CT has a very encouraging story about some Wheaton Academy who have raised almost $250,000 over the last several years for a mission in Zambia.
They started with a senior project to raise $53,000 and it slowly grew. Its a great story of what evangelicalism can do right - and does more often than we might think. The students struggled with the goal, with each other and ultimately prayed their way through the crisis. A few quotes:
- But at first, practically no one was enthusiastic. It seemed unlikely they would raise even $10 from each student, and some were strongly opposed to this big ministry dream. Some students felt this new "God-sized" goal was sudden, unreasonable, and driven by guilt. Others asked why their resources should go to Africa, and especially to fighting a sexually transmitted disease like AIDS. Debates after chapel would often leave [Christy] Peed [the senior who started the project] in tears.
- "Each of us committed to pray every single day about it," Peed said, "and that's when the money started coming in." Those prayers changed not only their attitudes of fear and doubt toward the project, but also attitudes within the entire school—students, teachers, and administrators. The arguments ceased and a potent passion for Zambia ignited as hundreds of students mobilized to raise funds.
- World Vision's Frank said, "This thing has really grown my faith."
One could apply cynicism, but why not just turn it off for a second and be encouraged.
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