1.4 Million Support for Missions sales in the 2018 cup,
Focus continues on what overflows the cup.
1/3/2019 The Epiphany of Our Lord
When the Lord overflows one's cup what does one focus on sharing? What's in the cup, what's overflowing the cup, or the challenges and the One who will pour greater abundance in the future? Long articles could be written on every drop in the cup. Lucky for you it's enough for me that speaking of the Lord's drops of blood is of greater value than humanizing every drop in my cup. For how can I as a vessel really convey the spender of my family looking forward to our 6th baby on the way or the adventure of acquiring our own ministry/warehouse space with cash upfront or the nearly $1.4 million in gross sales on Amazon which leads to over $100K in the bank with $250K in current inventory to build future fundraising models for missions, missionaries, and churches? And what of the drops that pour over? - To bring on staff a 17 year orphan whose dad, a supporter, now rests with the Lord. He will literally help us tear down most of the walls inside our growing warehouse space to make room for serving twice as many this year (100,000+). - To fully express gratitude to every congregation and person that helped us build up over 70,000 books through our Books for Missions project. - To personally thank everyone; I overflow in how we raised 1.4 million in gross sales primarily through the sacrifice and hard work for over 50 thousand people who needed household items, toys, and books and pray for those who got Gospel tracts at the same time. - To be told by crying men “You guys have changed my life!” in a world that will leave the widow, the poor and homeless, orphans, and those from prison out in the cold which we have embraced to make up our staff and volunteers. - To be the site where over 1,000 disaster relief buckets are stored which sister churches across two states have put together in preparation for when mercy is needed most. - To provide food for our local homeless mission when their shelves are the emptiest. - To see that only 4 years into my 12 year vision of developing a new type of million dollar fund-raising engine for missions, I now have the capacity to write a $40K check towards missions and yet only write $11K because I failed to convey more of what the Lord is pouring over this cup. In my laziness, my weakness, I did not get out into the churches in time before the year's end and help develop the opportunity for new supporters to join the cause for last year's mission challenge. I will boast of this weakness for now, in that instead I dedicated nearly 7 days a week until Christmas making these humble numbers above possible. You who desire to support missions and join in this cause, you will be what helps overflow the cup for Jesus sake in 2015! Stay tuned to learn how else the Lord can use you to help overflow His Kingdom in creative ways this new year... Rev. Kermit Rickenberg Executive Director of Support for Missions, Inc This is not living the American Dream; this is serving in the New Israel. |
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Overflow Book Sale given big boost to help Missions.
10/9/2018
On a slightly hazy Saturday morning (Oct 4th, 2014) in Winter Haven, Florida, thousands of used books were ready to be discovered. Dozens gathered before the crack of dawn for the ritual door opening of Grace Lutheran's annual LWML rummage sale. As an unexpected bonus for many community regulars, over 10,000 books were displayed across all the covered sidewalks spanning from the front of the school to the other side of the church. The book lovers of the area followed the road signs and online postings in search of the bounty of full bags of books. Both events on the same day helped create more synergy of interested shoppers. With the extra traffic the book sale helped bring, the LWML rummage sale raised about a thousand dollars more than in previous years according to its president. These extra books, set aside by the Books for Missions project (which has 70,000+ books), could not be sold online to help missions. Volunteers two days prior organized the literary gems to be given new life and another opportunity to contribute to the mission cause. Support for Missions, Inc generously sponsored the event and due to its creative nature matched every donation towards the books (and bonus bake sale) by 3:1. "Everything you can fit into these brown grocery bags had a suggested donation of only $5!" Nearly everyone donated that and then some. Even the tablet and TV users marveled at the scope of all the books, but were delighted to join in through the tasty treats. Some just generously donated to the scope of the project, especially when learning more about the mission beneficiary tract for Burning Bush Ministries. A huge "thank you" to everyone sacrificing by donating books, sorting and setting up, sale day, breakdown, and other fine local mission organizations who will continue the next chapter with the leftover books. The total free will donations from the book sale and bonus cookie sale added up to $1252.30. With matching funds, $5009.20 is being dispersed to Burning Bush Ministries. Blessings to all the Joyful givers, who gave in every kind of way, big or small! May the Lord continue to richly reward you in this life into eternity. Rev. Kermit Rickenberg Executive Director of Support for Missions, Inc |
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Support for Missions, Inc is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to funding missions in creative ways. Incorporated 2014.