When God nudges you to invite someone SURPRISING into partnership
Have you ever dismissed the idea of asking someone to partner with you, then God gave you a push to ask them anyway?
I've learned to follow the nudges of the Holy Spirit when I feel Him nudging me to invite someone into partnership, even if it’s someone I wouldn’t ordinarily consider.
My husband and I spent last summer in a partnership campaign so that he could join part-time missionary staff at the house of prayer where I have been a full-time missionary for several years now. We reached out to family, old friends, older friends (we reeeallllly stretched back on this one!) but found some of our biggest surprise blessings in newer relationships we didn’t initially think to ask.
One of the volunteers at our prayer room was a new believer who exudes the joy of her salvation! She’s a faith-filled shining light and I had been enjoying getting to know her in a few conversations over several months. As a rule of thumb I don’t like to pursue others who are involved with our ministry, but occasionally God will highlight someone in that category. When I found out she was moving away, I felt a nudge to invite her into our team before she left.
I sent a letter and then a digital postcard to her email in order to accelerate the process (rather than snail mailing a letter, and then following with a postcard a week later), and we met for coffee two and a half weeks after I sent the letter. She was such an encouragement and joy to talk with, and immediately decided to give a monthly gift, and confirmed it on our website the same day! God wasn’t done, though. Over the next week, she not only doubled her monthly gift, but she gave us a large special gift that shocked and blessed us deeply!
As a new believer whom God had been blessing with favor at work, she was looking for ways to pour into the kingdom. Our invitation to partnership was a huge blessing and answered prayer to her. Imagine if I had let myself miss this opportunity because I talked myself out of it, thinking that I hadn’t known her long enough or it would be tacky to ask her to support a ministry she volunteers in. I would have lost not only the financial supply but the opportunity for deeper friendship, and she would have missed this chance to so joyfully express her love for God, this ministry, and for us.
In your life, I’m sure you have learned to hear God’s voice and follow Him when He leads you to talk to someone or to pursue an idea. I encourage you to approach your partnership development the same way. God knows the exact circumstances and heart-openness of everyone around us, and sometimes He will nudge us in directions we hadn’t considered. He has beautiful connections in store as we trust Him!
How to Brainstorm 200+ Names
If you feel stuck brainstorming potential partners, these 30+ prompts can help you think through every area of your life and build a list of 200+ names.