I need your help!

As some of you may know, I have taken a job with Young Life. I am very excited about this opportunity and feel like God has been working to bring me here for a while now... that this is his perfect timing, and I eagerly wait to see what he has in store for both me and my family, and the community of Ladera Ranch (where I will be starting the middle school ministry).

But I really need your help.

As a Young Life staff person, I have to raise my own support. What that means is this, if people don't support us through donating their money, I don't get paid.

The very real truth is that I am not asking you to pay my salary, I am asking you to invest in what God seems to want to do in Ladera Ranch, CA. It seems clear that he is wanting to move and bring people closer to himself, and wants to do so through Young Life, and while I am asking you to support me, this wont be happening if I am not able to raise the support needed to allow me to go on full-time staff. 

These are the specifics:

I need to raise $22,500 by November 26 in order to go on part-time for the month of December (I have already put in my two-weeks notice at my current job). 

Then I need to raise $45,000 by December 27 in order to go on full-time staff by Jan 1.

I have raised $16,450 so far in either one-time gifts, or commitments to monthly donations. If you have already given THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! 

All gifts to Young Life are tax deductible, and if you register on the website here you will automatically receive your receipt. 

Under "A Young Life Staff Member's Ministry" search for my last name, Bright.

Select me from the list that pops up, and then finish the donation as instructed.

So, I am asking you to think, and pray about giving either a one time donation, or committing to give on a monthly basis. 

If you have already been thinking/praying about doing this, then please sign up and give your gift by November 26.

It is hard for me to write this post, to be so forward in asking you all for money, but I believe, truly believe, that God has called me into this. I have no doubt that he will provide.

If you make a donation, or if you have more questions, or even if you would just like to talk to me about this, please email me at:

 LukeBright.YoungLife@gmail.com 

Thank you for reading this, and I pray you seriously consider investing in both the Kingdom of God, and kid's lives through Young Life.

Peace.

Why we need support

"Asking for money is super fun!' said no one, ever.

I am going on Young Life staff. That will be my job, and, LORD willing, it will be for years to come. The thing I did not really think about much before now about actually having YL be my full-time job is that I have to raise my own paycheck... every paycheck.

Asking someone to give you money is hard. Honestly, I would rather not do it. 

I knew that God had called me into youth ministry, and I always assumed it would be my full-time job at some point... but I thought it would include a "secure" paycheck. Don't get me wrong, I never thought we would have loads of money, or even very much of it, but I thought we would be able to sit back and collect a paycheck from a church or organization and not have to worry about raising that money ourselves.

This had always been the catch with working for Young Life. Working with kids, showing them that Jesus loves them is challenging enough, but then having to raise your salary on top of that... no thanks.

But here we are, after walking away from Young Life 6 years ago, and things have changed. 

First, I don't really think I am asking people to give me money so that I can slack off, maybe hang out with a few kids, and live a plush easy life. Asking for money is tough, its not a cake job having to raise your own support... and youth ministry, while incredibly rewarding, can be really stinking rough at times. I love kids, and I completely enjoy getting to walk through life with them, showing them Jesus' love, but there are times when I would just rather be getting paid somewhere I could clock in and out of.

Second, and this may seem like manipulation (frick, honestly, this whole post may seem like manipulation on some level), I am not just asking people to pay my salary, I'm asking people to invest in the Kingdom. I'm asking you to invest in the work God is doing through me, through Young Life, and through the partnerships we will make. Kids will come to know Jesus through this, and you have an opportunity to be a part of that, without ever having to play a messy game, or try to get a bunch of middle schoolers to listen to you give a talk.

Third, I am convinced that this is where God is leading me, and even if people say "no," over and over, I know God will provide. I am not the one that is going to raise the money, God will, and he already has it set aside. If this is God's plan, what is money to stand in the way. As long as I am diligent in doing my part (asking people for money) he will provide. 

Fourth, this will be such a learning, stretching, growing, and humbling experience that I might be thankful for this part of it in the end. Fundraising like this is going to bring some of my weaknesses right up to the surface, and then those weaknesses will hang out and have a party with some of my fears and insecurities... and I will have a chance to walk with God right into the middle of all that, then watch as he takes them all away. The only way to really defeat fear is to walk right into it.

Fifth, and this is the last one, I am looking forward to the relationships that will come from this. I'm not the best at staying in touch with people. Its a GIANT character flaw, and I really wish I was better at it. I'm really hoping that this process will rekindle some old friendships that I miss dearly, ignite some new ones, and introduce me to some fellow followers of Jesus I may not know yet. 

So yeah, I'm not looking forward to raising money, to asking people to give me their cash... but I am excited to see what it brings, and excited to get to invite people into what God is doing. 

So if you would like to be a part of what God is doing in kids lives through me and my family, then please click here. Your gift will not just benefit me and my family, but may be directly responsible for bringing a kid in touch with the love of Christ. 

Peace.

Giving Online Support

You can give gifts online to support Young Life, and what God is doing through me, my family, and our ministry here

1. Go to the website and select the option for "A Young Life Staff Member's Ministry"

2. Click search and enter my last name (Bright)

3. Click the option with my name (Luke Bright) and the area name (South County- CA247)

4. If this is a recurring gift please make sure that option is selected as well

5. Click "Add Gift"

 6. Click "Check Out"

7. Enter the appropriate information as needed

8. Complete donation

All gifts are tax deductible and you will be given receipts for all donations for tax purposes.

 Please contact me here once you are done so that I can make sure your gift has been received and then thank you profusely for your support.


Peace