Just to follow up on Sunday’s Accountability Report and Visioncast presentation, we want to thank you again for your dedication and support of this ministry in 2013. It is mind blowing to realize how God has used you to keep this ministry going and moving forward. As the Lord has faithfully provided for you, you have faithfully provided for this very important work that has been assigned to our hands.
Isn’t it amazing to see what God has done in hearts and in homes over the last 12 months? Isn’t it amazing to see the various nations we have reached through the internet?
What we were blessed to receive financially in 2013, some ministries and businesses receive that amount every week or every month. One day, we may reach those levels. However, what we have learned is that we must be faithful stewards of what God gives us. If we can multiply and produce good results with what God has given, He most definitely will reward us with more. That’s His promise to those who are faithful with little.
You may have wondered why we have such an elaborate website and a strong, far-reaching web presence. You may have wondered why we use so much hi-tech and detailed professional presentations in our weekly worship and teaching. You may have wondered why we're advertising to the world and by-passing the church circles of Harrisburg. You may have wondered why this tiny, little church is behaving like a huge ministry or business.
Well, it's because we choose to operate like we're already at the level that our God wants us to reach. We're not waiting for hundreds of families to come. We operate like the families are already here. By doing that, we are being faithful with the little that we have right now. There's only a few families here now, but we're giving them the best that we have to offer. When more families come, we will continue to give them the best that God sends through our hands.
Some of you gave tithes and offerings and others gave your time and talents. Some are still coming into a more consistent level of giving in one or more of these ways. Please believe us when we say that incredible promotion awaits the ones who will step out in obedience to God’s word and prophetic promise to Urban Life. You will not be disappointed following God in this way; by stepping out of the boat and walking on the waters. The miracles come when you step out and trust God at this new level.
You see it works like this: God has a plan and purpose for the Urban Life Family Center, but He works His plan through people. He entrust them with a special mission. However, they will have to invest their time, talent and money into that mission.
God will supply His people with what it takes to support the mission. He provides jobs, opportunities, promotions, and even extra income. Therein lays the test. Will His people hold onto all of the blessings for themselves and their own families, or will they give to the mission, in order to bless other people and their families?
We have discovered that if you support what God is blessing, then God will continue to bless you so that you can keep supporting what is important to Him. You will find that you don’t have to worry about lay-offs, furloughs or malicious people trying to sabotage your income. They won’t know it, but if they try to stop you, they will be messing with God’s vision and mission. They think they’re just dealing with you, but they don’t know that they are messing around with the almighty God.
Even if an economic challenge comes your way, like a loss of employment or some unexpected emergency, we have watched God continue to make a way for us as we continued to invest in this work, even in the midst of our own financial troubles.
Even though 2013 was a pretty solid year, let’s determine to make 2014 even better. Let’s do something great for God and for the families that are about to come to Urban Life.
