Yesterday I posted about how nine months ago we rekindled the desire to go to seminary and study. This morning I learned that the scholarship that we were praying for has no funds for the upcoming year. The seminary has made an appeal for funds so that they can make their decision.
Usually, they make their decision and communicate it in the month of August. But this year, the seminary is deferring decision making to September to give time for the funds to come in.
It is an unusual time and money is hard to get because of the COVID-19. However, nothing is too hard for God. The required funds is $185000.00. That is a 185 donors who can donate $1000. That goal can also be achieved though 370 donors who can donate $500. Or it could be 740 donors who can donate $250. Perhaps if we could reach 1480 donors who can donate $125 the fund can reach it’s goal. May be 1850 donors who can donate $100. May be 3700 donors who can donate $50. Or 7400 donors who can donate $25. Whatever be the amount, I do believe that the donations will help either us or another brother from a region where it is difficult to get good theological training alongside a good church.
In most parts of the world that the Alex Steddom International Fund is raised for, God is at work. God is raising men and women in the midst of a lack of theological training and literature in these areas. This men need to be trained and equipeed to deal with an abundance of literature, media and preachers that are just false – prosperity gospel, hyper-grace, legalisism or dead mainline churches that were once thriving.
There are good seminaries around the world. But it is hard to afford them for a person from any of these regions. And that is just as true for us. Many persons raise funds and go to a good seminary in developed countries. And then life happens. Either they do not want to return to their country, or they get married to a person who does not want to come back with them. While this is not a sin. It just leaves most parts of the world without good men who are well equipped and trained to reach the lost with the gospel. This fund specifically seeks to find and train such men who will go into difficult places for the sake of the Gospel.
Now, is this an appeal for personal reasons? Yes and no. While, I would be very glad to be the recipient of this scholarship, it is also very painful to know that there will be others from other regions who will nor receive this scholarship. There is not a part of this world that does not need to be reached. I understand this and can only imagine the burden on the people who are responsible to make the admission and scholarship decision. To add to this burden, this year it is even harder that they are not in a place to be able to fulfill this desire to train and equip a person who can go back to church work with the lack of funds. So would you please donate? Share this with others.
To contriubute go to Alex Steddom International Fund.
Featured Image by Ante Hamersmit on Unsplash
