Happy New Year! I love celebrating the start of a new year because it reminds me that God upheld us through the past year, and we can count on that faithfulness as we enter a new one. It can be tempting to put our hope in our own goals, resolutions, or plans for the year. But God offers a better hope:
Therefore, get your minds ready for action by being fully sober, and set your hope completely on the grace that will be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed.
1 Peter 1:13
EQUIP
At the start of 2021, we chose a word that summarized our goals and prayers for the year, which was the word EQUIP. God worked through the ministry of Ethnos360 Training to equip 31 missionary candidates for cross-cultural ministry. Many of the graduates of the April class are making travel plans as they prepare to move to a new country this year and begin ministry. Currently, 91 missionary candidates are in classes here as they prepare for church planting and Bible translation. There are over 6,000 unreached people groups in the world with no church and no ongoing mission work. We are thankful that God used our ministries here to equip those who will go to reach those people groups. (The website Joshua Project has helpful definitions and statistics about the phrases “unreached” and “least reached,” along with information about people groups around the world.)
SUSTAINABLE
As we look ahead at 2022, please pray with us that we can be wise in ministry that is SUSTAINABLE. That is the word God has laid on our hearts to keep us focused on what He has for us. With new training and new skills, Nick and I are both able to serve in more areas on campus. But we do not want to start new things that are not sustainable for our marriage, our family, and our ministries. Our prayer for the new year is that we remain faithful and committed to the things we already have, adding new things in a sustainable way. Please pray for us!
New Things Coming in 2022:
- I am making plans to begin NILD educational therapy here on campus. Pray for wisdom in creating a good schedule that is sustainable for our family.
- Naomi turned 5 and will start Kindergarten in the fall. Even though it is months away, it is on our hearts as we consider what a new and big change it brings to our family! Pray as we start preparing her now for that time outside our home.
- Nick is always working on something new, though it’s hard to predict what it will be each week! There is a need for new housing on campus, so pray that the BGM team can start that construction project.
Another area where we want to foster sustainable growth is in our relationships with our ministry partners. We truly pray for you all regularly, and we will continue to update you on our lives here. Let us know if there is a best way to stay in touch with you and sustain a relationship. You are a key part in our ministry here, and we are SO thankful for that! We are always open to new ways of staying connected.
THANK YOU for the prayers, the support, the e-mails, texts, and notes, and the many ways that we are cared for so well.
What are you looking forward to in 2022? Let us know if you have a word, a goal, a praise, or a prayer request as you look ahead to this upcoming year.
The Lord deserves praise.
Psalm 68:19
Day after day he carries our burden,
the God who delivers us.