Month: September 2021

It has long been the goal of our elders to send around 25% of the offerings we receive to missions and other benevolent or ministry related organizations. When we make our annual projection of financial needs and planned giving to others, we try to plan accordingly.

This past year, however, the amount we had planned to send to Andrew Sexton for his work with Casas Por Cristo was not utilized because he resigned his position. When we asked Dave to let us know the current percent of giving that was going to others, he informed us that it is just over 17%, and that even after adding the James Project we would probably end the year at 20%. To bring our percentage closer to where we want to be, the decision was made last week to send special offerings to a couple of our missions for relief work.

As you know, Haiti was recently struck by a devastating earthquake that killed thousands and left more than a million homeless. Fortunately, Haitian Christian Ministries, which we have supported for several years and is in the northern part of Haiti, was not directly impacted by the earthquake. They are, however, sending resources and teams to help those in the south. To assist them in ministering to those who are in even more need than they are, we have sent HCM $5,000.

We also recently learned that Ati Yangmi is distributing much needed food and supplies to villages that have been shut down due to covid restrictions. She has also been working with Jesse’s daughter and husband to set up water filtration systems in villages that must boil or buy the water they need. For $300 they can provide clean drinking water for 200-300 people. Fifteen villages that are ministered to by graduates of LBI have requested such systems, and we are sending $5,000 to meet needs and to help make that possible.

God is obviously blessing us so we can bless others.

God Bless, Rick

When I read something that I think is significant I want to share it, but don’t always know how. I realize the internet is loaded with options for posting things, but I guess I’m old-school. I just make copies of articles, and make books available. The problem is they most often just sit on the shelf in my office. With that in mind, I want to let you know what’s waiting in my office for those who might be interested.

I found several articles in Touchstone that I thought might be of interest to those concerned about reparations, the history of slavery, and “Race, Religion & Reconciliation.” I also found a book by Voddie Baucham, Fault Lines, the social justice movement and evangelicalism’s looming catastrophe, that I found very insightful and frightening. I only have one copy of Voddie’s book, but I’ll be glad to loan it out.

The next book is one that Duane loaned to me, and I bought several copies to make available. Alive: How the Resurrection of Christ Changes Everything is the best defense of belief in the resurrection and how it changes our life that I’ve ever read. Just ask, and a copy will be yours to read…and to share.

The final book is the one we will be studying together on Sunday nights beginning September 19th. When I first read about Living Spiritually in the Material World I have to admit I was skeptical about it. The book cover refers to it as a “Christian self-help book” and it was written by a psychologist. But when I read it, I was blown away.

The author goes beyond psychological approaches to self-help, and focuses on the spiritual guidance that was given by the founders of America’s early colleges to their students. With forty chaplains of Yale recently electing an atheist to be their president, you’ll be amazed to hear, and benefit from, the biblical advice and exhortations that were given by college presidents of the past.

God Bless, Rick