News
Critical Ministry Update
Posted on 07.08.2010 | Filed as Urgent
Dear Friends,
I am writing this afternoon to give all of you an update on the current financial status of the ministry, and to ask for continued prayer. I know this update is a tad lengthy, but I am asking you to read it all the way through, to better inform your prayers on our behalf.
We sent out an update about two weeks ago, in which we told you that we were facing serious financial difficulties. We have received a number of responses since then, and we thank all of you who responded to our need, but the truth is, the need remains. In fact, in the intervening weeks since our last update, our situation has gone from serious to critical. The factors involved in this are multi-faceted and intricate, but we do know that donations are down, due largely, I think, to the current economic difficulties so many people are facing. (Our regular monthly donations are not even enough to meet our monthly costs, but God has in the past always provided special donations sufficient for us to meet our expenses.) We also know that some of our expenses have gone up, in spite of our concerted efforts to control spending and keep operating costs to a bare minimum over the last few years. (As an example of our increasing costs, our health insurance premiums for our two paid employees have increased roughly ten percent a year, every year.)
So, just how bad are things right now? Well, bad. It is safe to say that this is the most serious financial crisis the ministry has faced since its inception. In comparing the status of our general fund with necessary expenses, including payroll, the bottom line is, we need on the order of $20,000 within the next week to be able to make payroll and pay our bills for this month. Please don’t misunderstand what I’m saying: the kids’ accounts are all intact. It is the general fund I am talking about, that portion of our money that we use for all of our operating and overhead expenses. However, it is self-evident that without sufficient money in our general fund, this ministry will, of necessity, cease to exist. That is the situation we’re facing right now—that if we don’t receive significant donations right away, The Shepherd’s Crook Ministries will be forced to shut down within about a week.
Is it possible that God has determined, and is through this means making clear to us, that it is time for The Shepherd’s Crook to shut down? Well, we can’t know God’s mind in the fullness of His counsel—though He does reveal His truth to us such that we can know it truly, even if not exhaustively—but we believe that the time has not yet come for TSC to cease. Even in the midst of our current difficulties, God continues to bring more work for us to do, more children for us to advocate for, more families for us to help through their adoption processes, and more projects for us to be involved in on behalf of orphans around the world. It seems unlikely that He is revealing to us that we are to cease operations at the same time He is bringing more work for us to do.
We believe that the ultimate reason behind our current difficulties is God’s glory. We don’t always know how He is being glorified in the circumstances unfolding around us, but we rest assured in the knowledge that all things that He brings to pass are ultimately intended to bring glory to His name, while secondarily serving for the good of His people and for the accomplishing of His plans here in space and time. The Bible assures us of these things. Our privilege and our responsibility as His stewards on earth are to serve Him faithfully in the situations He brings to us, while always depending on Him for the outcome in any endeavor.
Having laid all of this out before you, I come now to the question of what you can do to help us. First and foremost, as always, I urge you to pray for this ministry. In fact, I’m asking you to go before the Throne of Grace now, and often over the next several days, to intercede on behalf of this important work. Prayer is the chief weapon God has given us in our fight against sin and evil, and I sometimes think we would be blown away at what would happen if God’s people truly united in prayer for the work of the kingdom. Please pray for us.
Second, I’m asking all of you to consider supporting us during this critical time. Please do not think that the magnitude of our need is such that a small gift would be inconsequential. Many small gifts will add up to a huge help. If, on the other hand, you are in a position to make a more substantial donation, that too would be welcomed. If you know of someone with a heart for God’s work, and in particular for ministry to orphans, please share our need with them and ask them to consider helping us right now. I am normally not so bold in asking for financial assistance for this ministry—and I am actually beginning to think that my reticence in this area at times borders on sinfulness—but the severity of our need, coupled with the conviction that God is not yet finished with this ministry, compels me to be bold where I would ordinarily be timid.
Finally, I want to thank all of you for your faithfulness and support over the last decade, to whatever extent you have been able to do so. We always covet the prayers of God’s people, whether in “good” times or “bad.” Whatever God has in store for this ministry, it has been a privilege for us to partner with all of you in ministering to the least of the least through The Shepherd’s Crook Ministries.
Trusting in Him,
Scott
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Scott A. Rosenow, Director