Your Local ASI
Overcoming Obstacles in the Atlantic Union
Andi Hunsaker
07/15/2012
While attending the 2010 ASI International Convention in Orlando, I was asked to lead the ASI Atlantic Union chapter.
“Of course!” I responded. “I love ASI, its mission, and its purpose. How difficult can it be?”
Upon returning home, I contacted other chapter presidents for tips, asking how they funded their regional spring conferences. “With chapter dues and registration fees,” they said.
Next, I asked how much money our chapter had in its account. “$545.55,” I was told. Suddenly my excitement turned to fear and doubt. After two weeks of inner turmoil, I finally went to the Lord in earnest prayer, daily asking for wisdom and direction. I shared my concerns with my husband, Bob. We decided to pledge our own resources to help fund the conference, which gave me great peace.
I learned a valuable lesson: God is anxious to help us and bless our efforts. One of my favorite texts is 2 Corinthians 8:9: “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for our sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.”
My husband and I began visiting churches throughout the Atlantic Union, sharing the mission of ASI and church members to attend the upcoming spring conference. We even flew to Bermuda (where we saw the beach for only 20 minutes). We were always graciously received and given time to speak. The effectiveness of that approach was not evident until the conference itself. Attendees came from every church we’d visited!
Two months prior, only about 23 people had signed up and I had planned for 150. Frantically, I prayed. The hotel graciously offered to move our event to a smaller room to ease the financial risk my husband and I had assumed in making larger plans. All the while I had been witnessing to the sales and event managers at the hotel. When I saw the “smaller” room, I literally cried.
“Lord!” I said. “This is a disgrace to your name!”
The hotel managers said they would try to book another meeting in our original space, but if they couldn’t, we could have the ballroom back. I prayed, “Lord please intercede.” All of a sudden, registration began to increase—but by then the ballroom was gone. One week before the conference, we had 143 registrants and a room that held 60 people. But God intervened again. Two days before the conference, we got the ballroom back. Our 153 attendees were truly blessed by the spiritual presentations and music.
I had set an offering goal of $40,000. Many thought it was unattainable, so I was nervous Sabbath morning as the offering was counted. How happy I was to find out that we had exceeded our goal!
We now have a superb board with great officers and a corporate view toward missions. “It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear” (Isaiah 65:24). When we yield our resources to Him, holding nothing back, the windows of Heaven open and there are no obstacles
