by Mark Milioni
This past January, we achieved a great victory together.
We prayed, we worked, we gave, and together we did it! We raised $600,000 and the Rawlings Foundation matched that amount! We met a great financial goal — we completed our fiscal year in the black for the first time in many years. It was a great time of victory for the college and for the BBFI.
Have you seen the latest slogan from Nike? “Just do it, then do it again!”
It is time for us to do it again! Our loving friends at the Rawlings Foundation have once again offered us this great challenge: If we can raise $600,000 by October 31, 2014, then they will give a matching gift of $600,000.
But, how do I ask again?
You may think, “Didn’t BBC just do this?”
You would be right. I know we ask a lot of our supporters, but it’s necessary. My initial reaction to the new matching gift challenge was that it is too soon, and people won’t respond. Then I realized the moment we stop accepting challenges is the moment we stop moving forward.
As a pastor, I asked each week for our church to be faithful in giving. It is different asking you to give to BBC, but God is blessing, and with each little win we are seeing progress! Each victory is due to the faithful support of you who love BBC and sacrifice to help us. Why is your gift so important at this time? Because we must continue to move forward. The world needs more pastors, missionaries, and Christian leaders who have been taught the truth of the Word of God and who have been trained to share the life-changing message of the gospel. I must ask again; this is for His work, it is for His glory, it is for His church, and it is for the future of many churches. So I must ask again. Our needs are great, but our opportunities are greater!
Would you please commit to pray about this great opportunity for BBC? Pray about how you can be involved, for others to respond, for God to bless, and for us to reach this goal.
There is a renewed spirit on the campus of BBC and within the BBFI. Those of you who attended Fellowship Week commented on the inspired preaching and worship, but even more of you commented on the fresh spirit and sense of excitement we felt. I believe it was the beginning of a new day for the BBFI and for BBC. I am more excited about our future than ever before. We have seen God do amazing things in our 65-year history — and to this I say, “Dear God, just do it — then do it again!”
The opportunity we have is to receive a $600,000 matching gift if we can raise $600,000 by October 31. Please pray about how you can participate!