Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Cliff (05/15/25)
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TITLE: When Faith Becomes Action | Previous Challenge Entry
By Rick Gregory
05/20/25 -
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A Call That Changed Everything
He went on to explain that as I came onto the staff of the Mission, I would serve as his assistant, and my job title would be "Assistant to the Director." It sounded wonderful. A little powerful, but I (arrogantly) figured my 25-year-old ego could sufficiently humble itself not to allow the prestige of being 2nd in command to affect me negatively. What I wasn't ready for was the salary. There was none. Zero. Nada. Zilch. And Ed had never done the typical "deputation" work of raising funds from church to church. He said they just trusted God to provide. What!?!
They operated on the premise that if God had called us to a particular location or ministry, He, at the time, committed Himself to provide for our needs. It took a minute for us to grasp the significance — and enormity of the commitment we were being asked to make.
Standing on Giants' Shoulders
In theory, I believed God could do this. I'd read the biographies of Hudson Taylor, George Müller, C.T. Studd, and Norman Grubb. All of them had stepped off the cliff, into crushing doubt, abject terror, and ultimately holding onto nothing but the promises of God. But that was in the missionary heyday of the mid-to-late 1800s. Did God still operate like that? Wouldn't it be presumptuous to assume such a thing could still be done today?
Taking the Leap of Faith
After a remarkably short time of waiting on God to direct us, we did indeed step off that same cliff, into the same abject terror and crushing doubt. But God had given us an anchor to hold firmly as we flew down, down, and into His arms. It was the promise of Psalm 40:1–3 (NLT):
"I waited patiently for the LORD to help me,
and he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the pit of despair,
out of the mud and the mire.
He set my feet on solid ground
and steadied me as I walked along.
He has given me a new song to sing,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see what he has done and be amazed.
They will put their trust in the LORD."
Those verses became the lifeline to which we held as we:
* Quit our jobs
* Sold our house — and gave away all the proceeds
* Moved to a little border town named Tecate
* Never told anyone our financial status
* Never asked for financial support
* Watched as God did with us as Paul promised the Corinthians in 2 Corinthians 9:8 (NLT), "And God will generously provide all you need; then you will always have everything you need with plenty left over to share with others."
God's Provision
We lived in Tecate for a year, and watched God supply food, clothing, housing, and finances — without ever having told another human what we needed. After Tecate, we moved back to San Diego, where we set up a small non-profit called The Fishermen, out of which we did discipleship and evangelism ministries with Navy personnel and businessmen. Still, we operated the same way, never asking for money or soliciting help from anyone but God. During those years, 2 of our 3 kids were born, without insurance, and every cent for the medical needs was supplied, sometimes down to the very penny.
God continued to supply every need, and occasionally even some of our wants. Yes, it was stepping off the cliff. But into the sure hands of the Master!
How about you? Are you ready to visit that place where you’re completely dependent on Him? Tell Him you are. Remind Him of His own promises. And take the step. It looks scary, but it’s the safest step you can ever take. I know it because I’ve lived it.
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