Some Road Rules

When our kids were young we would have specific guidelines for road trips. It went something like this:
1. You must keep your seat belt on all the time the car is moving.
2. You may not scream or cry while the car is moving.
3. You may not fight with your sister while the car is moving.
4. We will not stop to go to the bathroom more than one time every two hours.
NO EXCEPTIONS! (that rule was often broken!)
5. You may not order the most expensive thing on the menu when we stop for a meal.
These little guidelines made for a better, more sane trip. Traveling always goes better with
a few rules.

First Command Center Meeting

Linda, Margie, Eleanor, Robin Rosebrough,, our secretary and I were sitting at my dining room table in January 2001. . That table would become the “command center” for the next five years. We knew that in the next few months we would need money. We also knew that a couple of the teachers knew some very wealthy folks. So that presented a dilemma. We had a feeling that we could approach those people and ask for funding. We also knew we could write up grants and ask for funding. We actually came up with several funding methods including a bake sale, but for some reason none of us felt comfortable with any of it. We needed to know from God Himself that we were doing things His way. We needed to be guided by His hand in a very tangible way. We made a few radical decisions, all that would stretch our faith immensely.

Guidelines for the Ministry

1. We would not ask anyone for money.
2. We would not fund raise. (not even a bake sale!)
3, We would not apply for grants.
4. We would never borrow money.
5. We would not go into debt. If the money was not there for the next step, then we would not
take a next step.
6. We would trust that if God wanted us to move forward then we would know His will by His
provision.
7. All funds would be raised through prayer alone, nothing else.

We were truly traveling into unknown territory. None of us had ever taken such a seemingly rash step of faith. Yet we knew God was all powerful. We also knew He knew we were not skilled in what He was asking us to do. We, like the frightened women we were, had to be sure that God Was Indeed With Us!!

In Exodus 33 Moses is fearful that God will not go with the people. They have been obstinate. They have been rebellious. Moses makes a statement that says it all, “ If Thy presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here. For how then can it be known that I have found favor in Thy sight.” God’s presence was ultimately the most important thing to Moses. And so it was to us. If God was leading us, then His provision was the definitive sign we needed.

Philippians 4:19
My God shall supply all of your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.