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Faith Filled Friday & One Million Dollars

8/7/2014

12 Comments

 
Thank you so much for your grace friends with the past couple of link ups! Having a newborn, having to get a new phone (I get my new one tomorrow-hopefully), have my computer at the fixers for 12 days and being at our annual staff conference where there is not cell service or internet connection... well, you could say life has felt a bit chaotic.

But the conference was great! It is always one of my favorite things, getting to be around such great, godly people who have the same passion to know the Lord and make Him known. And getting to be in beautiful Durango, Colorado at the ranch... such a gift!

And then I realized I don't think I've bragged on God to you on how He gave us the ranch. Oh, it's just incredible so I have to share. But first, here's some pictures.




MPM staff


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And here's all the staff with the amazing amount of under 7 year old kiddos.
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Here's Austin and I giving a talk on leadership.
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Here's a view of a couple of the buildings (the dining hall and bunk house). There is also a staff house, barn and hotel.
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Ok. So about 5 or 6 years ago my husband Austin and his friend Nate (who is also on staff) took a vision trip to some middle eastern countries to see about starting a partnership. On the way over Nate told Austin how he really thought God wanted him to raise a million dollars. Of course Austin and his wise self told Nate you can't just raise a million dollars, you need something to raise a million dollars for. Well turns out not a few months later another ministry in town sat down with the President of Master Plan Ministries to tell him they wanted to donate their 5 building ranch to us. After getting the properties evaluated, it would take one million dollars to bring everything up to code. So now Nate had his something to raise a million dollars for. For three months Russ and Nate did all they knew to do to raise the money and just at the last minute, like the Lord likes to do, one incredible donor stepped in saying they wanted to finish it off. Over one million dollars was raised!!! And now 5 years later the ranch is almost complete and our ministry has an incredible place to train laborers in the Great Commission!

Pretty awesome huh!? I just love how the Lord likes to show off.

And just for fun, here's a picture of our family in front of the barn.
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Faith Filled Friday Blog Link Up

We exist to glorify God, to display His heart and character. And I just love how we are all uniquely built to do that. So every Friday I want to give you, uniquely designed by God, an opportunity to link up your thoughts on God, art, baking, photography, parenting, marriage, homeschooling, writing or blogging and more if they tie into or display the Lord somehow. 

So go ahead and link up below by clicking the link below and following the prompts.
Please just let your readers know by including a link at the bottom of your post (or somewhere on your side bar) or put my button code (found below and on the side bar) so they can find these other great people glorifying God and we can continue to grow as a community. Thanks! 

And in effort to encourage others in their writing by faith, please take a minute to comment on another sweet lady's post.
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About Laura

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Laura, the creator and host of Missional Women is married and has five kids, two of whom are adopted. Laura and her husband have been missionaries to college students for 12 years serving with Master Plan Ministries. Laura is the Women's Development Coordinator and has discipled over 150 girls, led over 30 Bible studies and speaks to college and women's groups. Laura has authored 5 books, including an award winning 12 week Bible Study on First Samuel, Beholding Him, Becoming Missional, Reach; How to Use Your Social Media Influence for the Glory of God, and A Devotional Journey through Judges, a devotional to accompany the free online Bible study at TheBookofJudges.com. You can find her on facebook,twitter, pinterest, youtube, instagram and her author
site
. 

If you'd like to read more from this contributor, type her name in the search box on the top right.

Sharing this over at these awesome blogs

12 Comments
Misty Leask link
8/7/2014 09:27:22 pm

Thank you for hosting Laura!

Reply
Laura
8/8/2014 06:08:19 am

Glad to Misty. :)

Reply
Kathryn Ross link
8/7/2014 11:11:51 pm

Wow! What a faith building story for the big things God calls us each to do!! I visited Durango in the late 80's (conceived my dearest daughter there) and have precise memories of the vacation and landscape. What a blessing you have such a training retreat! God bless all your young staff with your young families as you build His Kingdom in the center of the glories of His Creation! Thanks for hosting such a equipping website/blog for the Body to grow and do through the fellowship you provide here. Be ye blessed with your new darling!!
Joy!
Kathy

Reply
Laura
8/8/2014 06:11:16 am

Thanks for your encouragement Kathryn!! I appreciate you!
It has been so neat to watch the Lord build the staff team (in every way... size, maturity, kids...). When we first joined staff in 2002 there were only 2 other couples. It feels like such an honor to get to be part of a growing ministry the Lord is so obviously building.

Reply
Judith Kowles link
8/7/2014 11:25:03 pm

The conference looks like it was such a blessing and in such a beautiful setting. I enjoyed seeing your family too!! Oh, and thanks for hosting!! Blessings on your new little one!!

Reply
Laura
8/8/2014 06:11:55 am

Thanks Judith.
Thanks for taking part!!

Reply
~ linda link
8/8/2014 04:28:42 am

WOW! How wonderful and inspiring too! Your family is beautiful on top of such a story. What a place to have a ranch to train others! Amen and Amen to our God.
Caring through Christ, ~ linda

Reply
Laura
8/8/2014 06:16:30 am

He sure is amazing! I was just reading Ps 40 this morning, "Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare." and how true!! He is just so generous in doing such great things... and even giving us the gift of letting us see them! We are truly blessed.

Reply
Dawn link
8/8/2014 05:42:05 am

I love the heart of your ministry and the passion you share to bring people to the freedom He provides. Every time I stop by here, I am just blessed. Congrats on the new baby, and the beautiful ranch, and thanks for hosting a place where connecting build bridges to hope.
Blessings!
Dawn

Reply
Laura
8/8/2014 06:17:48 am

That is very encouraging, thank you!

Reply
Sarah Ann link
8/8/2014 12:31:02 pm

What an AMAZING story about the million dollars! I love it when God shows up in BIG ways and creates BIG reasons for others to notice. What a mighty God we serve! Hugs from http://faithalongtheway.com.

Reply
~Karrilee~ link
8/13/2014 07:14:18 am

Wow! I love this! We are neighbors over at Jennifer's place today for #TellHisStory and I just got done commenting on her post and literally mentioned how I love it when God shows off and then I come here and you share this story and say the same thing! He's just so much better than we remember or think or hope for!

Reply



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    New here? Head on over to the Home page to see what we're all about.

    Welcome!

    I'm Laura the founder of Missional Women and this is my sweet friend, Lyli. We host a link up for bloggers every Friday and look forward to having you join us. But before you go, look around, we are here to glorify God and be a blessing to you.
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  • Home
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    • About >
      • God
      • The Ministry
      • Master Plan Ministries {College Students}
      • Bible Study Resources
      • Contact
      • Subscribe
      • Featured At
      • Rules, Disclosure & Privacy
    • Resources >
      • Bible Study Journals
      • Free Printables
      • Bible Study Recommendations
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      • App
    • Missional Women Equipping
    • Contributors
    • Statement of Faith
    • Free eBooks >
      • Ministry Resources for Women eBook
      • Leading Effective Bible Studies
      • Missional Life Book
    • Missional Women Bible Studies >
      • The Book of John Video Series
      • 1st Samuel {Beholding Him, Becoming Missional}
      • Judges {A Devotional Journey through Judges}
    • Giant Blog Hop Link Ups List
  • Blog
    • Ministry >
      • Evangelism {Win}
      • Discipleship {Build} >
        • Foundations
      • Living Missionally {Send}
      • Ministry Resources for Women
    • God's Word >
      • Bible Study
      • Prayer
      • Devotionals
      • Bible Studies
      • Apologetics
    • Relationships >
      • Marriage
      • Singleness
      • Dating
      • Family
      • Friendship
    • World >
      • Social Justice Issues
      • Internet & Social Media
      • Politics
      • International
      • Science Revealing God
    • Life >
      • Image & Idenity
      • Health
      • Fashion
      • Food
      • Organization
    • Faith Filled Friday Blog Link Up
  • Bible Study Resources
  • Video Bible Studies
    • Matthew
    • John
    • Galatians
    • Know your Purpose
    • How to Lead a Bible Study
    • Creation Reveals
    • Ministry
    • Heart Growth
  • Prints
  • Quiet Time Journals
  • Courses
    • Women's Ministry Training Promo
    • Women's Ministry Training
    • Growing in Your Faith Mini Course
    • Discover God's Calling Course
  • Store
  • Retreat
  • Subscribe