The first team fundraiser

When we get right down to it, this family service/ mission trip to Birmingham, England is going to cost us. It’s different than a family vacation—we could find a place to explore or relax, and while I’m confident my photos would be Instagram worthy, this is an entirely different kind of experience. 

We believe there is value in going to the people groups gathered in Birmingham and delivering a message of worth and hope, and we feel so privileged to get to be a part of that! But it’s not a vacation. It’s not something we can or should do on our own. We are traveling with a team of 12, we are building a prayer/ support team (that’s you!), and we are raising funds with financial partners.

Fundraising is an important part of trip preparation. In addition to the obvious--funding the costs of the trip--there is a mindfulness about it that prepares our hearts for the work ahead. We will definitely put our own money into this trip, and we will definitely work to earn the right to go. But fundraising shares our story and shares the opportunity to have an impact. It builds a team, and accountability, and it grows us in faith and humility. 

Probably the best way to raise funds for our trip comes from personal relationships with people who believe in the work we're committed to and want to be a part of it in some way. In recent years I have been especially touched by stories of refugees coming out of Syria and Ukraine, and by the Muslim world actually coming out from behind borders and hearing about Jesus with open minds and hearts. (Another post another time to respectfully look at the asylum seeking population in England, and the fundamentally different approaches of Islam and Christianity in pursuing God.) I have been moved and wanted to be a part of caring for those people I saw on TV, and I have sent donations to aid organizations. This is similar to that, except for the invitation to be a part of the process, and to know what happens after the check is written. That's part of what this blog is all about.


If you connect with those sentiments, and want to support our family as we go, PLEASE visit our tax-deductible donation platform HERE. Each of our family of 4 have their own profile, and this one links to mine, but our family is sharing all costs and donations.

Our team had our first group fundraiser over the weekend—and it was actually a really fun way to begin learning how we work together, to provide a service, and to kick off all of our financial support efforts. 

(The team! That’s Clint and Raleigh Ivy, my Braelyn, Emma Grace Wilkes, ME!, my Adria, Claudia and Mark Wilkes, Andrew McPherson, Emily and Paul Tucker, and of course my Joe.)

Have you heard of TikTok spaghetti? (Ironically linked on YouTube HERE.) We were asked to provide a luncheon for donations to a group of church small group leaders. 

Claudia and I cooked it up along with our daughters on Saturday. This woman is a hoot, and a total boss in the kitchen--in the BEST way! 

The whole group served lunch on Sunday.

My new friend Emily showed me something funny someone had given her--"everybody needs a little Jesus!" 

The donation flyer

In what ways do you like to serve or show care for others? What was the last thing you were moved to act on behalf of? 

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