Your advice on giving, please

Lately i have been pondering giving to HeartCry Ministry, however, in their last newsletter it seems that the only thing their ministry has to say is that they have been planting churches (various countries). No reports of healings or anything like that. Just a few people being led to the Lord here and there and lots of buildings being built.

I guess i am disappointed. But maybe i shouldn't be. I don't know what it IS that i DO expect. I'm just feeling reluctant to give towards the building of more RELIGION. I fear that giving towards the building of more church buildings is just working towards the building of another AMERICA. We have thousands of church buildings here, big woop. So what does the building of church buildings really accomplish?

Can anyone tell me what i SHOULD look for in a ministry's activities and accomplishments and before i give, and well,
anything else about this? I have always respected P. Washer and his ministry so i am rather surprised i feel this way. Also, i pray and ask God WHOM should i give to and if so HOW MUCH and i don't feel led in any specific direction.

Thirdly, can a person be giving to TOO MANY ministries; is it a good thing to do so or are there any reasons it may be advisable to avoid giving to many?

We can only advise each other, not tell others what to do.

But you do ask, and I will use scripture, for it all starts and ends with the word of God, the final authority.

First, we give to God, and then man.

This is addressed in this scripture.

Luke 10:27,"...you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all you strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself."

For God and man. We see this in Acts 4 where many sold and gave to the Church, because they loved God, and were willing to help with the needs of others.

Can we give to too many ministries? For my part, you can, others might say different.

I read of one man, who supported 25 ministries, and one month, he had to take out a loan, to continue to support those ministries.

He was considered radical. I thought he was being foolish and playing 'God', as though those ministries would not survive without him. Maybe he was being radical, but I can't see it myself.

Well, that's my less than two cents. Take care.

God bless.

How about the native churches in persecuted parts of the world. Hard to make contact and find ways of sending funds, but I think it would go a long way.

sister or brother ,,,

i was led or burdened to give to heart cry missions soctity ,,,it was a real strong conviction ,and i felt at peace after i begane giving to that organisation

paull washer believes and preaches baptisim in the spirit and believes in healings and miracals

he does not boast in those things tho ,,but rather bibical solid conversions

they eqipt indigenious missionarys to evangelise so te money goes a long way in his ministery

most of the churches are tin shacks on a dust pad as the prayer house ,,,he spoke about that being what they aim towards dirt cheep churches ,,many of the missionars are poor,,, and live verry verry modest,,,,

all his sponsaship comes through faith full prayer ,he takes no donations ,,,much like is father in the faith george muller

iv herd him say ,that for the whole ten years or more ,god has suppled every need for there indinious missionary movement

but paul said many times the worksers who work along side him in the adminastration organising side of the socity ,,have gone weeks and months with out pay

he said he would labouring work and farm work back home to make ends meetso he could feed his own children

he is verry scincer and is not covertus and greedy ,,his brothers on the missions field comes first and last

ill try to find a heart renching sermon or talk he did in the arkives that moved me to tears ,and humbled ,,where he reads a diary of a certaint perioud of heart crys existance

heart cry was born in much prayer ,and contines in the same ,,it is beoned opinion,a ministery suported by god ,in my opinion

a scriptue comes to my mind

him who bosts ,,let him boast in this that he knows me

may god burdend us to desire to suport the great comision

paul washer as falty as he is ,is used by god ,to bring the good news ,to thousands,with a gosple that converts ,and a spirit that baptises

ill try to find the link

https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/mydownloads/singlefile.php?lid=13734&commentView=postComment

the link does not work when i click on it

but if you copy and paste the link in the http..//box in the top of your screen and press enter it will take you there

im going to listen to it again ,,thanks for helping me find the sermon ,,,by asking you sincer question ,trekker

it is a littel gem in the field of tresures ,on this bleesed sight

Heartcry missionary is a great ministry. The founder Paul Washer was the one who brought me to Christ through his sermons.

One shouldn't be looking for healings when considering giving to a ministry. Its like one is looking for fleshly things, like thinking if one speaks in tongues, then one is superior or more mature to the others. No, no no. This is our pride then and nothing godly about it if that's what we think (I know you are not talking about tongues--just giving an example). This will be the last thing I would be looking if I were considering giving.

What I would look for is a repentant heart, a ministry that is going to really serve God no matter how tough it is, how long it takes. THat doesn't seek the glory of men, that doesn't care what men thinks of them but what God thinks of them.

Some of the godliest people did not see any fruits of their ministry until years later but they persevered.

One of the ministry you may consider is GFA (Gospel for Asia). It is founded by K P Yohannan (which has been featured in sermonindex). I love them. I am very touched by the 2nd youtube video about Joseph the missionary
http://www.gfa.org/

Below are some youtube videos about their missionary and mission work.
Gospel for Asia part 1,2,3 (world missions)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pKW9TpL5C0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9UZQQ-whS0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SduKXChbqig&feature=relmfu

Another one is itecusa (founded by Steve Saint). http://www.itecusa.org/
You can read about the story or see the video End of the Spear about how God uses his father and others who were matryed to bring the gospel to one of the savagest tribe at that time (the book is so much better from what I've heard). Steve Saint later started itec to help people in remote areas. His story is an inspiration to all of us. Pls see the below thread for his update. May you be touched and pray for him and his family. He is currently paralyzed. His life story (about how he reacted when he lost his only daughter) to his paralysis shows truly how much he loves GOd.

https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=45560&forum=48&4

These are all godly ministries. If you read their lives and realize how many people they have touched even to the remotest area, you will know.

And there is no such thing as giving to too many ministries. Its like asking if I'm giving too much to GOd. Give until you hurt--yep that's the thing. Not give what you are comfortable in giving. If you can, please give.

QUOTE: "One shouldn't be looking for healings when considering giving to a ministry."==LEARN

Yes, i know. I knew my statement about that would be misunderstood but i didnt know how else to say what i am trying to say. Let me try again:

I'm sorta looking for a ministry that has more than just doctrine and religious institutions...? More than just church buildings? Evidence of the Holy Ghost presence? Churches that turn their communities upside down in some way? Churches that spark a citywide revival?

We don't need more 'religion as usual'. If what ministries are going to do is just plant more church buildings then just bring the people or "converts" here to America instead of building.

Does this give you a better understanding of where i am coming from?

EDIT: Ironically enough, i once did give fairly often to GFA but their newsletters kept making me upset and angry because they would give reports of people being raised from the dead and healing miracles,etc and i would get angry inside because none of that stuff ever happens in America only in countries where it can never be confirmed, proven or disproven. So i was suspicious on the one hand that they were making stuff up to get ministry dollars, and on the other hand i was upset if it were true because then why wasn't I being healed? Yet now here i am, turned off that nothing "spiritual" or "real" is being reported in the HeartCry newsletters! Go figure.

QUOTE: "What I would look for is a repentant heart, a ministry that is going to really serve God no matter how tough it is, how long it takes. THat doesn't seek the glory of men, that doesn't care what men thinks of them but what God thinks of them." LEARN/EVERESTOSAMA

Yes, good advice, but how am i to even know whether a ministry has these things? When all they talk about in their newsletter is what countries they are working in and how many church buildings they erected there and by golly gee whiz they found a convert or two and might even have another one on the way, then how am i to know much else?

Trekker,
Before I try to answer your questions, just want to say agree with Gregg on Open Doors Ministry (founded by Brother Andrew). Great ministry too and I totally forgotten about them.

Also (slightly unrelated), with regards to Philippines, the poor people there eat instant noodles (unhealthy) instead of rice (staple food of Asian and much healthier). Why? Because its cheaper than rice.

Ok, now to try to answer your questions.
I will start off by saying a bit about myself. There was a time when I found out about Nate Saint and 'The end of the spear'. Wanted to read the book or watch the show so badly. Didn't have the $ to buy the book,none of the libraries here had the book (I'm not from US). I scoured youtube, the internet and anything that I could find about it for days/weeks. I suppose I learn more than people who just happened to see the video. Saw how Steve Saint dealt with his daughter's death, learned more about the other missionaries, bits here and bits there, how his aunt gave her life, lived and died with the tribe, learned about Mincaye. Learn that Steve went to a faraway place and was delayed and there he met somebody that was converted to CHristianity because of his father's mission with the Huorani tribe and was ostracised because of him becoming a Christian (on his door he had a picture of two bleeding hands holding a cross--yes it was tough to be a Christian there). On and on. Finally found on the internet one place I could see the show for (it was not in english, but it was good enough for me). Learned about itecusa. Found out that he was paralyze.
[Edit to amend now that I remember is that it was another missionary who converted the person who had the picture of 2 bleeding hands holding the cross painted on his door but Steve Saint's father's journey in 1 of the books helped sustain this person's faith in Christ]

I can tell you something, if you had followed me through my wanting to find out more about him and his/his father/aunt's ministry, you will know whether this was God's grace or not. Whether God is with him and so on. The question is are you willing to do just that. If you are, God will certainly grant you the knowledge and wisdom to know whether this ministry or others is blessed by God or not. (BTW, the video End of the spear, I think youtube has it now. That time, could only get snippets of it).

Now with regards to GFA (Gospel for Asia). If you scoured through their website and look at the youtube videos that I posted, you will also know whether this ministry is blessed by the Lord. In the 2nd youtube video that I posted with regards to Joseph the missinoary, he went to a remote place to evangelise. I saw this years ago (so, may have slight inaccuracies here and there, pls forgive me). He went there with nothing but a mat/blanket and I can't remember what. Spent years there being unfruitful, fasted, cried to the Lord. The villagers wanted nothing to do with him. He carried tracts on his head and when he didn't have the strength anymore, he dragged the tracts to the village. (no car to fetch those tracts, not even a bicycle). Finally after years of not even being able to convert 1 single person to Christiniaty he cried out to the Lord in desperation to sent him anywhere but here. God answered him that this was the place God put him in. Finally 5-6 years later, he managed to convert--through teaching the children Christian songs which got the adults interested and asking questions. He later managed to convert this village and that village (villages which he claimed for the Lord when he prayed up the hilltop when the villagers did not want anything to do with him and didn't want him praying in his rented room). Ask yourself--is this God's work, is this God's grace. I think you will say yes, at least I hope so.

There are similar stories like that in GFA. In fact, K P Yohannan ever preached in an area in India that was so violent towards Christians that in the end he fled away, fearing for his life. Years later, a young CHristian brother came and said to his Christians elders that God had asked him to go there. They kept asking are you sure it is GOd that wanted him to be there. He said yes. They prayed over him and sent him there. He went to evangelise and the people were hostile. 1 night they ganged up on him and told him to take the next train/bus back or he will end up in a bodybag. He went back in fear and the Christian elders asked him are you sure it was God. He said yes. They prayed over him and sent him back even if he loses his life. He went back. Years later, a church was built there and 1 of the people that threathened him had become a Christian--related by K P Yohannan. It is God's grace that sustained this young chap and converted the people.

THere may very well be healings and miracles going there. If there are, praise the Lord. But there are also a lots of genuine hardship and suffering and rejoicing when people come to Christ and you see changed lives. That's what I notice with GFA. That's what I see with K P Yohannan's mother who everyday went out to spread the gospel and when she died (they found a list of people/missions that she donated to which she never mentioned).

I'm relating these stories (which may have some slight inaccuracies as I'm recalling from memory) to let you know that if you have a willing heart, God will show the way. God will guide you to which ministry he wants you to be a part of. Pray about it and don't just sit there. Search, find out and you will know whether the ministry is genuine. Go to the internet, there are lots of information there to be found if you are willing. If you don't feel convince yet, ask around or better still ask God. Ask God to show you His compassion for His people. Ask God to give you the gift of mercy.

Hi Trekker,
This question comes up a lot, and I really like how it is answered here: http://www.gfa.org/about/faqs/#q12

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How can I know which ministries are genuine and in the center of God's Will?

Obviously, you cannot respond to all the appeals, so what criteria should you use to make your decision? Here are a few helpful guidelines for missions-giving:

Do those asking for money believe in the fundamental truths of God's Word, or are they theologically liberal? Any mission that seeks to carry out God's work must be committed to His Word. Is the group asking for money affiliated with liberal organizations which deny the truth of the Gospel while keeping the name Christian? Do their members openly declare their beliefs? Too many today walk in a gray area, taking no stands and trying to offend as few as possible so they can obtain money from all, whether friends or enemies of the cross of Christ. The Word of God is being fulfilled in them: "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof..." (2 Tim. 3:5).

Is the goal of their mission to win souls, or are they only social-gospel oriented? One lie the devil uses to hinder Gospel work and send people to hell is, How can we preach the Gospel to a man with an empty stomach? Because of this lie, for a hundred years much missions-designated funding has been invested in social work rather than in spreading the Word.

Ask before you give: Is this mission involved in preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ? The liberal person believes man is basically good; therefore, all that is needed to solve his problems is to change his environment. The Bible says that all rich and poor alike must repent and come to Christ or be lost. Which gospel is being preached by the mission group asking for your support?

Is the mission organization financially accountable? Do they use the money for the purpose for which it was given? At Gospel for Asia every penny given for support of a missionary is sent to the field for that purpose. Our home office is supported with funds given for that purpose. Are their finances audited by independent auditors according to accepted procedures? Will they send an audited financial statement to anyone upon request?

Do members of the mission group live by faith or man's wisdom? God never changes His plan: The just shall live by faith (Gal. 3:11). When a mission continually sends out crisis appeals for its maintenance rather than for outreach, something is wrong. They seem to say, God made a commitment, but now He is in trouble, and we must help Him out of a tight spot. God makes no promises He cannot keep. If an organization constantly pleads for money, you need to question if that group is doing what God wants them to do. We believe we must wait upon God to discern His mind and do only what He leads us to do, instead of taking foolish "steps of faith" without His going before us. The end should never justify the means.

Finally, a word of caution. Do not look for a reason for not giving to the work of God. Remember, we must give all we can, keeping only enough to meet our needs so the Gospel can be preached before the night comes, when no man can work (John 9:4). For most of us, the problem is not that we give too much but that we give too little. We live selfishly and store up treasures on this earth that will soon be destroyed, while precious souls die and go to hell.
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I hope that is helpful to you. I know it has been for me and others I have sent it to. Just be sure that your giving remains a joy and privilege. Not a burden or obligation.

(full-disclosure here; I do work for GFA, but I really do think that this is one of the most helpful answers I have found)