The last days of the year are always exciting. They’re a time to look back and look ahead; a time to rest from work; and a time to give thanks. I spent the last few days of the year, especially the last day of the year, and even the last hours of the year, watching in amazement the grace and power of our God.
Besides the tremendous blessing of receiving phone calls and kind encouragement from Loren Cunningham, the founder of YWAM, and Steve Douglass, the president of Cru, I watched as pledges for our 2015 year-end match came in from literally around the world.
Cameroon, Philippines, South Africa, Spain, Ghana, Latvia, UK, Mexico, Canada, Indonesia, Germany . . . Then Albania, India, Norway, Australia, Brazil, South Korea, Japan, Slovakia, Malaysia, and more! It was exhilarating to witness these blessings from around the world.
Throughout the entire matching gift opportunity, I’ve been humbled and amazed by the gifts coming in from individuals, churches of all sizes, foundations, and ministry organizations. Mark Anderson with Call2All with a gift of $10,000 from his ministry—one for which he also raises funds himself. $100 from an alumnus of the 2006 Lausanne Younger Leaders Gathering. A significant gift of $40 from a pastor in Mongolia. Joni and Friends giving $18,300 toward scholarships for the 2016 Younger Leaders Gathering, and Joni Eareckson Tada also sending a special note of encouragement. Each gift received was important and meaningful, and in the last day of 2015, by God’s grace we met and exceeded the $541,620 matching opportunity!
We are so grateful for all gifts of all amounts, as well as all the gracious prayers and advocacy that helped to make this possible. God has once again proven that he can do abundantly more than all we can ask or imagine.
As these gifts are used to start or strengthen significant initiatives in 2016, we trust in God’s continuing provision at each step. Please pray with me that the impact of these gifts from around the world will return in blessing to every nation on earth.