Chris Bean

I met with a college student for lunch today who has been a friend and someone I have hoped to influence for several years now. As we shared a meal at one of my favorite little spots near campus, I was mindful of how our conversations have deepened over the past few months. We were no longer in that awkward stage of not really knowing how to connect, what topics are safe, how far can I press, etc. The foundation has been laid for me to be able to speak encouragement and guidance into his life while asking the kinds of questions which help sort out issues, values, beliefs, etc.

This “3 x 50 Project” in which we’re engaging for the next 50 days or so will provide the prayer and financial support we need to continue ministry like this with many other students at the University of Cincinnati. Both streams of support are necessary to keep me on campus and effectively serving students. When it comes to fundraising, we are often warned against asking for prayer instead of or at the same time that we ask for financial support. Perhaps it’s easier for someone to offer prayer support rather than the monetary variety. On the other hand, to truly carry a burden of prayer for someone or some ministry can be quite a difficult challenge as well.

I am thoroughly convinced that we need both types of support, but I’d say that the primary need during this 50-day “event” is to find individuals who would answer the call to pray daily for our ministry at UC. God is truly sovereign and more than capable of providing the financial resources that will keep me on campus meeting with students. God is also the source of transformation and salvation that we’re praying to see in the lives of college students. If we have a team of people who are seeking God daily on behalf of our ministry, all these other things will certainly be added to the mix as well (Matthew 6:33, My Paraphrase).

Not sure if you can read the subtitle on this image, but it is “the call to daily dependence on God.”

That has been a challenging posture to thoroughly condition into the muscle memory of our lives. Of course we would always give lip service to the notion of trusting God for provision over the years, and have certainly seen God provide in amazing ways in our first 15 years of ministry. But it seems like we’ve entered some new territory lately.

Raising most of our support as we’re on mission to transform the lives of college students in Cincinnati is revealing some head trash, bad habits, and trust issues. This book was a helpful read for Debbie and I both as we become determined to trust God more than anything or anyone else.

One of our temptations has been to put our trust in the provision rather than in the Provider. Jesus didn’t really do us any favors when He taught us to pray for daily bread. That essentially means we are to live in a posture of constant dependence on God. At one point the author correctly points out “We enjoy provision. But we detest daily provision.”  Our materialistic and consumeristic culture does not submit easily to this Kingdom notion that God’s ability to provide far exceeds our ability to gather.

Some other quotes which caught my eye in this quick read…

God wants to teach us that His presence is what provides safety, not our resources.

Can we follow Jesus if it means abandoning a value system committed to accumulation?

Is enough for today enough for me?

As we continue moving further up and further in…on this journey of trust and transformation, I want to be much more mindful of the “manna moments” which God uses to teach me about His unlimited capacity as Creator and provider.