Grace Adventures Update

Donna and I are soooo grateful for the prayer, encouragement and support of friends who have helped us launch the new ministry called GRACE ADVENTURES. Keep praying. Your prayers are making the difference. Here’s the update:

52-DAY CHALLENGE

There is one week to go in my 52-day challenge of focusing time on support-raising. My inspiration is Nehemiah who rebuilt the wall of Jerusalem in 52 days. If a cupbearer could do so much in less than 2 months, than surely I could tackle my wall of raising partners for the ministry of GRACE ADVENTURES. The prayer is to build a team of monthly supporters so the ministry can be sustainable and fruitful.

It is easy to have a goal, but the reality of raising support can seem like a huge obstacle is standing in your way. This is particularly true for me. I’m not good at fund-raising and have never had to raise missionary support. In fact, one friend said I was pathetic at it ... so pathetic he made up 25 business cards for me and said to take someone out to lunch, excuse myself, hand them a business card and go to the bathroom. The business card reads:

Hi, my name is Michael Sprague. I am Pastor of GRACE ADVENTURES. I am shy about asking for financial support. Excuse me, but I need to go to the bathroom. While I am absent from your presence would you mind considering some financial support for my ministry. Thank you, and if you have any additional questions please ask my wife Donna. Thank you.

It’s good to laugh at yourself and be amazed that God can use the foolish things (even pathetic) of this world like me in His grace adventures. When you minister in your weaknesses, it creates incredible dependency. It is quite an adventure to be fully dependant upon the grace of God. Of course, whether it’s your strengths or weaknesses isn’t Jesus always asking, “Is it you or is it Me you are depending upon?” The update with a week to go - I am at 72% of my initial monthly support raising needed for the ministry of GRACE ADVENTURES. I started at zero a few weeks back and now there is 72%. That’s God!!!!!  That is a lot of generous friends!!!!  That is GRACE. I thank God.

Please keep praying. A number of additional people are praying about being on the monthly support team. The sooner I can get toward the monthly support goal the more I can give full attention to the awesome opportunities in ministry with outreach and discipleship. If you can help with a monthly support commitment, you are needed and wanted.

MINISTRY

Ministry Development

Donna and I have been working diligently to launch GRACE ADVENTURES. It is like launching a rocket…it takes 80% of the fuel to get it started up. We are in the midst of making contacts, communicating the vision, starting new outreach and Bible studies, data base development, donor processes, literature development, PayPal, website, non-profit and IRS authorizations, and on and on it goes. The good news is there is progress on every front. It seems like everyone I talk to gives another piece of the ministry foundation. I love to do God’s bidding and do it with the people I love. Doors are flying wide open. The Spirit is alive. Lives are changing. It is almost like after KATRINA when every hour God came through visibly.

2011 Ministry Focus

Here is the 2011 ministry focus of GRACE ADVENTURES so that you can have a better understanding of the ministry and to see how you can pray.  You can also check out the new ministry website at www.graceadventures.info. Please give some input as well. How can I improve? What would be helpful?

Business and Political Leaders

·         Multiply Bible Studies for Leaders

·         One-on-One Evangelism and Discipleship

·         Business Forums

·         Oil Field Fellowship

·         Mayor’s Prayer Breakfasts

Spiritual Leaders

·         Monthly Pastor Forums

·         Consulting, Mentoring, Training, Seminars

·         Preaching

World Missions

·         Periodic Spokesman for Touch Global Crisis Response

Grace Adventures

·         Men’s Adventure Events

·         Short-Term Mission Opportunities

·         Retreats

·         Annual National Prayer Breakfast, Louisiana Delegation

Resource Development

·         Books

·         Evangelism and Discipleship Tools

·         Blog

BOOK

The book is back from the editor. I’m finishing up the footnotes and then will be turning my attention to find a publisher. I’ve got 4 possibilities at this point, and I’m hoping for Tyndale. Pray for an open door for the book to be published.

Thank you all for caring. It is wonderful to have friends like you. My favorite cartoon is a robber holding up a man and saying, “Put all your valuables in this sack!” In the next frame you see the man stuffing all his friends into the sack. That is my life story.  “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God in all my remembrance of you” (Philippians 1:2-3).

Betting the Farm on God,

Michael Sprague

Active Hands

Friends,

Donna and I have gone from “open hands” to “active hands.” I am now the pioneer and President of a non-profit ministry called, “GRACE ADVENTURES.” This Christ-centered, Kingdom-focused, Grace-motivated, Bible-based ministry seeks to reach, engage and train leaders for Christ and the cause of Christ. The opportunities God has thrust into my lap are amazing and as fresh as yesterday and today. I am working with business, political and spiritual leaders, Bible studies, and am leading and speaking in a variety of sectors of the community. I am amazed at the diversity of ministry God has brought my way:  from work with street people to preaching in African-American churches, a Presbyterian and a Bible church, a Baptist adult Bible fellowship, and Mars Hill discussions with spiritual investigators.

The Bible is active and sharper than any two edged sword. A spiritually investigating business owner told me recently, “I am either going to become the greatest follower of Christianity or the greatest detractor of Christianity. I am on the fence right now.” I think the hound of heaven, the Holy Spirit, is reeling him in, and it’s only a matter of time. Another seeking business leader stopped me on the basketball court and for the first time in his life was interested in getting into a Bible study. He said, “Michael how much would it cost for you to lead one of those Bible study things?” I told him I’d never charge anything to talk to someone about the Lord and the Bible. He’s getting twelve of his friends together for their first ever GRACE ADVENTURE. I’ve got opportunities with CEO forums, the newly formed Oil Field Fellowship, and potential speaking opportunities with Touch Global. All of these opportunities were initiated by God, not me. My cup overflows.

Prayer Requests:

1. Please pray for my support raising process over the next 52 days. I am fully responsible in this missionary position to raise all my family and ministry expense financial support. This is challenging. I’ve never done this before. On top of this, I’ve always been a lousy fundraiser … in fact “pathetic” as one sympathetic friend puts it. When I get to full-support the credit will only go to God and generous friends.

Here is my plan. If Nehemiah could build a wall in 52 days - then I can devote myself to talk to friends for 52 days and invite them to invest in Kingdom work as God leads. I’m convinced God owns everything, where He leads, He supplies and God will nudge the right people at the right time to co-labor with me. Already a number of people have committed to monthly support. Missionaries have counseled me to try to get monthly support and trust God to get to full support before devoting full attention to the ministry side. They tell me without a support base your marriage suffers, you are distracted in the work and easily discouraged. Please pray for me as I set up appointments in January and February. Pray for a two-day missionary training seminar Donna and I are attending in Dallas next week called BODY BUILDERS. If you want to talk to me about partnering in support, please call me at 985-502-4265 or email me at MDSprague00@bellsouth.net. Support can be sent to GRACE ADVENTURES, 701 Rue Marseille, Mandeville, LA 70471.

2. Pray for all the foundational aspects of the ministry to be organized. Bank accounts, electronic fund transfers, webpage, data base, newsletter design, systems, contacts, etc. Mostly pray for God’s favor. I so thankful for this. Divine favor is God doing something for you that you know you can’t do for your self. There is nothing else like the Father’s favor relationally, spiritually and financially. Remember Daniel.  He had favor with those in places of great authority. Favor opens doors.

3. Book - Finally I got the book I’m writing out the door and into the hands of an editor, and Lord willing then on to a publisher. I need favor big-time. A friend told me this week   the governor of Louisiana told him he wanted a copy of my book as soon as it gets published. FAVOR. I’m thankful.

Donna and I are grateful for being blessed with friends. Thank you for praying and caring. We had a white Christmas in Maryland with our families. Jonathan and Patricia got to spend four days with us. The June 11 wedding is in Mesquite, Texas will soon be here. I’ve done many weddings but never one for a son. How sweet it will be!!! You can check out Jonathan’s wedding website at http://www.jonathanandpatricia.com/. Jonathan is a software developer … can you tell?

I will be preaching at Forcey Memorial Church in Silver Spring, MD on February 13th at their morning services. If you are in the area, please come.

Please send me an e-mail on how you are doing. I’m interested.

Have a great 2011. May you be full of life and health this year. May you be surrounded by family and authentic friendships. May the Word nourish your souls and may the Holy Spirit apply His comforting salve to your nicks and wounds. May you be fully used in the purposes of God and find delight and wonder and worship in Him. May perseverance and stick-to–it-ness be yours. May you live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God. May the living God guide, protect and direct as you live dangerously for Him. May the Shalom of God be upon you and give you His peace and Favor. Amen

Betting the Farm on God,

Michael