Hey Everyone,
The heart of our mission is transformation, and transformation starts with honesty. This week, our Impact story isn’t just about what God is doing through us, but what He is doing in us, reminding us that even our mess-ups are opportunities for Love in Action.
1 Story of Impact
In the last 3, 2, 1…Impact newsletter, I highlighted the incredible breakthrough—a miracle, really—God orchestrated through the Hope for Haiti Advent Project. Initiated by prayer, this project demonstrates that even in our most desperate times, God goes before us and makes a way. Building on decades of partnership, the possibility of feeding 2.5 million meals to our Haitian brothers and sisters is becoming a reality. We must continue to pray for this to be possible.
Yet, in sharing that story, I made a mistake and did not honor a foundational partner in the process.
In my excitement to communicate the magnitude of the breakthrough, I incorrectly stated that Lutheran Church of Hope was facing “financial headwinds” that required them to cut funding. I misunderstood a sensitive conversation around budget restructuring and did not consider how my published words could impact the members of that church.
I was wrong, I own that mistake completely, and I apologize for how I represented this information.
Lutheran Church of Hope is an incredible impact partner for the Kingdom of God. In fact, their generous members gave more to the church last year than the year before, and the church, in turn, sent more money out the door to bless others through missions than the year before. They have only deepened their commitment to this difficult work, and I can’t imagine fulfilling our mission without their foundational love in action.
Relationships are messy. Even ones with the best of intentions. The enemy would love to see unity turn into division, peace turn into chaos, and love shatter into brokenness.
To be people of Impact, we must have courage for transparent conversations, be quick to admit mistakes when we are wrong, and practice forgiveness time and time again. Not because any of us deserve it, but because Jesus demonstrated and commanded this to us. It is non-negotiable if we are to follow Him. Mistakes in life are a given—none of us are perfect. Which is why we all need a Savior, who moved into the toughest place on earth to restore a relationship with us. Let us embrace this truth: the God who restored our relationship through Christ is the God who sustains our partnerships, even when one messes up.
3 Points to Ponder
- Transparency is Tactical: When we are transparent about our human mistakes, we starve the enemy’s narrative of division. Transparency doesn’t weaken trust; it is the source of all authentic trust.
- Forgiveness is Foundational: Relationships are not maintained by perfection, but by mutual grace and forgiveness. The deeper the partnership, the more radical the grace must be.
- The Mission Requires Unity: The breakthrough of 2.5 million meals is structurally dependent on the unity of the network—church partners, logistics experts, donors, and our team. We cannot achieve audacious goals if we cannot maintain the bonds of peace.
2 Quotes to Share
“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” — Romans 12:9-10
“To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.” — C.S. Lewis
The greatest reward of the Live Impact journey is seeing how humility in partnership unlocks miracles in the mission field. How can you model grace and forgiveness this week to strengthen a partnership in your own life?
Feel free to reply and share—I read every response.
Live with impact,
Tim
