Missions Emphasis 2019

Most of you are aware at the end of this month I will be traveling with Oasis World Ministries to India where we will be dedicating multiple wells, a few new churches and participating in 5 Star Evangelism specifically the “One Minute Witness” training. We will journey around many parts of the country. Thousands of pastors and leaders will be trained on how to effectively share their testimony and some will teach others (more about this later).

We just completed our 2019 missions emphasis weekend and had a great Appreciation Dinner with nearly 50 people in attendance. Al K. had a great message and if you missed it you should ask somebody about his pickle testimony. Sunday morning was just as exciting with Gary Gilbertson sharing from the Word and giving a brief synopsis of Prepare Ministries which works with college students and provides mentoring at multiple colleges throughout the Midwest. Part of our missions emphasis each year is asking everyone to prayerfully consider making a missions faith promise. I’ve already received a number of them which is very encouraging. I’m hoping many of you will take the time this week to fill out your faith promise. This is more than a yearly financial pledge for our missions department, but a major prayer initiative; something you would post on your fridge, on your bathroom mirror, near your bed, or inside your Bible. Let’s believe together that God will meet our need for this special faith promise, which includes praying for missionaries every time you see your card.

Let’s go back to the opening statement about my upcoming mission trip. I am very serious that my biggest desire from our local congregation is for your prayers, not your financial support. Seriously, the most important thing is your prayers for open doors, safety in every village and that our team remains healthy while in country. If you choose to help beyond that, thank you, but I hope you hear my heart. Some of you have already sent me support, once again, thank you so much! Wow, I’m overwhelmed.

Please consider how you will connect with our 2019 missions focus at Hawthorne Assembly. Hopefully in the next 12 months a handful of missionaries supported by our fellowship will visit us and share updates and great testimonies about what’s happening in the field. My hope is you will be blessed by every missionary over these next 12 months and at the same time you will partner with them through your time, talent and treasures. One of the highest priorities for our Missions Advisory Team is doing our part in fully funding the missionaries we currently support. The term missionary includes outreach ministries which are: local, regional, national and worldwide. As an example, helping the local food shelf by bringing them as many cans of soup as we can. If you forgot your can we bought extra you can sponsor a can of soup. The following verse from 2 Corinthians 8 speaks my feelings about our great fellowship. “For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will.” It’s not part of our SOAP reading for this week but consider adding chapter 8 to your list.