Part 7: I Need Help

I wanted to update everyone on the fundraising. First off, I have to sincerely thank you all for your generosity. Since Part 1 of this series three weeks ago, you all have given $10,000! I’m serious … $10,000. I can’t believe it. I am so humbled I don’t know what to say, other than

Thank you.

From the core of my being, thank you.

Your overwhelming support has been out of this world, and it was honestly something I didn’t expect to happen. I guess there is power in asking?! This money has given The Marin Foundation a great start to 2010, and I do actually have hope for the future fundraising efforts! I will also be putting up a thermometer on the blog to track our funding so you all can stay as current as I do with everything.

Once again, my goal for individual giving is for 275 new people to give $15 per month: $180 total for the year! Outside of the one time giving this past month, I have had 5 new people commit to give $15 per month. Only 270 left! If you would be so generous to be one of those new 270 people, please email me at [email protected] to let me know so I can track everything. It’s only $180 per year … but if you have the capacity to give more, please, freely give more per month!

Here is a person directly affected by your small amount of money:

Alex:

Alex has been involved with The Marin Foundation for the past year—he was raised in a Christian home, went to Christian schools, tried for the past 10 years to ‘get rid of his same-sex attraction’ to no avail, and now he’s struggling to come to grips with the fact that he is a man with a same-sex attraction that is never going away; and he’s Christian. He’s been going to a conservative church that he has felt relatively safe within, and has enjoyed reconnecting with a faith he felt he could no longer be a part of. The other night he was visiting friends from college out of town and they all went to a gay bar. He ended up making out with a guy, went home with the guy and ended up getting violently raped (with no protection) by this guy.

Alex was freaking out because he realized his life might have just forever changed, against his will. And he couldn’t help but to solely blame himself. When he got back to Chicago he immediately got tested for HIV and the doctors put him on strong medication right away. Those next two weeks were sickening for Alex—the medicine was taking its toll on his body and his emotions of pain, guilt, uncertainty and betrayal were all running wild.

He didn’t feel as though he could tell his roommates what happened.

He didn’t feel as though he could tell his family what happened.

He didn’t feel as though he could tell his church what happened.

But the only entity he knew he could trust with his life to tell was The Marin Foundation. So he called me.

We were there for him, helped walk him through this process, and thank the Lord he has come up negative for HIV. So where is your mind with Alex?

Did he deserve what he got, regardless of how many times he said “no”?

Did he make a mistake in a struggle, or was he asking for something like this to happen to him?

Regardless of what your opinions, the knowledge that The Marin Foundation was the only place he knew he could trust is as important of a fact than any. This is all a small part of the wholistic Kingdom work The Marin Foundation is all about.

If not The Marin Foundation, than who would Alex have turned to?

It’s a haunting answer to think about …

Please give and be a regular monthly supporter, for as little as $15/month or $180 per year.

Much love.