You – our partner in the Gospel – are in our cloud of witnesses. You are essential to the team and we need you to reach Israelis. Your sacrifice, whether in prayer, love or financial support, is well worth the cost, because it is for the name of Jesus.
“How much are you willing to give for the sake of the Gospel?” This is what BJ and I keep asking ourselves as we step forward into this ministry.
It’s inspiring to hear stories about Israelis coming to faith. It was exciting to apply for my visa to Brazil this month, and buy plane tickets to Argentina for December. It’s motivating to sit in classes at Moody studying Jewish religious thought and the impact of the Holocaust; and it’s an honor to do outreach to Jewish college students in Chicago.
It’s exciting. Truly. But it’s also terrifying, and really, truly painful. With every step in this direction, we begin to say “goodbye” to home and friends and family. And it already hurts. Will it be worth it?
Jim Elliot put it brilliantly, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.” Nothing we’re asked to sacrifice could be worth more than the eternal joy and reward of living in God’s will and making His name known.
Because of your generous gifts over the last couple months, we have raised $4,500 of the $7,500 total cost of our winter outreach. Your sacrifice, and the power of your support, is an incredible testimony and encouragement to us. You are the reason we could buy those plane tickets, and sit in those classes, and talk to students about Jesus at Northwestern University. Your gift forwards the Gospel and you inspire us to make our own sacrifices. Thank you!
So, as you pray for this ministry, please pray that we, and our team, will be continually convicted of the infinite worth of sacrifice for the name of Jesus, and that we will echo the heart of King David, who said to Araunah, “I will not offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God which cost me nothing,” (2 Samuel 24:24).
With our sincere gratitude for your sacrifices,
BJ and Carissa Kerstetter