How One Conversation Sparked a Vision for Mission Increase
Written by: Steve Sullivan -Area Director, Suncoast, FL
Sometimes the Lord uses the simplest of meetings to bring about the most profound change. Recently, I had lunch with Chris McDaniel, who came prepared to share about a workshop he offers Christian non-profits: “Modeling Generosity Unlocks Financial Resources.” Initially, I thought it would be a valuable resource for our Mission Increase Suncoast organization’s clients. What I did not expect was how God would use that conversation to completely change my heart—and ultimately reshape my vision for our Mission Increase Suncoast community.
As Chris shared, the Spirit of God began to convict me. I realized that while I had been encouraging and equipping others to give, I myself was not personally modeling the very generosity I was asking others to embrace. That realization wrecked me. I couldn’t escape the weight of it. In the days that followed, I prayed and wrestled with God about this gap in my own life. My wife noticed the heaviness in my countenance and asked what was going on. When I explained, she gently asked me the most important question: “What do you want to do about it?”
Together, we sought the Lord and made a decision. We have committed ourselves to a new season of generosity, beginning with a pledge to support Mission Increase Suncoast in a way that surpasses anything we have done before. That step of obedience not only changed us personally but also unlocked a vision I believe God entrusted to me for the organization I serve.
The vision was simple but powerful
If Mission Increase Area Directors across the country modeled personal generosity and invited others into it, each office could build a foundation of long-term financial stability. That stability would allow us to expand the training, equipping, and resources we provide to Christian non-profits in every region where we serve.
I shared this vision with Chris, and his feedback confirmed what I already sensed—that this was wisdom only the Lord could provide. It was Spirit-breathed clarity for the future of Mission Increase. Since then, I’ve asked him to walk alongside me as a leader and volunteer, to help refine and support this new model as we step forward in faith.
What humbles me most is not just the clarity of the strategy but the way God brought it about. One simple lunch meeting became a catalyst for personal transformation, a family’s renewed commitment to generosity, and a new organizational vision that could shape Mission Increase for years to come.
I now believe more than ever that when leaders model generosity, they don’t just unlock financial resources—they unlock spiritual ones. Obedience creates ripples far beyond what we can see. My prayer is that this new season for Mission Increase will be marked by faithfulness, generosity, and multiplied Kingdom impact.