This last February a friend in ministry told me that in their organization it was a given that 50+ year olds couldn't raise ministry support. I couldn't disagree, though at the time I was celebrating the addition of several new ministry partners to our team in the previous year, a team that had been largely unrefreshed for more than a decade. At the least, we can agree that ministry funding is always difficult, and that harder economic times, older age, and changing ministry assignments all tend to make it harder.
Even when we were in our 30s, living in Colorado Springs for 5 years before we went to Taiwan for what turned out to be about 15 years there, we thought raising funds for ministry based here was quite the challenge. At that time we had no funding from Colorado and what we do have now developed when we left for Taiwan. But I reminisce, like people in their 50s (57 for me now) tend to do!
Here's the update: As of right now, TEAM has received $78,912 this year for our ministry funding. Last year, TEAM received $87,235. That is about a 10% drop. It still works out to about $6500 a month for ministry expenses, including administration, travel, health insurance, retirement, and living allowance. It is a significant amount and we are extremely grateful. In fact, most of the time we don't feel worthy of this trust and partnership that we are receiving. We also know that there are many who will read this who would just love to have the same opportunities for life and ministry that we have enjoyed this year because of your trust and partnership. We are incredibly grateful.
Over the years, and especially more recently, some of you who have been long term ministry partners have stopped contributing to our ministry. Sometimes people let us know, but mostly partners just feel led to lower their contributions or make them elsewhere. Sometimes we feel disappointed, but mostly we understand, and more than anything, we are grateful. In some cases you have partnered with us for more than 20 years, spanning births, deaths, marriages, and the launching of children, job changes and retirements, and reversals as well as successes in all our lives. What an awesome thing to be partners for so long! Thank you so much for what you have invested in ministry, whether ours or so many others, whether now, in the near past, or even when we were just starting out with our adorable babies and curly hair. All of that has made a huge difference and been part of our ability to focus on ministry year by year.
And we are still eating plenty of bread, righteous or not! (Loose allusion to one of the psalms.) In fact, the homemade bread that we started making when we left for Taiwan in 1996 is still baking today--latest loaf due out in 38 minutes. Thank you for sharing your "bread" with us, and for allowing us to share our "bread" with others on your behalf and in Jesus name. Come and break bread with us soon!
I know that as the end of year approaches many ministries are updating us about their financial needs, and I want you to know about our situation also. We do continue to invite your ministry partnership with us, and we are grateful for what you have done already. Thank you so much.
Frequently (unasked!) questions:
1) Do we need ministry support? Yes, we do.
2) Are we still receiving ministry support? Yes, we are.
3) Are our personal finances in order? Yes, they are.
4) Is our ministry support dropping? Yes, it is.
5) Have we spent more than has come in? No, we haven't.
6) Are we worried? No, we are not.
7) Would we like your help? Yes, we would.
8) Are there other ministries that might need our help even more? Yes, there are. In fact, if you're looking for projects or people to sponsor, let us know what you're looking for--we know about a lot of ministry opportunities, within TEAM and beyond.
9) How do we feel when we think about our ministry finances? Mostly very grateful, amazed that we have now been in ministry most of our adult lives, and wondering what the future yet holds. Also a little unworthy, wondering if what we do is really that valuable or if we are doing enough. We don't feel like special people or "entitled" to what we have received, just thankful to be part of the body, loved by brothers and sisters, and a bit surprised to find ourselves getting older so persistently!
10) What does TEAM do if we don't have enough ministry funding? Ordinarily they wouldn't let us leave for an international assignment without demonstrated funding, but then we're not currently assigned internationally :-) So if our ministry accounts run dry, they send us less money. (First they warn us this is coming and ask us what we are doing about it!)
May you have great wisdom as you decide what to do with whatever resources God has entrusted to you, and please ask for the same for us. Thank you once again for your partnership in ministry. We know we aren't perfect or even particularly wonderful partners, but we are happy we have been able to do all that we have from the first day until now, and we know that your partnership has been essential the whole time.
Christmas love and best wishes for the coming new year, Steve and Laura
PS TEAM has updated it's website this year, now at TEAM.org, and that's a great place to go if you want to contribute to our ministry. (There is a tab at the top that says "GIVE.") You can also just send a check to TEAM at the address below with a note that you want to partner in our ministry.
Steve and Laura Spinella
street: 1930 Springcrest Rd, CO Springs 80920
mail: 9685 Otero Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80920
Steve cell 719.355.4809, Laura cell 832.755.4261
TEAM, PO Box 969, Wheaton, IL 60187, 800 343-3144
<spinella@alumni.rice.edu> <lauraspinella@alumni.rice.edu>
TEAM, PO Box 969, Wheaton, IL 60187, 800 343-3144
<spinella@alumni.rice.edu> <lauraspinella@alumni.rice.edu>
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