Look what God has done! - All in April begins
As we are getting ready to launch our 2nd annual All in April Campaign tomorrow, we have been looking back over this past year since Mark left his full-time job with the bank. We are AMAZED at what the Lord has done and we want to share a few highlights with you.
Family:
Mark’s mom has Parkinsons and Dementia. While her decline has been much quicker than any of us would have predicted, we have seen God faithfully provide a room in a great care facility. We are thankful for the staff and caregivers there.
Christian- God has given Christian a new job that he loves. It has been a joy to see him excel in a new role that has greater responsibilities.
Darby & Major- God has been faithful to care for Darby during her pregnancy. She is due with our first grandchild in May. Darby has a heart condition that puts her as a high risk pregnancy. God has been so gracious in His tender care of Darby and our grandson!
Maddie- God has given Maddie a clear path as to what to do next in ministry. She has a passion for youth ministry and she will be starting, Lord willing, this fall an online college through her church to study theology while having hands-on experience with different ministries in her church.
Peyton- Peyton has been loving 11th grade. God has given her a love for writing. The Lord may be opening a door for Peyton to go to a writing conservatory for college. Peyton’s mission with writing is to author books for middle schoolers/junior highers that are both highly engaging and God honoring.
Reese- God has provided a new tool to help Reese communicate. It is called Spelling 2 Communicate and God has used this to show us that Reese is very intelligent. Today, during her lesson, Reese was learning about a Swiss scientist. Her technician asked Reese since the scientist was Swiss, what country was he from? REESE SPELLED OUT SWITZERLAND! We have never taught her about Switzerland. This is called “prior knowledge” that many nonverbal autistic people just seem to have. This thrills our hearts to no end, because although we long for Reese to be able to communicate with the world, our greatest desire is for her to understand the Gospel and love Jesus with her whole heart. God is giving us a gift to see that Reese is more than capable to understand His Word and to know Him!
For us- God has been so patient in growing us in our dependence on Him. Our Refiner has been showing us sin that lurks in our hearts, so that by the Spirit’s power we can kill it. Our Good Shepherd has been guiding us to find Him more precious and satisfying than any blessing He could possibly give to us. He is transforming our hearts so that we can joyfully and honestly sing “All to Jesus I surrender. All to Him I freely give. I will ever love and trust Him, in His presence daily live.”
Ministry:
When we did the first All in April Campaign last year, we were at 33% of our monthly support needed with 1 supporting church. Currently, we are at 60% with 6 supporting churches! We praise Jesus for our partners in the Gospel!
God continues to provide in ways both big and small. Although it hasn’t happened as we expected or prayed for, he has been faithful. We are amazed at what God has done and are excited to see how he will provide in the future.
God has brought us teams for both the Northern Africa and Romania trips this summer! We can’t wait to share with you all that God is going to do through these ministry trips!
That leads us to our All in April Campaign this year. We have three goals for the All in April campaign this year.
We would ask that you pray for us every day in April. We cannot do what we are doing without God. We know that. We appreciate the prayers and encouragement as we seek to serve Him.
Along with partnership development, we are leading ministry teams to Northern Africa, Romania, and Southeast Asia in 2025. When we are fully supported, the cost of those trips will be part of the support we raise. Those trips will cost us approximately $16,000 this year. Because we are not yet fully supported, we would be grateful if you would prayerfully consider supporting these strategic trips through a special donation during All in April. Any funds received above the $16,000 will go to our general support account.
Between now and the end of April, we are praying that 10 people will commit to supporting us at $100 a month. Please pray with us and if you are not supporting us monthly, please consider if God may be leading you to give in this way.
