William Carey is a well known missionary in most Christian circles. If you aren’t familiar with him, I encourage you to read up on him and learn of what he and his family endured to take the Gospel to India. The thing that is coming to my mind recently from Carey is a quote to a friend of his, Andrew Fuller. The quote is something like, “I will go to the pit, if you will stay here and hold the rope.”

He was essentially telling his friend, I will go, but your role here is vital also. I cannot go if you do not hold the rope. As our little family prepares to depart in the next year, God willing, we have just begun to support raise, meet with people, and interact with our fellow church members about our plans. Our church just finished their missions pledge for 2024, so many members of the church wrote down how much they are believing God to help them give to our church for missions. It is an abundant amount. In fact the biggest reason we came to this church was because we heard Biblical preaching and we saw their love for missions. Our church holds the rope well for so many.

What do I mean exactly by hold the rope? Some are called to go, some are called to pray, some are called to give…notice the theme? ALL ARE CALLED TO DO SOMETHING. Every single Christian is called to do something to further tell the nations about Jesus Christ.

If you’re called to pray: do not for one second think your prayers are futile or not important. Your prayers are so vital. When you are in tune with the Holy Spirit and you respond to Him waking you up or prompting you and calling us or others to mind you are a means God is using to protect us, to encourage us, and to strengthen us. I assure you that your prayers are VITAL. I mean vital: they are life giving and necessary for the life of the ones called to go. We cannot go without the prayers of other believers covering us and helping us. We are the body, we cannot function without the other parts.

If you’re called to give: then give with fervor. If God has laid it on your heart to give then don’t hold back. It is all His, He owns it all. Whether you feel like you have a little money or a lot of money, if God prompts you to give, then you give. You give what He leads you to give and watch Him, if it feels like a sacrifice to give you watch Him provide every single time for you.

And if you’re called to go, then for goodness sakes get off your butt and go. Serve! GO! Stop with the excuses! If God has put it on your heart or if the thought of going on a mission trip has crossed your mind multiple times and every year you have a new or old excuse, quit it. Just go already. The money will be there, the comfort will not and it will be good for you.

So, as my family begins our journey of descending into the pit, it’s a pit of unknowns for us. We will be met with challenges I am sure, we will face trials and difficulties, and when we feel like giving up and letting go, it is you we will remember. You who are holding the rope for us. Will you be a part of holding the rope for us?

Join our prayer team by emailing: joshandmichelle@proton.me

Give at: https://engage.suran.com/worldrenewal/s/give/gift/joshandmichellekrumenacher