As promised I (Annie) am writing to share with you about my work with the Dorm 1 Faith Project. The Dorm 1 Faith Project is a committee who's purpose is to lead the charge in raising the necessary funds to renovate one of our dorms here at YWAM Montana. The team is made up of myself and twelve other YWAM MT staff. The overall goal for this project is to raise $165,000 needed for this renovation. We have seen God move in miraculous ways to so far raise $50,000 of that goal! Since we began in January, our team has hosted some small fundraisers and a "giving night" here within the YWAM MT community. These efforts, along with some generous donations from outside partners helped us to reach that $50,000. Now we are reaching outward beyond our YWAM MT community as we continue to believe for our overall goal of 165,000. We have a few campaigns going outward right now, which include an alumni challenge, a "sponsor a marathon runner" campaign, a car raffle; and we have just begun planning a larger fundraiser: a golf scramble which will take place in either August or September this year.
What does a dorm renovation have to do with expanding the Kingdom God? I am glad you asked, the answer is Sooooooo much!!!!! Here at YWAM Montana, thousands of people are trained, supported, equipped, encouraged and sent out to all spheres of life, all over the world to do what God has called them to do. If the people involved in this had nowhere to live, we could not do what we do here at YWAM Montana! We cannot send people to the nations if we have nowhere to facilitate their training.
Something I love about our base is that it values the individual. In our schools, people are prepared for hard circumstances. We know that when God calls you to something, you have to be willing to put up with whatever less than ideal circumstances you face in the midst of fulfilling that calling. However, as facilitators we want to bless people while they are with us. We want the individuals serving with us to feel valued. That we care about them and are grateful they are here. We want them to feel at home for the months/years that they are here training and serving with us. We want to keep people here feeling refreshed and cared for so that they can go out unto the world having been filled up enough to pour into others. The sacrifices people make in order to follow God's call on their lives are not always easy. If we can make it easier and help people stay committed to this call, by giving them a sense of home while they are here, then that is a worthwhile investment. This is why we want to renovate our dorm. I lived in that dorm for a year and I will be the first one to tell you that while I was grateful to live there, the conditions were less than ideal. It NEEDS repairs! You can read more about some of the needs and plans for the renovation on the Dorm 1 Faith Project Facebook page This renovation is IMPORTANT!!! It is important to God and it is important to those living and serving here. Hundreds of people have lived in this dorm and gone out unto all the world. By doing this renovation and prolonging the life of this dorm, we are not only being good stewards of what God has given us but are also making it possibe for God willing, hundreds more people to continue coming through this place to take unto all the world the powerful, life changing truth of Gods love for them!
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| Dorm 1 before renovation began |
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| after renovation began... |
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| current status of dorm 1...as you can see we really need this next push of $25,000 to keep things moving... |
Nathan's Car Raffle: We are doing a car raffle!!!!! One of my fellow committee members has decided to raffle his car in order to raise money for the renovation. Tickets can be purchased online for $10 per ticket. This is a very easy and practical way to help, and how cool if you could win a car for ten bucks!!!!! Even if you don't need a car, if you win, you could turn around and sell it for a couple grand profit, and if you don't win, the money went to a great cause. Its a "win win" situation :-) You can find all of the information that you need about the raffle, including how to purchase tickets on the Nathan's Car Raffle Facebook page.
Some Personal Reflections: I am so grateful that God has asked me to be a part of the Faith Project. Not only am I learning about leadership and team dynamics, but I get to be a part of something that will reach so far beyond me...
Bennet is often along with mommy for our Faith Project meetings and I sometimes think how cool it will be years down the road to be able to point to that beautifully renovated dorm and tell her that she is a part of that Dorm's God story. She was present when God was moving and using us to make this place a better home to the saints she sees so bravely pressing on to fulfill the great commission. My mommy dream is that my little girl will smile when I tell her this, as God solidifies something in her heart that confirms what she always suspected: that she is apart of something far bigger than herself, and God has far greater plans for her than she can imagine.
Thank you for your continued interest in our work here at YWAM Montana! We love all of you and couldn't do what we do without your support. Stay tuned as our family continues on our adventure in missions....
"I thank my God every time I remember you in all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day till now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ."
- Philipians 1:3-6
love,
Justin, Annie, Ella & Bennet
