Stranger In This Land

A Chance To Support God’s Work in Ethiopia.

Oct 7, 2009 responding

Friends allow me to introduce a friend to you, and allow me to introduce a opportunity to you. I am not one to ask for things or to mass email people in this matter, but as I chewed on this all day I felt the need to.

My good friend and mentor, Jerry Shannon, served as my Pastor in the Lancaster Vineyard Church for over six years. I have always felt a calling to subcultures, missionial movements, community rebuilding and a roundabout journey, to reuniting with my Anabaptist heritage – all which I was given the freedom to follow God in under Jerry’s leadership. I interned under Jerry and served under him on the Church Leadership team – and learned much from his openness to God’s leading through the spirit. I had found a home in my church, after a domino effect of brokenness through church abandonment.

Jerry, is now following God in a new journey. A husband and father of 2 Boys, 1 Daughter and 1 Adopted Daughter (Ethiopia) – God has called his family to ministry and Church planting in Ethiopia. I personally watched Jerry through the stages of planning this, in amazement in how confident he can move in forward motion on this. It has now come to the time, where after six years, my friend has sold his life belongings and leaves in just a couple days for the next three years in Ethiopia as a minister and church planter.

Friends – no one who has never been a missionary can possibly understand the undertaking he is moving forward in, but I can imagine of the hardship and the trials. I personally have been ministered to, touched and molded by Jerry and his ability to allow God to work through him in my life. As I chewed on several ways to give back to him and support him in the next journey – there is many ways one can, and many ways people are. I wish to share with you guys some ways to respond to God moving in Ethiopia and a chance to partner with him on the front lines through the work and vision he has Given the Shannon Family.

I know from time to time Churches look for missionaries to support in financial ways as well as practical ways of giving to God’s work by meeting the needs of missionaries and even just as important, serving as prayer partners for these people. I pray and ask you to do the same for in what ways you can partner with the Shannon Family.

Again feel not as if I am soliciting for the Shannon Family. They did not know I sent this out to you my Church leaders and Pastor friends, this is just my way of trying to help him in more ways. I also am not asking you to do something I myself haven’t. I have committed to monthly support, prayer support and more through their website as well as developing my own project of a CD compilation to raise money and awareness for their work (Which Jerry hasn’t heard yet). You can email me if you want to find out more about that (musicforethiopia.com).

However, please seek on how God may be calling you to partner with him in Ethiopia through the Shannon Family over the next three years.

1.) Financially – For the Price of a Pizza + Soda a Month ($25) You can support a lot of work in Ethiopia
2.) Prayer Partner – Find out more at www.theshannonfamily.com on how you can pray for them
3.) Practical Needs – Continue to Check the www.theshannonfamily.com website for information on needs they have to be met

If you have more questions since Jerry is en route to Ethiopia, you can contact me / Jeff McLain 540.842.6130 or jeffreymclain@gmail.com and I can answer questions or refer you to someone who can.

If you would like to commit to aiding the Shannon Family through Prayer, Finances or needs please do so, let me know and visit their website, www.theshannonfamily.com . You can do the majority of everything online.

Can you spare $10? Yes. $10 is the t of two drinks at Starbucks or two drinks at the bar. $10 is a car wash or a meal and a desert from a Drive Through. These are things we can all live without once this month.

Just about anyone can sacrifice $10 without missing it. The question boils down to are you willing to donate $10 – knowing that it change change someones life?

Jerry Shannon is serving in Ethiopia; not only is he planting a church but partnering with God towards justice and reconciliation of his people in Ethiopia. I am not asking you to do anything I haven’t done.

As a favor to me – can you donate $10 to this cause? Over the next month my goal is to reach $500 by simply having 50 of my friends donate $10. That is a easily obtainable goal and I ask that you help me in doing it.

This is a safe and easy way to donate to a great cause. I have used it’s service several times and attest for it. Just enter your visa, mastercard or discover card number and pay $10.

$10 can make the world of a change in a place where most people live on a $1 a day.

Copy and Pate this Link to donate.

http://apps.facebook.com/causes/fundraising_pledges/85522?m=bd0139eb

Tags: Causes, donations, ethiopia, non-profit