Last week a mentor/friend of mine suggested I share a bit about my desire to raise support for The Jerusalem Experiment (please click here to see the promotional video). I suppose it might seem rather odd that someone would raise support to enroll in seminary courses, when most schools and many private philanthropic organizations offer scholarships for this sort of thing (although JUC offers virtually no financial assistance).
Simply put, The Jerusalem Experiment should be understood as a missional endeavor–a mission to the local church in America, supporting by the local church in America. While in Jerusalem, I will serve as a missionary to local churches across the United States by providing a variety of resources which promise to enrich personal Bible study and ignite a renewed passion for the living and active Word of God in the hearts and minds of many who struggle to understand how their lives intersect with the Bible.
So, just as you would support a missionary traveling to, say, Israel in order to share the Gospel with non-Christian Palestinians and Jews, my prayer is that God would move you to support my efforts to proclaim the Gospel to American Christians from the Holy Land (The only difference is that you will be able to share in my journey, real time, through a variety of media).
The fundraising thermometer located on the right side of this page is simply an opportunity for supporters (and would-be supporters) to visually observe my progress in financially preparing for my journey.
If you are interested in financially or prayerfully supporting The Jerusalem Experiment, you can donte via Pay Pal (using the button on the righthand side of the page) or by utilizing the tear-off portion on the bottom of The Jerusalem Experiment Prospectus (download .pdf by clicking here)
Hey Bryan,
Thanks for the great post regarding ‘thermometer theology’. All of us who want to and will support you now have an even deeper connection between our own stewardship of what God has loaned us and your mission to to the local church through your this endeavor. (whew!) Anyway, your post is clear and add even more integrity to this already remarkable journey. Way to go, bro! Paul
Bryan-
I just have to say…WOW! Never in my years of church life have I heard about such a unique project with so much heart. Not only can I see and hear that God has been orchestrating this for quite sometime, but it is utterly amazing to see how he has raised you up to be his servant in this capacity. How blessed we are at Fusion (and your students) to learn from your willing and passionate heart . You have been given a gift to write and teach and God is magnified in your efforts, even in the planning.
I am reminded in the actions and comments of my first-graders that we find ourselves in an entertainment saturated- immediate gratification seeking culture, which (as you know) means we need an awakening in our hearts to the reality and tangibility of the scriptures even more. I have looked for a way to engage kids and my peers in the Bible in ways that are fresh, but I have always lacked the experience and resources. One thing I have always loved about the way my Dad preaches is the how he sets the historical and geographical stage for the passage when possible, the truth sticks in my mind so much deeper when I have mental images attached. It sounds like your resources will do just that, I look forward to hearing and seeing it all from your perspective. I believe that your work will engage believers in a way they could only experience by traveling there themselves. My prayers are with you and will continue as the time draws near. Thank you for responding to the call, it has encouraged me in my own walk.
Jess