Last year I spoke with you about the need to grow our staff to serve the increasing number of leaders asking us for assistance. In this article I provide more details and a status report of the growth initiative we have undertaken. I also ask you to consider helping us reach our support goal.
The Need
The reach and impact of IBL has expanded considerably since its founding in 1987. Our small staff and team of volunteers are now developing and encouraging leaders on every continent. Yet the need for equipping and supporting leaders both here in the U.S. and around the world continues to grow. For several years we have functioned at and beyond our capacity, yet all of us sense that God wants us to do more.
Our heart is to broadly impact
the next generation of ministry leaders
by becoming the preferred organization
for ministry leadership
and ministry-team development.
This desire is not spurred by self-aggrandizement but by a Holy-Spirit-given burden to make a real difference in the lives and ministries of God’s leaders across the US and around the world.
The First Milestone: 2025
Lord willing, over the next five years we will double our current team, increasing our capacity and establishing the senior leadership team to oversee IBL’s growth throughout the next generation. In addition, we have identified fifteen key operational and ministry areas to restructure, enabling further growth in the coming decade.
Achieving this five-year goal to grow our impact requires us to increase our annual budget by $400,000. Doubling our capacity will allow us to focus on the following opportunities:
We will pursue new training opportunities in Tanzania, Uganda, South Asia and other locations around the world.
We will expand our U.S. coaching, consulting, and counseling to more effectively respond to those contacting us for assistance.
We will establish a new U.S. training ministry with bible colleges and seminaries, assisting them to develop and equip faithful, next-generation leaders.
First Steps of Faithful Obedience
God blesses the work of His people as they move forward in faithful obedience. Despite obstacles and unknowns, we are moving forward and God is being faithful to bless our efforts.
New Team Member. Last November we announced that Dr. Dave Deets would join our team in the middle of this year. I am happy to say that Dave is now onboard with us full-time! Dave has twenty years of pastoral ministry experience. He also serves on the national board for the association of churches of which he is a member. He has also served on IBL’s Board and as a ministry volunteer for three years. Dave brings a wealth of experience, relationships, and leadership skills to his new position as VP of Ministries. Dave will work closely with me in overseeing all of our U.S. and international ministry.
New Support. We have already seen significant progress against our new support goal of $400,000. Thus far we have $85,000 in new annual commitments for at least the next four years. Praise God for this initial outpouring of His provision through His people!
New opportunities. God is already making use of our increased team by opening new doors in international training, US training, and US coaching, consulting and counseling. See Dave Deets’ “Faithfully Advancing” article for more details. Based on our current discussions with potential partners, we expect to reach our US and Int’l Training goals three years ahead of schedule!
Your Opportunity for Impact
Dave Deets still needs approximately $50,000 per year for personal and ministry support. Will you consider enabling Dave’s ministry with us by partnering with him financially?
We know you have limited resources and you need to be a good steward of the funds God has entrusted to you. We also know you have a desire to see your dollar impact the world, making a difference in an exponential way. IBL shares your desire. The final statement in our vision declares, “We are burdened to make a difference!”
We want you to know the impact your financial support can have in the lives of leaders both here in the U.S. and around the world.
$1/day provides one-on-one leadership coaching for one year
$2/day provides essential theological, pastoral and leadership training for a national leader for one year
$5/day provides vital personal counseling for a ministry leadership couple for a year
$10/day provides strategic, unifying, team-building consulting for a church for one year
Each leader we serve in turn influences hundreds of others; see the nearby article by Pastor Jerry Zucha as an example of this effect. So, the impact of your dollar has exponential impact in the greater work of Christ around the world.
Your Response
After praying about this opportunity, as the Lord leads you to join Dave’s support team, you can respond in a number of ways:
1. Use the remittance note at the right and the enclosed envelope to inform us of your decision and send your initial gift.
2. Establish a recurring bill pay transaction through your online banking service.
3. Use our website (iblministry.org/donate) to make a periodic electronic donation. Please note that with this form of giving, approximately 3% of your gift covers the costs associated with the online service.
However the Lord leads you to respond, we are most grateful for your past and current generosity and your desire to impact God’s leaders through IBL.