To Be or Not to Be

It has been a couple of years and a journey to get this ministry up and running. As a full time dad, a seminary student, and Bible teacher, it has been a busy time for me. I also deal with many spiritual and physical ailments that set me back from time to time. This is partially a confession as to why it took me so long to get here to my first post and a request. First, I had to get my 501c3 filed with the state and then with the IRS. I did not want to do much else until that was done and, after almost a year now, it is finally done. I have my IRS tax exemption and ability to collect donations in hand. Up until now, I have been paying for my seminary degree, my equipment, my software, books, website, and all of the associated costs of my ministry out of pocket. I also do all of my Bible lessons, make videos to post on YouTube, all without compensation. Although I can accept donations now, I am still a bit nervous to ask for them. I am on a fixed retirement income with disability and that helps me to get through things. So, I do feel bad asking for compensation for doing a service to the Lord and His flock. Yet, Paul very eloquently tells his readers to “not muzzle the ox”. He goes on to explain in his first letter to Timothy, “Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.” (1 Timothy 5:17-18 (ESV)). You see, there was a time when Paul was in Corinth and was doing the Lord’s work, but they did not provide for him (1 Corinthians 9). It was due to the generosity of the Philippians and work that he engaged in outside of his ministry that he was able to subsist (Philippians 4:14-15). Paul was instructing Timothy and other future churches and their leaders to not treat future workers for the Lord in the same manner. Paul obviously did not do his work for compensation, he did not want to ask for it because he did not want to seem greedy. In this day and age, things are a lot different, especially with the cost of trying to run a ministry. Now, I am not going to ask anyone to send my ministry money or try to make anyone feel bad, but what I would ask for is that if it is in your heart to help out financially or in some way like technical aid, I would certainly appreciate it. My ministry’s goal is outreach to the local Chinese community and to have a platform that can reach beyond my local borders. I also have plans to do some mission trips to Taiwan in the near future. While financial and technical assistance are welcome, what I need more than anything at this point are your prayers. I need your prayers for our ministry’s growth and success, prayers for my health and that of my family, prayers for my continued spiritual growth and prayers for me to be uplifted by the Spirit so that I can be motivated to keep the momentum going in putting up new content on a regular basis, both in this blog and in my videos. I also request your prayers for my vision for this ministry so that I can accomplish the tasks that I set out to do and to be able to get the Gospel to those who need it and instruction to those who are growing in Christ. If you are so motivated to assist my ministry financially or technically, then I will not turn you away. If you want to reach out, my email is at the bottom of the About Us page. Until then, you, dear reader, are also in my prayers. I pray that the Lord blesses each and every one of you, that He increases you in your walk with Him, and that if you do not know Him yet, that He will draw you to Him. Until next time.

- Justin