Support Letter

Dear friends, family and others,

I am writing to share with you about this incredible journey God has me on and I want to ask you to partner with me in making a difference in His Kingdom. As most of you know I currently serve as the worship leader at The Community at Lake Ridge in Mansfield, Texas. I am also in my senior year at Criswell College. It is hard to believe that I am already 24 and about to graduate from college in a year.

My Life Passion Ignited…

I’ve led worship since I was 16 years old and felt that this was the avenue God had for me in ministry. While I feel God has gifted me in this area and absolutely love it, God has continually been stirring inside of me that there was something else, something more that I was supposed to do. I have had this feeling for a few years, and through some God appointed circumstances, He has ignited a new passion within me that I feel clearly is His calling for my life. God has opened my eyes to the world and is calling me to the mission field, to share His love to all the nations. This is an exciting thing to be able to share with you. I would like to share with you a little of the incredible journey that has brought me here.

My Journey To Discovering My Passion…

When I was 19, me and my best friend Brian Snyder really wanted to go to Africa and work in an orphanage. We usually just talked about it and how cool it would be, but both of us knew deep down it would probably never happen. So, I continued leading worship but still sensed a deep desire to do something else. It wasn’t until a year ago when I moved to be a part of TCAL, that I was able to question what I was doing in ministry.

Then last August we as a staff had gone to a Willow Creek Leadership Summit, and one of the sessions was about an organization called the International Justice Mission. They are an organization that works around the world to rescue women out of prostitution, children out of slavery, and others who have been wrongfully jailed or experience other horrible circumstances. I remember watching and listening, and sensing a deep desire to go and help do exactly what I had just saw. I wanted to be the rescuer. I wanted to be in the trenches sacrificing my life for others.

I walked away from the conference knowing that maybe one day I could pursue something like that, but I still had doubts I would ever be able to do it. I brought all these things that were continuing to grow inside of me up to my pastoral staff. They allowed me and encouraged me to search and question what God was doing in my life and my calling, even if it meant not leading worship. They wanted me to succeed and win in life and were willing to do whatever they could to help make that happen.

It is Good To Have a Coach…

In searching all of this out, a man by the name of Deryl McElreath, came in to my life. He is a life coach and was at the time talking with my pastor Paul Mints. Paul wanted him to coach our staff. I was totally excited and at the time had no clue the impact that Deryl would have in my life. I began meeting with Deryl bi-weekly. Deryl was coaching me at the time on my finances and health among other personal life circumstances.

At one of our coaching meetings in December, Deryl asked me what it was I wanted to coach on to day. I told him I didn’t want to coach on our usual topics, but that I was really trying to find my passion in ministry. He said, “awesome let’s talk!” He asked me the ultimate question, “if I gave you 10 million dollars what would you do with it?” I thought about it for a second and began to unload a huge vision of what I saw God wanted me to do. I told him I wanted to go into missions and live amongst the people and eat with them and work with them. Then I would come back to the states and get others excited about what God is doing in missions. I would challenge them to look outside of their own lives, cities and world to look at what is going on in other countries and the need that many people have all around the world. Our meeting had come to an end and I walked outside and began quoting Matthew 28:19 and saying this over and over. Every time I would say go and make disciples of all nations I would began to tear up. I remember chanting, “This is what you have made me for; this is it!”

So What Now…

God’s new call on my life has been made very clear, and over the months it has become more and more evident. God has also been opening the doors for me to begin this passion to be a missionary – a rescuer - to the world. With that said, I am making plans to go to Africa this summer to attend a 3 month missionary training. The organization I will be with is called Overland Missions (www.overlandmissions.com). They are located in Zambia near Victoria Falls, and they specifically focus on teaching young adults about how to reach unreached people groups around the world. I encourage you to go to their website and check them out.

How can you get involved?

In order to fulfill God’s call on my life, I will need a team of partners who will invest in the Kingdom work God is calling me to. I need $8,000.00 to be able to attend the 3 month Advanced Missions Training in Africa this summer. I definitely need your prayers, but if possible I also very much appreciate your gift of financial support. Please know that your support will be an investment in God’s work and call to go tell “and rescue” the nations with His love. I leave for Africa the first week of May and will return in early August. I need all gifts possible by April 24th. However, if you would like to give but cannot until later, or if you would like to give monthly for the next few months, that is fine. If you could let me know what to anticipate so I can plan appropriately, I would appreciate it.

You can make checks payable to The Community at Lake Ridge and write in the memo “Rescue Africa.” All gifts are tax deductible. Mail your checks to:
The Community at Lake Ridge
401 Seeton Rd. Mansfield, TX 76063

Thank You and Closing Comments…

Thank you to the many of you who have had significant roles in my life. I am who I am because of the many who have cared, loved, and invested in me. I have a passion for God and a love for His people, and many of you have helped grow that in me. I pray I will always be a man after God’s heart, and one that is passionate about what He is passionate about. For whatever way you can help me, I am grateful. Thank you. I will be posting regular updates on my website www.rossraines.com. Please check it regularly in the next months.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions at all, or just would like to hear more about what I am doing. Any encouragement you can also give me would be appreciated. You can reach me at 432-978-6525 or ross@rossraines.com.

I pray God will use us all to show His love to this world that desperately needs Him.

Ross Raines