ALA - K Blog

19/09 :  Financial Challenges

   By Hal Mayer

Gideon started with 32,000 soldiers in his army, but God said that was too many, even though the Midianites vastly exceeded them in number. No doubt this greatly surprised Gideon. But after sending 22,000 fearful soldiers home, Gideon must have thought that 10,000 would surely be too few for victory. But amazingly God said 10,000 was still too many. God told Gideon to test them at the stream. All but 300 were sent home. Now God could work. The victory would be God’s; not Israel’s, not Gideon’s.

Institutions go through seasons. Sometimes there are seasons of plenty when they do very well in their finances and they have sufficient staff to do their mission. Other times there are seasons of financial struggles. Tight financial times could be caused by any number of human reasons, but in the shadows, God works in order to test and strengthen. He allows shortages to give leaders and staff members the opportunity to learn to depend on Him. He also uses these times for them to refocus on their mission.

God sometimes allows conflict or controversy within the institution which has the effect of a drop in donations. He sometimes moves staff members. When one department struggles with turnover in leadership, it can reduce the number of clients that use its services or products.

Hartland has recently gone through some of these challenges. No doubt God’s purpose is to strengthen our faith and trust in His sustaining power. The operations which help sustain the main mission of the work are currently struggling for financial support. But Hartland has a clearer mission that it continues to fulfill, even when there are less resources.

This causes us to get on our knees and ask for God’s power to sustain and strengthen. It is also a time when our faith partners can pitch in with a little extra help because they know that restricting of our mission limits what can be done through Hartland’s efforts. You are part of our extended Hartland family, and we want you to know that though Hartland stays on mission, it needs your support, especially now. Contrary to certain rumors, Hartland is not going away. Hartland is one of the most successful self-supporting ministries because we have kept our focus on upholding the truth in an age of apostasy. It will continue to do so, if we work together, under God to destroy the Midianites in the land.

I am reminded of Gideon’s army because I have learned that God can do more with less, if we trust Him. This calls for prayer and faith. We urgently ask you to join us in praying that Hartland will remain strong and capable of doing the important work God has given to it, training youth to be leaders in the closing work. We also need your support right now to strengthen the areas that are weak. God bless you.