Whenever a famous evangelist (like Reinhard Bonnke) has a Campaign in a certain country, whether in a country like India or Africa, the evangelist usually provides large amounts of funds to pay for the Campaign. This is of course a blessing for the churches and servants of the Lord in that area. The expenses of the Campaign are almost completely paid for by the foreign (or outside) evangelist, and many souls are saved and brought into the churches as the gospel is preached and miraculous healings are multiplied in the meetings.

The funds to cover the Campaign expenses will generally come from churches and believers in the richer countries of the world which contribute to the ministry of the famous evangelist. It is of course proper for churches in the richer countries to help the churches in the poorer countries. But the churches in the poorer countries of course hope that someday they will also be blessed financially. They do not always want to depend upon financial help from the outside. The Lord also wants to bless them so that they can eventually be a blessing to others. The Lord does not want them to remain "receiving" churches forever. He wants them to grow up to become "sending" churches. In His word He has provided one way for this to happen.

Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

This Scripture teaches that if by faith we give abundantly, we will be blessed abundantly by the Lord. It is true that poor churches have very little to give. But if by faith in God's word they begin to give sacrificially, even beyond their means, they will see more and more blessings from the Lord.

2 Corinthians 8:1 And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.

2 Corinthians 9:6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.

According to 2 Corinthians 8:1-2, God gave the Macedonian churches the grace to give generously "out of the most severe trial and their extreme poverty." And because of their obedience, they reaped generously.

Churches in poorer countries can apply this Scripture and the Lord promises they will reap generously. Out of "their extreme poverty" they can give to support the expenses of the Campaign. And if they obey in this way, they will reap generously.

But they will reap not only material blessings, but also ministry blessings as well. One of the primary giftings of our ministry is to impart and give away to local servants of the Lord the healing anointing that the Lord has gracious entrusted to us.

As long as local churches depend upon outside evangelists to pay for the expenses of the meetings, they will also have to depend upon outside evangelists to bring manifestations of God's healing power to the meetings. But when churches in poorer countries can give sacrificially in order to finance the meetings, then they are ready to receive their own anointing for preaching the gospel with power. There is a price to be paid for this kind of power. We pay this price in advance by faith to demonstrate that we truly trust the Lord. We can give out of our extreme poverty. God is pleased with this kind of faith, and He rewards us not only with material blessings, but with power as well.

The local committee overseeing the Campaign should determine the budget, minimizing expenses wherever possible. After they arrive at a total budget, they should ask the supporting pastors and churches to make a commitment to support the Campaign with a certain sum according to their faith in the Lord. If they demonstrate their faith by their willingness to sacrifice to help bear the expenses of the Campaign, God will entrust to them a powerful anointing to heal the sick and cast out demons to confirm the gospel to the world.

Please contact us at info@TheElijahChallenge.org for more information.

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