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Happy New Year!
Dec 30, 12:33 PM
Dear Friends,
It is with great joy that I greet you on the threshold of the new year. As I write this, my heart is filled to overflowing with thankfulness for all of you who have expressed your love and support for us in this new venture in our lives. We are in your debt. We thank God in every remembrance of you, continuously lifting you up in our prayers. I believe that there are many out there who we do not even know who also follow our ministry. You somehow stumbled on the KRM web site and now are being drawn to the goodness of God by what they see and experience here. May God richly bless each of you. You are precious to the One who created you!
The trip to Tanzania was terrific. I was elated to see that the pastors with whom we met are still excited about the teaching we did there in June. It has revolutionized their ministries. They feel so empowered! They are enthusiastic about their work and have grown closer to their people. Prior to the training, I feel that there was a great deal of fear among them. In some ways they felt helpless and separated from the people they are called to serve. But in our ministry to them, we taught that they have an important role in the work of God. They are not helpless bystanders to God’s initiatives but are able ministers who are not called to rule over people but to serve them in love and humility. As we put the tools in their hands to better accomplish the work, it has liberated and inspired them! All of them reported renewed vitality in their churches and a closer partnership between themselves and the people. This has enabled the laity to rise up and become full partners in the ministry as it should be! Part of the joy of working in that setting is that a little goes a long way. Even basic principles of preaching, leadership, and discipleship can make a monumental difference in the course of the ministry. This will have a major impact on the course and quality of the life of the people there.
Your partnership with us has made all of this possible and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. The research I did as part of the training of the pastors is the essence of my dissertation work. I hope to complete and defend the dissertation by the Spring of 2008. I have already completed the first draft of the final two chapters.
I am excited to report that we have added a Professor from the Dodoma Bible College in Tanzania to our Beeson International Leaders program at Asbury Seminary. He will begin the process of earning his doctorate with us in the fall of 2008. This is a huge step forward for the church in Tanzania.
My son Justin had a terrific time traveling with me. It was such a thrill for me to share that time with him. He is an extraordinary young man. It was his first trip to Africa. The Tanzanian church leaders honored him, included him, and loved him. He got to see so many new things and many new animals in the game preserve. Justin has often said that whatever he is called to do, it will have an international impact.
As we look to 2008, there are great things on the horizon. I am honored to be able to pour life into our American and International leaders through the Beeson Program. It is a joy to be able to teach and hopefully inspire these wonderful doctoral students. We have two new classes, one residential and one international, coming on board this year. The new book “The Will of God” should be available by the first of February. I am speaking at our Ministry Conference in Orlando in February and leading a men’s retreat in North Georgia right after that. I have invitations to speak in Malaysia and the Philippines which I believe we will accept as soon as scheduling and funding issues are resolved. The church leaders in Kenya have asked that we go there to teach and empower them as well. The ministry is expanding and our opportunities abound. Sandy is fully involved in all of this and we are praying for more opportunities for her to share her life with others.
Truly God is fulfilling all of His promises to us when he called us into this venture. The greatest joy for Sandy and me, however, is being able to share it with all of you. May you be blessed in 2008. We love you dearly.