God brought the money

Anthony Book really disliked raising support. When he and his wife, Heather, first started partner development in 2004 for their ministry in the Philippines, support raising was just something they had to do.

It took them two years to pull together enough funds. Then, after eight years serving in the Philippines, the Books sensed God calling them to change fields and join the developing Thailand team. While they were excited for this new vision, they dreaded having to raise the additional $4,000 in monthly support. They had already exhausted their list of contacts. Where would the new money come from?

But the Books trusted that the God who called them to this ministry would provide the funds needed to do it. So they got to work. Anthony took additional training which honed his presentation skills and emphasized the importance of relationships. Then he gathered all the zip codes in his region of Pennsylvania and started calling churches looking for support. In the process, he discovered that he loved talking to people about God’s call for his family. Anthony was excited to share his story and invite people to participate.

Anthony added nine new churches to his support team from those calls, including one church that had never before been involved in international missions. The church is now excited for this opportunity to reach far beyond their own community through the Books.

The Books were able to raise their needed support in just one year.

God took Anthony from disliking partner development to loving it. Anthony even asked his missions coach if he could help coach others who are raising support — he wants to pass along what he has learned. Already he’s been helping fellow missionaries.

To any outsider looking in, what the Books accomplished might seem impossible. Anthony and Heather agree. “God brought the money in,” they say. And God changed their hearts in the process.

Thank you to the many faithful partners who support the Books and other missionaries like them!