“Missions Emphasis 2022” By Pastor Joe

Most of you are aware, at the end of this month we will celebrate another great year of mission endeavors. February 26th @ 6:30pm is a date to mark on your calendar, which needs your participation and presence. So many great reports from our missionaries who are in the field and back home itinerating will be highlighted. 2021 was excellent, even though no “typical” short-term outreach was completed by our fellowship. However, every trip to Spooner is part of the history making towards our missions commitment. In a very personal way, your support of my Fire Bible trip to Hungary, will always be a special blessing for me. Your prayers and financial support toward the printing of this Bible in the Hungarian language will be ultimately realized in eternity by souls won in the land of the Danube River. COVID will not always be a distraction. People will again have a willingness to step out into the world that needs to hear the good news. My challenge to all of us, including myself, is to forget those things which are now behind us. It’s time to press forward. Our 2022 missions emphasis theme continues to be “Beautiful Feet,” and our annual missions weekend will bring new guests and new stories, with never a dull moment. Nearly 50 people attended last year. Part of our missions emphasis each year is to ask everyone to prayerfully consider making a faith promise, and I anticipate receiving many new supporters this year. Please take the time to fill out your faith promise, even if you cannot attend our appreciation dinner. This is not just a year’s financial pledge for our missions department, but also a major prayer initiative; something you will post on your fridge, on your bathroom mirror, near your bed, or inside your Bible. Together, let’s believe 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 one of the four points from last week’s sermon. My biggest desire from our local congregation is your prayers, not just your financial support. So, let nothing “hinder” you from regular conversation lifting up specific missionaries. Your prayers for open doors, safety in every village, complete health and financial resources for ongoing outreach and opportunities, are always helpful. If you also choose to help financially, thank you, but I pray you hear my heart.

Please consider how you will connect with our 2022 missions focus at Hawthorne Assembly. Our hope is, in the next 11 months, a handful of missionaries supported by our fellowship, will visit us and share updates and great testimonies of what’s happening in the field. I hope you will be blessed by every missionary, 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 to assist in fully funding the missionaries we currently support. The term “missionary” includes local, regional, national and worldwide ministries.

2 Corinthians 8 expresses my hope for 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.”