T-Minus 30 Days
30 Days to Go in our Multiply 3.0 - The Next Level Campaign. 30 days to reach our goal of $42,500. 30 days to work together in some great projects. 30 days to go to see what God will do. (though He is not limited by any type of timed goal.) 30 days left to run hard to the finish line.
Here are 5 takeaways, 5 words that have defined what I have learned so far as part of the 100 Mile Challenge Team with 50 miles in and 50 miles to go.
Interdependence: I couldn't imagine doing this without a team. Just being with others keeps you going. The support, encouragement, and simply the presence of others gives you strength. We've had some great conversations on the trail and a lot of silly banter (yeah, I'm talking about you Micah & Soren) and the time flies by. This last hike up Crowders Mountain had a section with lots of stairs was not easy, (in fact I am still sore 2 days later), but with a team we did it. There is an African proverb that says, "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." Going together is definitely better because "Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed." - Ecclesiastes 4:9. Multiply 3.0 is about everyone from every project working together for a common goal, and together is how we will do it.
Resilience: There are times when life just feels hard, and we want to just take a break or step off for a while, but within each of us there can be a spark that keeps us on the trail and moving forward. That spark is resilience. Here is a great definition:
Resilience is having the strength to fulfill the call God has given us, even when it will be painful and difficult. Resilience is staying fixed on a higher purpose, motivated by love of God, our neighbor, and the world, and supported by friends. While others let us down, we are carried by the One who called us.” (Quoted in Resilience in Life and Faith by Horsfall and Hawker)
We have experienced the need for resilience on every hike - 10 miles per hike can definitely push you, but our project is probably no different than any of the others. All of us need the ability to push through hard times to reach a goal and stay on track to fulfill the call of God on our lives. Resilience is a great quality to develop as we follow Jesus through thick and thin.
Dependence: The Multiply 3.0 Campaign has taught me once again my need for dependence on God. On the Crowder Mountain hike, I had to pull out the worship music to get up a steep section - worship and prayer got me up and over. We are dependent on God for everything - to not only get us through but to supply all we need - strength, direction, provision, support - you name it and it's all about what God is doing, not us. The Psalms tell us - "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the Name of the Lord our God." So, in every aspect of life, He is teaching us to rely on, depend on Him for everything because He is teaching us who He is - the God who Provides.
Faith: On each of the Multiply Campaigns, we have needed faith. Each time we have set out to do something we couldn't do on our own. Every good relationship is based on trust, and with God, faith or trust is everything. the Scriptures tell us - "Without faith it is impossible to please God." He wants us to demonstrate faith because faith reveals what we really believe about Him. There is a big goal for Multiply 3.0 because we feel He wants to do a great work through us to impact our community through Bridging the Gap and for His Name's sake. We know it is impossible to accomplish this without His work, and that is what is exciting! And above even that, is the opportunity to grow in our knowledge of Him and our relationship with Him through this summer as we see Him at work. May our faith grow!
Vision: Everyone needs vision to move forward in life. Vision for what kind of person to become. Vision for what kind of family to become. Vision for the next season in life. Vision is like a map for where you want to go and what you want to accomplish. I really like what my wife, Stacey wrote for her Facebook post for her Multiply 3.0 project:
Friends and Family - My friend Idolina and I will be cooking once again for our Multiply Campaign. This year the proceeds from Multiply 3.0 will go back to Bridging the Gap, our Non- Profit Organization. With this campaign we are raising money, not just to support BTG's (Bridging the Gap) existing ministries, but also to support a New Dream. BTG would like to establish a Wholistic Child Development Program for the families in our community. It is a big dream, but one that could change the lives of so many of the children and families in the Old Town Community.
Our financial goal for Multiply 3.0 this year is $42,500.00.
This Saturday Idolina and I will be making Tacos Dorados De Pollo (Rolled Chicken Tacos). We will be selling them beginning around 10 am on Saturday, July 24th at BTG's Yard Sale. 3151 Reynolda Rd. Winston Salem, NC 27106.
I thought she did a great job in capturing the vision for what we hope to accomplish (and her project will taste great). This is where all this is leading - it is the vision, the "why" for the "what."
Vision is key for what we hope to do - it's not just about doing a bunch of things or raising a lot of money but doing everything for a purpose. There are so many great projects still to come - a yard sale this Saturday, a 25-hour game night, a cornhole tournament plus some great fundraisers - Sean & Colleen and their Triathlon, all the items in the store, the Silent Auction, the Eat Eggs & Multiply - all of it coming together for the vision of changing the lives of so many for the children and families in the Old Town Community, all in the Name of Jesus.
So, 5 words: Interdependence, Dependence, Resilience, Faith & Vision. 5 Words for Multiply 3.0 - 5 Words for Life - 5 Words for our walk with Jesus.
5 words for the next 30 days as we run hard toward the finish of Multiply 3.0.