“Following God … Changing Our World” because of Your Support!

 Not too long ago, a friend asked me; “You’re going to do what?”  You see, I had just told him that God was leading me to resign as pastor and serve Him in missions. The hard part for him to swallow was trying to understand why I was leaving a secure position, in a church, with steady income, to trusting God to raise financial supporters of my ministry, with a missions agancy few knew.

There is something aching in my heart that longs for a great adventure. I cannot shake the feeling that I am meant for something different.  A lot of people my age are settling in for their final career years and then seeking to retire in comfort.  Not me!  If you know me well enough, you know that I love faith adventures.  The greatest adventure I ever found was life with Jesus Christ, and I have dedicated my life to leading others in that discovery.

I remember meeting a man in my seminary years – 1983 to be exact. I was introduced to him as, “Lanny, this is Brother Orval. He is 83 years young and will be a new student at Southwestern.” I had lunch that day with Bro. Orval and listened to his testimony. He was a life-long missionary from Mexico and was officially retired by the Foreign Mission Board because of his age. I asked him this question, “If you are retired, why are you going to seminary?” Let his answer prick your heart as it did mine that day; “I came here to re-fire, not retire.”

I am not about to retire, either!   I have always been somewhat of a maverick, especially when others try to fit me into their molds. I am seeking to re-fire for the missionary call God has placed upon my life. If you know me, you know I am all about trusting JESUS and following God with big, BIG FAITH!

Three years ago, God led me to partner with Adventures In Missions. AIM mobilizes short-term mission participants to countries all over the world through a focus entitled The EDGE.  Creating followers of JESUS who live radically, following the example of JESUS by giving to the poor, healing the sick and preaching good news to the lost is what AIM is all about.  I am humbled to be called to “Follow God … Change Our World.”

With our lives and stories, we have the power to change a broken and hurting world.  I would like you to seriously pray about becoming part of my support team.  I am responsible to AIM for raising basic living expenses, which will be $2,500 per month.  You can help me reach my monthly support goal in one of the following ways:

·          You can be 1 of 100 who give $25.00 a month

·          Or You can be 1 of 50 who give $50.00 a month

For those of you who are able, please consider one of these amounts. Please make checks payable to Adventures In Missions.  You may write “appealed by” and my name in the memo section of the check if you wish. In turn, they will send you a receipt. All gifts are tax-deductible.

You and I have an opportunity to be part of something bigger than ourselves.  More and more young people in the Church are concerning themselves first with a career track and then with the kingdom of God. They need to be awakened to the reality of God, and we have a responsibility to help them discover that. I am excited to see how the Lord moves you and others to be part of what He is doing.

In God’s GRIP & For His GLORY!

Lanny Richardson

* appealed by Lanny Richardson