I need you

Why need is not the worst thing that could happen to us

After cleaning up my closet recently I noticed that I couldn’t find a pair of shoes that I loved dearly. I looked everywhere for them and eventually resigned myself to life without my favorite shoes. The incident bugged me. It’s not like me to misplace things, not to mention that the whole purpose of decluttering is not to lose things but to find them more easily.

Last week I accidentally found the much-loved shoes and it’s brought me much joy.

It’s also reminded me that in my zeal to declutter some of the background noise at Living With Power, I might have inadvertently shuffled things around and given the impression that we’ve misplaced a piece of our heart and ministry that remains a deep source of joy and fruitfulness: our global work with Syrian refugees and the Lebanese as well as our work in Ukraine.

If you’re new to this space, you might not be aware that for the last decade our ministry family (aka you) has helped us launch a global presence among the Syrian refugees and Lebanese people in my birth country of Lebanon (click here to learn more). The work has grown to the extent that we’ve established a Living With Power global office in Lebanon. A few days ago, we received a newsletter (available on demand – just email us back and we’ll send it to you) in which we were updated of the tremendous fruit that is continuing to take place in a war-torn piece of the world.

We now have a community center in Doris, a town very close to Baalbak heavily populated by Shiite Muslims in which we provide private schooling for 15-20 kids every 3 months, many of whom have special needs as well as a number other community services and Bible teaching/evangelism. Our team meets with 25-30 families each month and provides medications, medical aid, food, and housing needs. Our pharmacy continues to provide free meds for over 800 people a month. Our Ukrainian work is impacting hundreds of people every month as well.

I have always believed that the outreach work we do is directly related to our relationship with God and our obedience to Christ’s way. Jesus loved. He gave. He met needs. He healed.

Today we continue to witness both physical and spiritual miracles through the work that you have allowed us to continue to do in Lebanon and the Ukraine.

I am so thankful for your love and commitment to those in need. I am deeply grateful that you’ve not only helped us launch this work but continue to support it. I may have mentioned it before, but while our donor base is steady, we have had to think through other ways to sustain the work that is growing. In the past, some of the supplemental income has come through speaking and book sales, and some has come through God’s miraculous provision.

But more often than not, the reason we continue our work is because God’s people – you – continue to show up. You believe that God loves a cheerful giver, and that as we shine our light through good works, others will see God more clearly and glorify him more.  

Let me simplify what I’m trying to say: we need to raise $20,000 to meet our quarterly budget. There are 2 ways for you to help us:

• Give directly to our global work – commit to giving monthly or a one-time gift

• Join our Premium membership (you will gain so much!)

Honestly? I often wonder why God doesn’t just help us get a huge bestseller, or land us a big check for a lot of money or get me going on a high-end speaking circuit – any way to avoid dependence, but dependence, it seems, is His way.

I need the Lord and I need this community – in that order.

Some days I feel more confident than others. Some days I just feel stupid, like things should be easier by now. Some days I feel frustrated that I haven’t found the secret formula to becoming self-sufficient.

Then I catch myself. The whole premise of following Jesus is the antithesis of self-sufficiency. Need is the catalyst that tips the scales for a miracle. Need is my Achilles heel to dependence and dependence is what Christ has invited me to.

So… today I’m inviting you to join me as we continue to do a deep and eternal work in one of the most unlikely and needy areas in the world.

Will you join me?

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