, although I'm pretty tired and still sick. I will update with more details of my time here later, but I wanted to get the word out of how God is working!

As Good as Dead

The following is an excerpt from an email I just sent to a missionary friend. After explaining to her what God has shown me, I thought I should share it with all of you too!

The Holy Spirit keeps bringing a passage of Scripture to my mind from Romans 4 about Abraham's faith. It says in verse 19, "He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead,... or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb." It goes on to say that he actually was STRENGTHENED in his faith! I've been thinking about this a lot... Abraham didn't consider his own body as good as dead when God first gave him the promise. He proved that with the whole Hagar incident. It was only after years of waiting and realizing that he could do NOTHING to fulfill the promise that his faith was strengthened through counting himself as good as dead. I feel like this is my testimony of the process God has taken me through in support raising! At first, I thought I had to raise support. Now, I realize that I am as good as dead! And my faith is stronger! How awesome is this!?

58%! No, You Didn't Misread That!

In about a week's time, our Faith Promise has gone up by 10%!!! How awesome is our God?! One of my prayer partners posted on my Facebook status, "When GOD'S timing becomes NOW, ain't no stopping HIM!!" I love it! Thank you for being a part of this movement! I can't express how much I appreciate all of you on the team, both prayer and financial. It is through YOUR obedience that God is WORKING!

The next several days will be pretty full. Tonight, I have a meeting with some good friends about the ministry in New Zealand. Sunday, I leave for six days on the road. I will be speaking at Carthage Wesleyan Church Sunday morning, connecting with friends at Brookhaven Wesleyan on Sunday night, meeting with potential partners in the Marion area on Monday during the day, recruiting for Wesley Biblical Seminary at Christian University Seminary Fairs Tuesday-Thursday during the day, continuing Kingdom Come Training in the early evenings, and meeting with potential partners after that into the late evening. Please be in prayer for the following:

• Safety while traveling.
• Divine appointments with students God is calling to seminary.
• Divine appointments with future partners.
• Divine appointments with some of my former students in youth ministry.
  
• Physical strength as I've been battling a cold or sinus infection--not sure which yet.

Thanks, again, for your partnership! God is blessing!!!!

52% and Masquerade at Abby Manor

Today I officially hit 52% Faith Promise! :) I hope you can sense my excitement and the momentum that is increasing in this team building process! I fully expect to post a new percentage tomorrow!!!!

I realized that I have not posted many updates recently about ministry in Indiana. I had to share some pictures with you all from our most recent youth event at The Grounds. We took a night off from service to throw a party, and it was one epic party! We bought a kit for one of those "who-dun-it" mystery dinner parties. Everyone is assigned a character and they come to the party in character for the whole evening. At the party, a crime occurs, and everyone tries to figure out "who-dun-it." The setting: a masquerade at Abby Manor.

Elijah and Steven sporting their formal wear and masks.

Andrea and I before the party really got started. Andrea was the mastermind behind the whole game--she did an AWESOME job! She has really taken over almost completely as the lead role in the youth ministry. It is so encouraging to me to know I will be leaving it in her hands!

Several of the youth in character, hanging out in the living room.

51% Party!!!!!

Let's throw a party together! We just hit 51% Faith Promise! I'm so excited to pass the halfway point, but I'm also still greatly anticipating reaching the milestone of 75% THIS MONTH! Like I said before, this is a serious faith endeavor, but I totally believe our God is ABLE and WILLING to do it! Please keep praying for those people God has called to partner with me in this work to sense and obey that call! This week, Faith Promises have been coming in on a daily basis--I am so encouraged!!!

Kingdom Come Training, the training I started Monday about partnering with others in God's work to reach the nations, is going well. It has already been a source of encouragement and renewed boldness and zeal for the team building process. Thank you all for the prayers--please keep them coming!!!! Also, if you are feeling led to learn more about what it might look like for you to partners with me in this work, I would love to meet with you whether in person or via skype or the phone. Please let me know! amber.livermore@gmail.com, 812-779-7282