The Long View needs your help: 100 x $100 x Dec31

We all know information is not free. And while swarms are generally designed to be as free as you can get, people still have their costs of personal support and ministry work. Delve deep enough into any thing that an Open Source or Swarmish person says, and it boils down to this: some information is given away for free so that other information, services, or what have you can be sold. (Chris Anderson’s book, linked above, is an excellent discussion on the topic.)

Missions research is most problematic of all. We are the behind-the-scenes guys, unless we happen to publish a book or an atlas (you rock, guys!). Most people who read a blog, listen to a podcast interview, friend a Facebook feed or follow on Twitter don’t think about the costs involved because there’s no paper or subscription fees. I don’t have any problem with that, because I consume a lot of information for free just like you do. But unlike most informational feeds, we rely on friends and patrons to help support our ministry.

There’s quite a bit involved in our work besides this blog. For example:

• research that identifies where people are working (and conversely where they are not) in order to help MUP (and other agencies) identify priorities.
• a database of agencies and where they are working, as well as a list of partnerships.
• sharing swarming with ministry leaders on a regular basis, helping them figure out how to make their ministries more swarmish.

Unfortunately our current support level was raised with a view of living in Southeast Asia, and now God has called us to base once more in the United States in our new role with Mission to Unreached Peoples. Our support level is not yet what it needs to be for life in America, and the economy and our time of transition has eroded the support that we have. Some very wonderful people support our work on a monthly basis, but our reserves are now honestly very thin. For our work to continue, we need your support.

So, I’m giving what I hope is an opportunity that at least 100 people will grab on to: 100 gifts of $100 by December 31. (Not pledges, just one-time gifts.)

(I chose the number because it’s a nice round number and because for most married-with-children families living and ministering in the West, $100 represents something close to 1 day’s cost-of-living, including housing etc.)

I’m a little nervous about putting this out there. I’m not the type of person who likes fundraising. So here’s a few things I want to say:

• I know some folks can’t contribute anything: please don’t feel guilty. This isn’t about a guilt trip. I know God has a role for mission research and he will provide for us, just as he always has–through some of you, not all of you. Or maybe through one of you. Or whatever.
• I also know some can contribute something, but not $100. For example, think of a $20 “subscription” for the material you read. As usual, any amount will help.
• Finally, I know some readers and organizations and churches can give more. It would be deeply appreciated. In fact, if you’d like to take on sponsoring a portion of our work, we’d be happy to do a “sponsored by” link.

I believe the work of missions research is critical – it’s behind every statistic cited, every book written, every article posted. It’s the work that I’ve been called to for over 15 years now. It’s a privilege to be able to get up and most days do exactly what it is I am designed for. For over 15 years, God has always provided through people like you, dear reader. We don’t need everyone to support this work – but we do need some of you, the ones whom God has “blessed to bless the researchers.”

Gifts can be made online or sent via postal mail to: Mission to Unreached Peoples, P.O. Box 860548, Plano, TX 75086-0548 (and include a note saying it’s for Justin & Heidi Long).

We thank you in advance for your support.