Leisha
Leisha Spowart ( right ) is a Pastry Chef from Bendigo who partners with Kate in
South East Asia ( left ). We had the privilege of chatting with Leisha to hear her thoughts on giving , partnership and generosity .
On Kingdom Partnership
Everyone has a different calling on their life . I love that I can partner with someone who ’ s got a calling on their life to go . I might not be called to go , but I have faith that the support I am giving is helping to spread the word of God . My husband and I pray that the gifts we give will mean that people hear the good news of Jesus .
Partnership is more than just financial giving . Moving to another country is daunting , so it ’ s important to support people through ongoing communication .
Your financial support means they can go , but it ’ s your encouragement and prayer partnership that will help them stay .
On Partnering with Kate
It was easy to decide to partner with Kate . I have known her for a long time and I have seen her go through the process of preparation and then head off to South East Asia . I want Kate to do well and do what God ’ s calling her to do . Partnering with her financially is one way that I can support her in that . We talk as well , but I want her to have the peace of mind that there are people looking out for her and supporting her .
I also love that it ’ s not just us ! There is a whole community of people and churches sending Kate .
I don ’ t partner with Kate and others to feel good . At the end of the day , people coming to know Christ is the best thing that can happen as a result of my giving .
That ’ s the hope that I have every time I give . Is this going to be the thing that will enable them to have a conversation or reach out to someone and share Jesus ?
On Her Giving Journey
Before I started working full-time I didn ’ t give on a regular basis . The challenge to start doing that was a bit uncomfortable for me . I had just started earning money and I worried about potential things that could happen , what if I needed the money for this or that ? Something that helped me to get over that was knowing that if I gave money to God through giving at church or to other ministries , that He would bless and provide for me regardless . I was spurred on by verses like Corinthians 9:6-11 .
The small group I was in when I first started earning money also challenged me . I remember there was a conversation about giving and one person shared how she was giving until it hurt . At the time , I wasn ’ t giving regularly and the conversation made me think that I should be .
That ’ s when I started the habit . It was a small amount at first , but once I established the habit , the amount grew over time .
On Generosity
I believe that we should be generous with what we have . My husband and I support a few different ministries and we pray about how much to give and decide on an overall total , and then give from that . We also pray that the funds will go to where they are needed .
Ultimately our money is never going to be ours . It ’ s always God given . So at least some of it should be going back to God and His mission .
If someone asked me if they should partner with someone like Kate , I would say , “ Just do it !”. I mean , if you ’ re able to , you should . Use what you ’ ve got , to help other people use what they ’ ve got to share Jesus with the world .
RESONATE ISSUE 39 | PAGE 18