The power of giving

     Today is "Giving Tuesday," the last day in a long string of days that follow Thanksgiving and dictate how people could spend their money. 
     My life has literally been changed because of giving. Not just on this one day, but the spirit of giving has transformed my entire family and our faith.
     A little more than a year ago, the generosity of one church and one family (and some credit card debt I'm ashamed to admit!) allowed for the launch of something new. A faith-based magazine for girls, by girls, about girls. A healthy portrayal of girls, and a place for godly advice. 
     There were no advertisers or promises of giving. Just a commitment that I would keep following God if He wanted Mighty Strong Girls to continue. I have to admit — it was scary at times and still is! I have acted outside of His will on occasion, and my own stubborn nature was ready to call it quits more than once in the first six months (mostly because of my shortcomings!). 
     But Mighty Strong Girls is the first thing I've done because it was the right thing to do. Sometimes the people around me saw that more clearly than I did and lifted me up in moments of weakness! 
     The reason there are so many magazines filled with paid advertising is because it works. 
     Statistically speaking, however, women and girls want media that portrays their gender as it really is — diverse in size, shape, color and age. Seventy-five percent want what's real. But nobody is doing that. Not because it can't work but because they are uncertain if it will, since the other way IS proven to work. 
     The power of giving is showing me that not only can it work, it IS working!
     Mighty Strong Girls is not about me. It's not about what I want, because if I'm honest, I don't want risk — financial or otherwise! — or slow growth or the potential for failure. I want security. But in spite of me, Mighty Strong Girls IS working!
     God gave me so many wonderful sisters and brothers in Christ. This ministry represents the body of Christ, and each one does its part with Christ as the head. It's still risky and slow and has the potential to "fail" in the world's eyes. But Mighty Strong Girls IS working.
     Because we don't consider anything a failure that God called us to, that reaches even one girl or gives hope to just one someone living in darkness. Because everyONE matters to God, Mighty Strong Girls IS working!
     Today, there is one paid advertiser and 16 regular donors. Sixteen families who believe in the message of Mighty Strong Girls enough to make a sacrifice for its message to come to life in print. Sixteen families who want girls to get their wisdom from a godly source. Some give $20 a month, and some give more than $100. And with our giving at $554 a month, we are now able to print and distribute a minimum of 250 copies of each issue. I know that for some of my donors — no, for all of my donors — the sacrifice is very real. 
     That's the power of belief. That's the desire to reach this generation that is ignored in so many ways. Look at the number of Christian resources for children and adults, and then compare it to teens. The ones who need it the most — forgotten. But Mighty Strong Girls IS working!
     God brought wonderful people to my life, my husband especially, who hold me up and don't want me to give up no matter how hard it gets. No matter the criticism or the challenges or the financial obstacles. There are 16 families who believe, too, and thanks to them, Mighty Strong Girls is real, in print and it IS working. It's offering hope that comes from Jesus. 
     How amazing is that? 250 copies, and some magazines have an  "pass-along" rate of up to five or more especially when they are sitting in waiting rooms, which is where many of our partners put their copies! So, more than 1,000 girls are looking, reading and flipping through Mighty Strong Girls. 
     That's the power of giving. 
     We crave for Mighty Strong Girls to grow, to reach more, to be available on the shelf of a retail store. To get there, we need to be able to regularly print at least 2,000 copies of each issue.
     A year ago, we thought the answer to that was advertising. But instead of bringing advertisers, God brought people. In one year, Mighty Strong Girls came alive in print because of the generosity of people who believe, who aren't selling products or benefiting financially from their investments. They simply want to change a girl's life, to give her hope. 
     In the next year, instead of relying on what we think or desire or what seems to make sense, I would like to set aside my expectations and wisdom and exchange it for God's. He has already revealed part of His plan, and it's working so much better than mine!
     Will you join us in prayer to seek the will of God for Mighty Strong Girls and how we can reach this generation of girls? Please pray that I will not only see what He wants me to do but be obedient. And that my board will also seek to know and follow God in this ministry, too. 
      A week from today, the board will meet and pray about these issues. I know we will hear God more clearly if you are holding us up in prayer, and we thank and appreciate you for it!