Most nonprofit organizations like PPI have a side gig. That is, they have committed support partners – like you! – yet they typically organize an annual fund-raising event to top up monies needed by the ministry. Golf outings, gala dinners, sponsored 5K runs or bike rides – these are a few examples of mission fund-raisers Rena and I have participated in through the years.

As I have prayed and learned more about developing and stewarding the finances of a nonprofit mission ministry, three truths about fund-raisers stuck with me: 1) a fund-raiser can be good thing when done well, 2)  the fund-raiser needs to “fit” our organization and leaders, and 3) it needs to actually raise some funds to be worth the effort!

By now, you’re probably wondering where this is going. Ready? Drum roll . . .

Introducing the SUNRISE SIDE COFFEE TOUR! The idea is simple: We created a Tour “passport” (a booklet) of 19 participating local coffee shops from mid-Michigan to the Mackinac bridge – all on the sunrise (east) side of Michigan. The passport includes the location and highlights of each participating shop AND offers a significant discount on a drink to passport holders. (Most participating shops offer 50% off your first drink then 10% future drinks to passport holders.) Bonus: Our passport also includes a list by town of the 65 local coffee shops we visited and recommend. We can enjoy good coffee while exploring the sunrise side of the Great Lakes state! Check out example pages of the passport below.

Tour passports cost $20 each, and discounts are active until October 1, 2024 (next year!). ALL proceeds benefit PPI. The tagline of this project is Have coffee. Help others. The passport introduces people to our ministry and encourages them to learn more about the need and opportunity to train church leaders in developing nations.

SO WHAT CAN YOU DO?

1. Pray for this fund-raiser to be successful for PPI and for participating shops! We think it’s a good side gig that can benefit our ministry efforts in Haiti and other developing countries, and we want it to be win-win for small businesses, too.

2. Buy – and enjoy – a Tour passport. Purchase your Coffee Tour passport HERE. If you like coffee shops and meandering in Michigan like we do, you will love this Tour! We’ve found so many unique, out of the way shops to visit.

3. Support and thank the coffee shops participating in PPI’s Sunrise Side Coffee Tour. We plan to make the Coffee Tour an annual fund-raiser for PPI and would love to include more local coffee shops. 

4. Encourage friends, family, co-workers, companies and schools to buy Tour passports. Coffee Tour passports make a great gift – for Christmas, school fund-raisers, clients or employees. We’re offering 20% off when you purchase six (6) or more passports at one time. CLICK HERE for more info on quantity purchases.

The Sunrise Side Coffee Tour – that’s our side gig. We’re excited about the “fit” and potential benefit of this fund-raiser for PPI. Most of you know that I worked for a Big Six accounting firm in Dallas for nine year before going into pastoral ministry. While there, I had the opportunity to rub shoulders with national leaders in restaurant consulting/concept development. I also edited and oversaw production of the National Restaurant Association’s State of the Restaurant Industry report. I love how the Lord wastes none of our experiences and skills if we allow Him to use them for His glory. And I also love coffee . . . a little. But I can quit any time! 🙂

Can I be perfectly honest? We had a great trip to the East Coast, but these two weeks have been hard for Isaiah.

We had good travels and great connection with present friends and supporters of PPI and also with potential partners. In total:

• Miles traveled – 2797
• States driven through – 9
• Churches visited – 7
• Friends contacted – Too many to count!
• PPI updates and presentations – 8
• Messages preached – 2

We enjoyed warm fellowship, fruitful conversations, hearty laughs and good food with brothers and sisters in Christ in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and North Carolina. We found church leaders open to – even enthusiastic about – PPI’s commitment to training church leaders in developing nations, and we’re excited about the possibilities of new partnerships with churches and individuals we talked with! We’re grateful to the Lord for these past two weeks.

BUT these two weeks have been very hard for Pastor Isaiah because of events unfolding in Haiti and in his own family. Just before Isaiah came to the United States, his brother and family came to live with him. Isaiah grew up in Port au Prince, the capital city, and many of his family members still live there. His brother, David, and family escaped Port au Prince, leaving everything behind, when gangs took over their neighborhood, looting houses and killing anyone in their way. Isaiah and Celina welcomed them into their home in Ouanaminthe and are committed to sharing their home, food and money with them. This is now stretching their limited resources to the breaking point.

We have been praying that, as promised, Kenya will lead a multinational security force in Haiti to help disarm the gangs and restore security and stability in Port au Prince, an action that will benefit the entire nation. But we read this week that Kenya pulled back on its promise. Isaiah said, “Now my brother will not be able to return to Port au Prince. And what will happen to my country?”

More family members have been affected by the conditions in Haiti. Earlier this year, Isaiah’s sister, Edlin, fled Haiti when gangs targeted her because of her position in a bank in Port au Prince. A pastor in Boston helped her escape to the United States. And just a few days ago, Isaiah received word that his cousin had been shot and killed by a gang. The cousin’s family is distraught because they’re not able to provide a proper funeral and burial for him because of gang activity in their area.

We thank the Lord for this trip, but our hearts are heavy for Isaiah’s family and for his home, Haiti.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

1. Pray! Ask the Lord to provide for Isaiah, Celina and their family, especially now. Ask the Lord to help David with the (understandable) depression he’s experiencing. Pray that he and his wife will begin to earn some money to provide for their needs and take some of the pressure off Isaiah and Celina.

2. Consider a special gift to PPI toward Pastor Isaiah’s increased pay and help for his family. As of Sept 1, PPI is raising Isaiah’s monthly pay by 66%. (Isaiah has been PPI’s official representative in Haiti since 2019.) We planned to give him a well-deserved raise in January so we moved that up to September and increased the amount. CLICK HERE to donate.

3. Contact your U.S. senators and representative. Urge them to support a multinational security force in Haiti – now. This is the first step in a long road, but it’s desperately needed and supported widely by Haitian pastors and churches. CLICK HERE for more info on the current situation.

CLICK HERE to donate.

Where is Pastor Isaiah? Grace Fellowship Church in Kinston, North Carolina, was the final stop on our East Coast travels. Last but certainly not least! Grace Church partnered with PPI in 2019 – our first supporting church – and has greatly encouraged us. We stayed with our friends, the Kecks, who now live in New Bern, an hour’s drive from the church.

On Sunday, we set up our PPI info table before updating the congregation and preaching in Grace’s two worship services. Listen to Ken’s sermon, “Make Some Noise,” HERE. After church we enjoyed lunch with Pastor Kent, his family, and a number of Grace friends. On Monday afternoon, we joined Pastor Jason on his Encounter Grace podcast to talk about Haiti and PPI’s work there.

Thanks again, Grace friends, for your warm welcome and faithful partnership!

Where is Pastor Isaiah? Answer: Visiting an amazing ministry partner you need to know about! On Thursday, we headed to Philadelphia to visit our friends at CLC International. CLC focuses on printing and distributing Bibles and good Christian literature around the world. They serve as PPI’s main resource for French language Thompson Bibles and other ministry resources for church leaders in Haiti. We couldn’t train pastors without them!

As we put together our East Coast travels some months ago, we made plans to spend time with CLC leaders in Philly. We’re so glad we did! The CLC staff welcomed us warmly and provided a guest apartment for us for two nights.

On Friday, Director Jim Pittman and Tim Hurd explained CLC’s operations and gave us a tour of their warehouse. I knew God was using CLC to provide Bibles and good Christian literature around the world, but I didn’t realize to what extent! CLC oversees the printing and revision of Bibles and books, launches and manages Christian bookstores across the world, provides mobile “bookmobiles,” develops extensive web resources, and even provides logistical help for a Christian business in a closed Islamic nation.

And they do all this with excellence and passion for making disciples around the world. Jim, Tim and their staff pray regularly for PPI, work to get the best prices possible for us, and have even given to PPI’s work. They’re visionary, faith-filled and hard-working friends to PPI and to me personally.

We wanted you all to know more about this wonderful ministry partner. Check out their website HERE. Please pray for CLC International and, as the Lord leads you, consider giving to their work. They well deserve our support!