One of the monthly features on the Eurasia Community Blog is about our Financial Partnership Development program, led by Jenn Fortner. In FPD, our associates receive small group training and coaching as they invite individuals and churches to partner with them financially in the work God has called them to in Eurasia.

Never underestimate God.

And never underestimate what He can do with your willingness to say yes.

Five years ago, Bethany,* one of our workers, said yes to follow God to Eurasia.

Her journey to Eurasia began with a couple of short-term trips, and it wasn’t without difficulty. One of her closest family members was adamantly opposed to what she was doing.

After Bethany’s most recent trip, she returned knowing that she wanted to go back on a more long-term basis. She met with this family member to share her heart, but this woman’s response was very cold. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

Bethany felt like this woman had a wall built up in her heart, but for the first couple of months, Bethany’s attempts to break through this wall and share her heart were unsuccessful.

Bethany says,

“I was giving the message at my church one Sunday morning and invited her to come. At that service, I shared my heart, shared the need, shared the work God was and is doing, and I shed tears.

Somewhere in the midst of that message, something penetrated that wall in her heart.

After the service, she came up to me with tears in her eyes and as she hugged me, she said, ‘I’m going to support you the next time you go over.’”

But for Bethany, the true victory wasn’t in receiving financial support. The greater blessing was seeing how God softened this family member’s heart and opened her eyes to see the greater purpose. That moment of breakthrough was five years in the making.

There are moments when God allows us to look beyond our earthly mindset to a heavenly mindset. The things of this earth will grow strangely dim in the light of God’s glory and grace. What a beautiful thing it is when we can experience a glimpse of this.

If you’re currently raising funds to come to Eurasia, know that your work for the kingdom of God begins long before you reach the field. And if you’re in a position to support someone financially who is coming to Eurasia, would you consider doing that today? You never know what blessing God could bestow in your own life through your willingness to give.

Thanks so much for being a part of this community. We couldn’t do this without you.

*Name has been changed.