What an amazing year 2013 has been for our international mission work!
God blessed us with a $1,000,000 community center and a large hammock boat in the Amazon; a fantastic new Executive Director of Operations for JMI (Mary Katharine Hunt); an immensely gifted National Director (Sarah Rodriguez) and logistics coordinator (Thalita Alencar) for our work in the Amazon; a great partner organization in the U.K. with which to collaborate (Justice & Mercy Amazon); and a transitional living home in Moldova that exceeded our wildest dreams. Our Lord has done immeasurably more than we could ask or think and we pray regularly for His continued favor and yours.
Now I’m not a betting man, but if I was, I would “double down” on Jesus when it comes to providing for the poor, the hungry, the orphan and the stranger. Scripture is abundantly clear that Jesus’ compassion was for those who need him most. And Scripture is equally clear that the ones who give the cup of water, loaf of bread or shelter to them are equally noticed and favored.
In September of this year, I reported on our acquisition of Grace House II for orphaned and abandoned girls in Chisinau and asked you and our church to consider making a special gift for God’s home for them. Nothing excites me more or brings me more pride than to think of this safe sanctuary for essentially helpless children. If I can afford to make 360 monthly payments over 30 years on a mortgage for my little family, surely it is not too much to make one additional equivalent payment to provide for kids who have no one else to put a roof over their heads.
My pledge now is to double down on that gift before the end of the year, over and above anything else I will give. I believe that we are saving lives and know we are vastly improving the futures of children appointed for these blessings. I’m hoping that many of you feel the same way and will join me in making a single house payment for God’s kid’s or doubling down yourselves!
Whether it’s a home for orphans in Moldova or a gift toward our work in the Amazon, there is no more appropriate time to go over and above than Christmas. For those of you who are in the position to make an end of year gift, we humbly ask that you remember JMI and the children the rest of the world doesn’t notice!
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