The new year gives fresh opportunities to serve, give, and... Act for Christ! This month was crazy for us! Once it became clear that we were traveling to America for a fundraising trip, all of the normal activities continued while we tried to put everything else for the trip in order. Our trip will be mainly in Texas and along the eastern time zone, visiting our supporters, seeing friends, and (of course) seeking more financial partners for the the next two years of ministry. In brief, we need to increase our monthly giving by at least $2,000 a month to stay in Slatina. We know this is a hard time for everyone, but we trust God can meet our needs. If 50 people give $40 a month or 30 people give $60 a month or 20 people give $100 a month then we would be funded enough to continue working in Romania. Here are the bullet points of what we're doing here in Romania, and even some plans for the future:
In brief, this is what's happened in January, and we continue to look forward to great things in the future with God's help! Prayer, Praise, People Here's a snapshot of how to pray for the ministry right now:
The Month in PicturesSPOTLIGHT: ContentmentMost Christians hear Philippians 4:13 in isolation, with a bubble of encouragement wrapped around it. Perhaps with the best of intentions, and hopefully not with a desire to "tell people what they wanna hear," this single verse is used as a slogan or life verse for self-improvement that promises God is on your side. Whatever it is you want to do, Christ strengthens you for it: making money, starting a business, getting that girl or boy you want, hitting the right weight class, succeeding in your sport, starting a family, being able to retire without financial fear, and a host of other possibilities I've personally heard. But if that's what we think this passage is saying, we're taking this text out of context (i.e. wrong). This isn't about us getting whatever we want or think we need – it's about contentment rooted in a relationship with Jesus. With our concerns squarely placed on the One who saved us, we're freed up to be thankful, hopeful, helpful, and ready for the work God's graced us to do. Read the passage, click here to read more about the contentment Paul discusses in this passage, and join us this year in learning the great joys of giving and the gain of godliness with contentment (1 Timothy 6:6)! Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, think about these things. As for the things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked an opportunity to act. Not that I speak from need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with little, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my difficulty. You yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving except you alone; for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs. Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek the profit which increases to your account. But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen. I love God's Word! I look forward to focusing on what the Word says about giving this year, and occasionally turning our SPOTLIGHT on missionaries all over the world. I hope that you, just as I have as of late, learn even more about biblical giving this year, and that it builds up in you a joy and a thankfulness to God for the privilege of being a part of His work on earth.
Now, our UNITY Questions! But since the SPOTLIGHT was on a biblical passage, how in the world will we do these? Simple: we're starting to ask our friends and family and financial partners these questions that unite us all. So every month that we feature a biblical text, our Unity Questions will come from someone you just might know personally, so please check back regularly to see who's next. This month, the beginning of 2022, seemed like a fitting place to feature the answers of the one who was DAVID's beginning – Barbara Clinkscales:
Have a wonderful rest of your month, everyone, and thank you for reading our E-Newsletter! If you'd like to see the previous or next month, click these navigation buttons below, or view the archives from the BLOG link above to view other posts from other months of previous years!
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AuthorThe Clinkscales Family give you the details of ministry in Romania in 2022! ArchivesCategories |