Time magazine recently named President Obama its “Person of the Year.” If Jesus or the Apostle Paul were asked to confer such an honor, whom would they select? I think they might choose two of the most obscure names in the New Testament. Here’s why.
The Bible says that a group of women traveled with Jesus and his disciples, among them “Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod’s household” (Luke 8:3). According to Luke, “these women were helping to support them out of their own means.” In Romans 16, Paul commends “our sister Phoebe.” Why? Because “she has been a patron of many and of myself as well” (v. 2, ESV). Without the financial support of Joanna and her friends, would Jesus have been able to give himself full-time to ministry? Without the patronage of Phoebe, would Paul have been able to do the same?
God has called me to give his word to our culture by engaging contemporary issues with biblical truth. Today’s Cultural Commentary is being sent to more than 72,000 readers in 181 countries. We can give this essay and our other online resources without charge because our readers provide the finances which make our ministry possible. Our team has no source of support except those who, like Joanna and Phoebe, choose to help us.
If we had to charge for this essay, readers in places such as Iran and Afghanistan could not receive it. Nor could our readers in Cuba who receive the essay in Spanish each day. Building and leading this ministry is my full-time calling. I could not do this work without the generosity of those who partner financially with me.
As a Christian who is concerned about the direction of our nation, would you help us speak God’s word to our culture? If you have supported us in the past, know that I am deeply grateful and hope you’ll be able to partner with us again this year. If you’ve not supported our ministry before, please know that every dollar will help us share God’s word with the world. If you can’t make a large donation today, perhaps you’d consider a recurring gift; $84 a month would provide $1,000 a year to help our work.
We have a strategy to double our readership in 2013 and launch new resources such as online sermons and digital Bible commentaries. All we need is the financial resources to continue and expand our work. You can learn more about our ministry from our website. Would you ask God if he wants you to be a Joanna or Phoebe, partnering with us in sharing his word with our world?
If he leads you to help us, you can send a tax-deductible contribution to the Denison Forum on Truth and Culture, 17304 Preston Road, Suite 1060, Dallas, TX 75252. Or you can click on this link to make a secure online donation. However God directs you, know that I am honored to share this ministry with you. May the Father richly bless you and yours, today and in the year to come.
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