Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday are all made up retail holidays that try to get people to spend money to generate revenue. A few years ago, the concept to develop a time to help non-profits continue to save the poor was created from this basic premise… Giving Tuesday. MMI has joined in this effort to gain support to equip the Ministry continue to be able to Change Lives.

I love the holidays and enjoy the true reason for the season…Jesus. Jesus gave us the guidance to execute this ministry in service to the poor. Period. In order to do this the Ministry must be efficient, transparent, and have the ability to gain financial support from others to do God's work. Giving Tuesday is a way to bring a level of attention to this work just as the retail world has done for these other events.

We pray that as you enjoy this time with your families, that you will prayerfully consider a financial donation to MMI so that we can continue to reach the poorest of the poor. This is not about raising money for a capital campaign, or a new wing at the local community center. This is about direct services to the poorest of the poor who will be given a chance to live if we can reach them in time!

Today, we celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday in the United States. This is not just your normal holiday, but a time to stop what you are doing and give thanks to God for all that He has provided. It’s easy for us to forget that every single thing we have has been given to us because God has blessed us. None of us picked the world in which we came in, but once we have arrived, God leaves it to us to use what we are given.

Throughout the world we see some amazing people that have been born into some pretty difficult situations, and yet they continue to celebrate God’s blessings and all that He has given. It’s an incredible experience to see the poorest of the poor welcome you with open arms. They will give you the last thing they have in honor of you being there. No, you don’t want it, you have come to help them, but it just shows the purity of the person and the love in their hearts.

We just released my book, When Love Heals and it encapsulates the stories of our volunteers and the people we serve. It’s a very special feeling to go to the poorest of the poor and end up getting more in satisfaction that you even provided in services. That’s God at work, and we are honored to be His hands and feet in service for Him.

As each of you spends time with your family, we would ask that you take a moment and give thanks to God. Don’t just blindly say thank you, but take a moment to think of all the blessings that you and your family have been provided. He is responsible for all of it. We serve an awesome God and we thank Him for all that He has given us.

We also want to take a moment and thank God for you. Your love, support, and prayers are what keep the ministry of MMI going. We can’t do what we do without your donations, volunteering, and prayers. We are honored by your support, and thankful to God that you have joined with us to serve the poorest of the poor.   To our Staff operating in 23 countries around the world, God Bless You and Thank You for your service!  Happy Thanksgiving!

There is a lot of talk throughout the media and even some churches about money management and how people are to handle their monies. The intention of these programs and discussions is related to helping members of the congregation be successful financially and thus give to the Church. Unfortunately, there is little mention to giving so that the ministry can serve the poor. Jesus was very clear in His teachings that we are to seek out the poor. There is nothing wrong with giving to the Church, Local Non-profit, etc. If these resources are related to a new building or another wing without a dedication to the poor, are we using our resources the way God intended when He provided them?

This discussion is not to infer in any way that tithing to your church is a bad thing, but it is a call to ensure that the Church, as one body, does not lose focus on serving the poor. Grand facilities are fine, but only if they are being used to develop the flock to follow God’s teachings and in turn, serve the poor. I am not Catholic, but you have to be impressed with Pope Francis and his willingness to set a new standard of focus on serving the poor. He came out recently and criticized the wealthy for worrying more about a 2 point drop in the Stock Market instead of the fact that a homeless man died last night.

Service to the poor is not something that can be done on a shoestring budget if you expect the service to be efficient and successful for the long term. It takes quality leadership and a commitment to stay focused on the plight of the poor. We live with this challenge daily at MMI as we need resources to do what we are striving to do. This is not about anything except reaching the poorest of the poor. God has called us and we are here to answer His call. We would love to have you join us in carrying out Jesus directives and reaching those who need us most. Make a donation, join a team, and pray for those that are seeking to leave their own comfort zone to carry out this mission of hope!

Every morning we awake with a renewed passion to reach the poorest of the poor. Jesus challenged us all to love the meek, the poor, the sick, and downtrodden. This directive is a lot harder than it seems in print, but is more than just a concept, it has to become your passion.

Ministry work is tough. We not only have to travel to some very difficult places, but we also have to figure out how to raise the monies necessary to help us get there with the supplies we need. The MMI business model of utilizing volunteers to serve the poor is very efficient in that it allows the ministry to provide substantial care with little overhead. That is a good thing but, but we still have to raise money to keep the ministry accountable, supplied, and efficient in all that we say and do.

The world-wide economy has made things very tough for those that have a heart to give. The first reaction to tough times is to tighten your belt and cut back on expenses that are not necessary. We all agree that the kids could use one less toy, we could eat in one more night, but when it comes to reaching the poor…they could die without our help. This is not a guilt trip, but a reality that we face each day. We must try and deliver the story of a person half a world away that can drive home the message that lives are at stake.

I had someone tell me recently that they could not believe that people would not want to donate to an organization like MMI that is so efficient ($8 in service for every $1 donated) with their gifts to make such an impact (543,000 people directly served last year). We agree with that assessment, but if the donations don't come, we have to begin to reduce our services and lives are at stake.

To say this is frustrating is an understatement. Our small but efficient staff works up to 16 hours a day trying to support this ministry where the sun never sets on our work. We have no problem giving this type of commitment, but it is disheartening when our sacrifice is limited due to the lack of funding. The only thing that keeps MMI from serving over a million people a year is money. We have the volunteers, the staff, and most definitely the people in need. We want to reach them and bring God's love through compassionate health care, training, and training.

You can help! Can you tell your friends, seek out those that may be able to help support the ministry through funding or supplies. Maybe you know of someone we can talk to that might be able to open a key door that could lead to support. The opportunities to change lives are before us, and you can help make a difference. The most important thing you can do is Pray for the ministry! Please help us to reach the forgotten!

The Burden that comes with running a large multifaceted organization or ministry is substantial. It’s very difficult work, before you even consider the environments that the organization works. Many who spend a brief period of time with group, may not understand the full dynamics that come with this effort. It is imperative that the organization does it best to provide this information so that people will help support the work that is being done throughout the world.

Medical Ministry International is on just such a course. The ministry has been working with limited resources and support for many years. The ministry has only survived thanks the generous donations of a select few people that have helped to keep the ministry operating while volunteers paid their own expenses to serve the less fortunate. This business model has helped MMI to provide $8 in medical care for every $1 donated. It’s an amazing story, but we need your help to continue to do this.

The ministry can only do this amazing work if others will provide the money necessary to keep the doors open and the lights on. We have brought high levels of efficiency and accountability to the ministry. Every single donation will be optimized to its utmost capacity. This is God’s work and we would ask that you help to provide the necessary monies to keep the work going. There are miracles happening every day, but we continue to pray that God will touch the heart of people that have the ability to keep this work going. We need your help!

As we enter this giving season, we would pray that you could prayerfully support MMI with your financial gifts. It is an honor to serve, and together God’s work will continue happening around the world. Please help us!

The excitement is in the air as we prepare for Thanksgiving weekend in the United States. It begins the Christmas season. It’s a wonderful time of the year and one that most people enjoy immensely. Over time there has been a trend towards recognizing the celebration and less about the true foundation of the Christmas season…Jesus Christ.

We are all blessed to be living on this planet and have family, friends, resources, and our health. Every single one of these things mentioned are gifts from God. The greatest gift we were ever given, however, was when a precious child was born in a manger. This child would grow up to become our teacher, our mentor, and the guide to how we are to live our lives. That is what CHRISTmas is all about.

During this season, I would ask that you take the time to read the Bible and take to heart the gift that we were given. This was the operating manual that God has given us. It’s not about trees, tinsel, shopping. It’s about how we are to use the gifts that He provided while we are here on this earth. There is nothing wrong with all the “fun” stuff that we do to celebrate, enjoy these times, just don’t forget the real reason for the season.

An essential part of not losing our perspective is to also stand up for what the season is all about. There are secular elements that seem insistent on taking Christ out of Christmas. The latest US Mail “Holiday” stamp collection is out and there is an intentional removal of “Christmas” and in its place is a gingerbread house! We cannot let this trend to remove the foundation of Christmas from the secular world continue. God blessed us and allowed us to live on this earth. If we sit by and allow this removal of our faith from society, we will continue to see the evil that comes forth when He is not allowed amongst our public places. It’s pretty amazing that when a tragedy occurs, the first question is where is God in all of this? Well, what did we expect, we continue to remove Him from the foundation of our society. It’s time that we step up and ensure that He is always a part of our lives both public and private.

• We have been called to serve God while we have the chance to live.
• There will come a time when He calls us home and the question will be, what did you do with the gifts He has provided?
• We have been given the direction, the Guide, and the skill. It’s now up to us to do something with it.

Reading the news, when we can find time, its hard to see the print from all the smoke being spread to shelter the truth. It's pretty amazing how far society has come about trying to manipulate the truth or distort the facts in order to get what someone wants. This is not just a perception, but a major concern that our society must face if we are ever to be able to function in a healthy society.

The one constant that must remain firmly entrenched in an organization is fact, not manipulated fiction. Facts, good and bad, are vital to anyone achieving any level of success. Bad facts are only bad until they are addressed, but if they are hidden by distorted communication, they can blow up to be a lot worse than the original problem. You can see this happening today in the U.S. where one mistruth is leading to another, and pretty soon its a snowball heading downhill. We must insist on getting facts out on the table and dealing directly with the issue, tap dancing around it and trying to put a happy face on the problem will not solve it.

Non-profits and Ministries deal with the very same issue. Each is rooted in the fundamental perception that all people involved must be good people and thus the need to be treated with “kid gloves”. This could not be further from the truth. In fact, the opposite is what is needed. No one that truly cares about the cause wants to be the chink in the chain that keeps the organization functioning well. If they don't want to hear the truth, then they are not there for the right reasons. The problem we see in most organizations like this is that the right decision is avoided to keep from hurting the feelings of the person involved. Many non-profits deal with this during times of transition where a founder has been involved for decades and many on the Board are life-long friends. They know a change needs to be made, but don't have the courage to do it out of friendship. Is it the right thing to do for the ministry? No. Unfortunately, this is where non-profits and ministries begin to crumble as the smoke starts to clear and reveals the dysfunction that has existed for years.

During speaking engagements, I get asked a lot about the challenges of “Optimizing Ministry” and this may be the biggest challenge of them all. Leaders must take their roles seriously and be willing to make the tough decisions when necessary to help the organization achieve its goals. This does not mean that they sacrifice their faith, their love, and compassion for all involved. It's actually the opposite, they love them enough to be willing to deal with the consequences that come with telling those that need to hear…the truth.

Medical Ministry International is proud to join in this global call to action, #GivingTuesday.  We are celebrating a day dedicated to giving — when charities, families, businesses, community centers, students, retailers and more will all come together in recognition of the power of giving.

This week commemorates one of the saddest moments in American history, the death of President John F. Kennedy. It especially hits home for me, as I grew up in Dallas, Texas where this unfortunate moment took place 50 years ago this week. One of my close friends father, was a member of the Dallas police force and actually helped apprehend Lee Harvey Oswald at the Texas Theater a few days later. As a kid, I would look for long periods of time at the special gift sent to him by the Kennedy’s to thank him for his actions. It continues to resonate as an important moment in history for many reasons, one of them being the legacy of leadership.

John F. Kennedy is regarded by many people as one of the greatest Presidents of all time. I am not a historian and will not even try to get into this discussion as that is not my expertise. What is interesting is that while he was president for a only a short time, his legacy continues to grow over time. Some of it is based in fact, but much of it is based in the growth of his perceived legend. It points to an interesting component of human nature and that is what one’s legacy actually is and what it becomes as time passes.

We see this very same component in relation to ministry. Charismatic leaders, some who become almost larger than life, rally huge followings to a cause and gain the financial support to do some pretty amazing things. Much of the organization is developed upon the sheer will of the founder and this loyal following, but as time goes on, the perceived foundation begins to crumble. This is mainly due to the fact that charisma is a powerful thing, but without the proper strategies and structure, the foundation soon becomes porous and starts to reveal the true structure for what it is. This flaw in ministry foundations is the single biggest reason many organizations, non-profits, and ministries fail over time.

Why does this happen? Well there are many reasons, but the biggest of all is ego, and the lack of real leadership. Many of these dominate personalities tend to get so caught up in their own personas that it becomes more about them, and less about the cause for which the organization was based. Decisions begin to be based on what is best for them, not what is best for the organization. The benefactors of the organization become secondary to the perceived “legacy” of the founder.

This issue is one of the single biggest motivators in our commitment to “Optimizing Ministry”. The legacy of a leader must be about the actual success of the organization and the people that have been served. This is not about the person, it can’t be if the true focus of the organization is the standard to which we all follow. Sure, some leaders have done some great things, but when you peel back what the cost to provide the services has been in relation to the actual number of people served, it tells a story of ineffeciency hidden by charisma and perception. Could those resources have been managed to achieve much more success if managed properly? Yes, in many cases triple digit percent increase in success! That is our motivation to optimize every single gift that God has provided.

We each have very special skill sets that were gifts from God, we have been called to use these skills, the resources that come from these skills, to impact the lives of those in need. This is our target and in the end will be the legacy of our leadership.

Today marks the 150th Anniversary of the Gettysburg Address, delivered by American President Abraham Lincoln. The speech has been, and will be, discussed at length for centuries forward, but it serves as an example of a leader leaning on God to perform some of the most difficult duties of his role. A true leader will fail when he/she does not continually reassess their moral compass.

The daily news is full of people in a variety of leadership roles that have lost their way. It happens to every single leader. Those that are able to recover from their mistakes (which all will make) and get their team back on the right track are the ones that accomplish great things. Leaders are not perfect, but those that have their purpose firmly rooted in their faith have the perfect partner helping to guide their course.

God wants to help. He gave the leaders the gift of intelligence, skill, and the resources to achieve the role in which they now serve. The question is, do they realize that He made it all possible? Many do not, and thus the visible examples of leaders that continue to fall from grace. If God is not a partner in your efforts, you will not succeed. If you learn to understand this, you will find success. Don’t invite Him into the decision making process and you are being setup to fail. It’s that simple.

An example of this is prevalent as we work to address the situation in The Philippines. Everyone wants to jump in and fix things now. Unfortunately, that is not how it works. We saw a similar situation in Haiti where millions of dollars were immediately raised and materials/supplies were shipped into Haiti at once, only to never make it to their desired destination. You can not just throw a bunch of resources at a problem and think the problem will go away. You need leadership, a strategy, and a team to execute the strategy that will be continually addressed and adjusted as we go. This is not a short term effort, but a long term process that will yield a re-development of services to benefit the Filipino people not just now, but for years to come.

We will never really understand why things happen throughout the world that cause devastation and loss of life. It’s not really what we are called to do. I am a firm believer that everything happens because God has a plan and He wants to see how His people will respond to it. That’s what matters when it’s all said and done. God has firm control of all that are going on, it’s not our place to question His leadership, but it is our place to follow leaders that have Him involved in the process. Anyone else with a different agenda has no chance to succeed.