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    The Potters…

    are missionaries helping every people group around the world have the chance to understand the gospel and have access to a thriving church. We are serving with the International Ministries Office as it assists Ethnos360 and its Global Partners.

    Keep up with us on Instagram…

    joeldpotter

    Heading in the right direction⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ [4 min Heading in the right direction⁠⠀
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[4 minute read...it's worth it 😉]⁠⠀
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So, guess what?! We got some great news the other night.⁠⠀
When our six-month partnership and community development time finished in August, we knew that we probably wouldn’t reach the goal we set for 2020: to see an additional $2020 of monthly sustaining support committed. But, we were still SUPER encouraged with what God did on our behalf through you all, especially considering the insanely unexpected circumstances that we all faced this year.⁠⠀
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We just didn’t realize exactly how he had answered our prayer until we looked at our numbers for the whole year.⁠⠀
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Guys, the numbers are just numbers, but they represent for us the ability to continue serving full-time in this important ministry. At a quick glance, we are so happy to say that the numbers are going in the right direction! When it’s all averaged out (combining regular promised support with other one time gifts), here’s where we started the year: we were at 51% of what is recommended. Now, here’s where we are at as we finish out 2020: 64% of what is recommended! That’s a 13% increase and that is AMAZING!⁠⠀
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Overall, we’re really encouraged by the blessing behind these numbers. We had new families join our community of sustaining supporters and we’ve had others who have increased their support amounts.⁠⠀
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Now, because we need to be transparent, we’re still ending up this year at just 64% of what Ethnos360 asks us to raise, to do our ministry well, and take care of the needs of our family. And that’s why we’re going to keep working at this effort in 2021.⁠⠀
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God is ALWAYS FAITHFUL. So we won’t say the cliché “God’s been faithful”. We realize that by saying that, it makes it sound like that if we don’t have a certain amount of support, then He’s not being true to His Word and character. What is right to say is that whether in abundance or need, we’ve learned how to be content in His faithfulness.⁠⠀
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#thepottermission #equippingthechurch #trainingforministry #foundationalbibleteaching
    [2-minute read]⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ I’m tired these day [2-minute read]⁠⠀
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I’m tired these days. You probably are too. But I think I know of some people who might be wearier than us both. The believers in Asia that Bethany and I have been helping to equip in the training program that started back in June are downright exhausted.⁠⠀
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These dear friends and fellow members of the Body of Christ are faithful in walking with God in, let’s just say, less than friendly circumstances when it comes to religious freedom. They live in economically depressed parts of their countries and everyday life carries much more challenge for them than it does for us.⁠⠀
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Add to that the ravaging effects of COVID-19 and you have people almost at a breaking point. But wait, they all embarked on a two-year training journey with us and have been completing college-level courses online in a language that’s not their first language.⁠⠀
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They’re tired. They have every reason to be.⁠⠀
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Fortunately, they have a long break right now. They’re a few weeks into what will be an 11-week break before the next class, a class on the sweetest book in scripture, the book of Romans.⁠⠀
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Honestly, many are weary and even contemplating stepping out due to the load. So, let’s band together to pray for these men and women. Let’s ask the Lord:⁠⠀
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* To give them rest during this break⁠⠀
* For clarity on whether it’s just tiredness suggesting they step out or really the Lord’s leading⁠⠀
*That they would continue to realize His sufficient grace in their circumstances⁠⠀
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These students are sweet folks, men and women, Dads, and Moms who we would love to see finish this program and get this training. They need our prayers right now!⁠⠀
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#thepottermission #equippingthechurch #trainingforministry #foundationalbibleteaching
    I think we all wished, even just a little, that th I think we all wished, even just a little, that the moment our clocks, watches, phones, sundials (well, that didn’t exactly work at midnight) rolled from 11:59:59 PM to 12:00:00 AM on January first, we’d feel different or we’d sense some kind of sweeping renewal, erase or one massive “UNDO”.⁠⠀
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That wasn’t my experience. Mostly, I was tired from watching old episodes of the Fresh Prince with my older two boys (quite an experience I tell ya!) while we waited to greet 2021.⁠⠀
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Honestly, I wasn’t expecting what I was hoping for. I knew that calendars don’t have the sovereignty to change the affairs of mankind. The hope I invested in that pipe dream of unnatural undoing, was nothing compared to the hope I can invest in the one who truly is sovereign and at the same time, “with us” and is the very definition of love.⁠⠀
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I read something in my Advent devotional (which was so encouraging this season!) a day later that was truly encouraging and I wanted to share it with you. The author of the devotional is sharing his thoughts as well as recalling a song that was a part of the devotional.⁠⠀
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“From eternity past, God knew what was coming your way in 2020. He knows all of our circumstances. Even more, He designs our circumstances to maximize our sanctification and to maximize His glory in our lives. God is the perfect Teacher. He knows which lessons we need to learn.”⁠⠀
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He had just mentioned a piece of music with this:⁠⠀
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“As today's song by Maverick City Music says:⁠⠀
‘I’ve got beauty for ashes;⁠⠀
And I've got joy for mourning;⁠⠀
And I've got praise for heaviness.’⁠⠀
Praise God for the beauty and joy He will bring.”⁠⠀
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Friends, where we find the ashes of our lives, God brings beauty. Where we find ourselves mourning, grieving for lost things, big and small, God is a joy-bringer. And with all heaviness, so much heaviness, God makes it possible for us to Praise Him!⁠⠀
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\\ Devotional Author: Matthew Weathers & Photo: My Mom, edits: me⁠⠀
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#thepottermission #newyear2021
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