THANKS TO LOTTIE...

2008-11-24T13:59:00.017+03:00

* * * 2009 UPDATE * * *

Thanks to previous gifts to the Cooperative Program and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, IMB missionaries serving in Kenya and Tanzania (now serving in the "new" Eastern Sub-Cluster of the "new" Equatorial Cluster of the "new" Sub-Saharan African Peoples Affinity Group ) met November 27-29 for the 2009 Spiritual Retreat with the theme of LOVE... ENCOURAGE... PRAY FOR... ONE ANOTHER. As the missionaries listened to the testimonies, praises, prayer needs and Bible teachings of one another, it was definitely a time of loving, encouraging and praying for one another! Thank you for this needed opportunity of spiritual renewal and refreshment - it could not have happened had you not given to the Lottie Moon Offering!

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Quotes offered by participants at the 2008 Spiritual Retreat.

…I have been able to see the truth and strength of the Word change the lives of Kenyans.

…I was able to singularly focus on the mission to which God has called me – as opposed to being continually divided with logistics, finances, ministry, etc.

…I was Christ’s Ambassador as I travel throughout Sub-Sahara Africa seeing God use local believers and missionaries to grow the kingdom. I write stories and take pictures to send back to America to motivate Southern Baptists to come and be where God can use them.

…I have the privilege and joy to drive a 4WD truck over volcanic rocks, through volcanic ash, over hills, down ravines, through dry river beds to get to Maasai who have never heard the name of Jesus. Then I have the joy and honour to tell them about the only Saviour and Lord, Jesus Christ and celebrate as some trust Him personally as their Lord and Saviour!

…I am able to serve God by coming alongside of Him in what He is doing in the lives of our people group.

…I am God’s Fellow Worker as I work along side Kenyan Baptists to further God’s Kingdom. We teach each other and work hand in hand to share God’s love and salvation – this couldn’t happen if we did not have the Lottie Moon Offering support!

…I helped an old pastor named Henry receive small group training that will help his church members be obedient and accountable.

…Our children’s schooling needs are met so that we can focus the majority of our energy on sharing Christ with others.

…We can gather annually for fellowship and renewal.

…My family has been blessed to answer God’s call on our lives to serve Him in Africa. We are blessed to be able to be the hands, feet and mouth of the body of Christ to the homeless and least fortunate here, sharing the hope and love we have through Christ. Being here and seeing the depth of need and the work that God does in our hearts is the most exciting thing I can imagine doing with my life!

…I am able to help my fellow missionaries tell the stories of their people groups. I am able to help them raise awareness of how people can pray for their work and challenge people to think about missions.

…I am Upheld by God’s Hand as Lottie provides me with a place to live, a car to drive, and our kids are able to go to great schools. Our medical needs are taken care of. Through the generosity of Southern Baptists, we are able to focus on our work without the stresses of these things and we can focus on making Jesus known.

…I was Loved by God as I and my family were supported through a serious and lengthy illness.

…I was God’s Fellow Worker as I work and live among an unreached people group who need to know Jesus Christ.

…I was Upheld by God’s Hand as I and my family have transport, income, medical coverage, and a safe place to live because of support from Southern Baptist churches in America.

…My child was able to be med evac-ed from our former home in a small country to a major city in order to receive the lifesaving medical care he needed.

…I was able to be at a village baptism for 100 people!

…We are able to work with seven young adults on Sunday night who are now forming their own storying groups with as many as eleven people. Thank you for allowing me to see the ripple affect of God’s Bible Stories.

…I have the privilege to serve my Lord and Saviour as a Worker in His Harvest Field. As I see the fruits of the labourers who have been before me, I an inspired and encouraged to stay the course and continue taking the Gospel to where it has not been. The promise that I stand on is that His Word will not return void.

…I was Upheld by God’s Hand as I dealt with a family crisis knowing that I was supported with prayer, counseling, medical coverage and surrounded with spiritual power.

…I am able to meet weekly with a young woman who desires to grow in her ability to serve our Heavenly Father.

…I have a reliable internet system that allows me to do my work which includes sharing prayer needs.

…I am able to serve outside of America. God has taken me to places, literally and figuratively, I never could have gone to on my own – exciting! God has taken me to places, physically and spiritually, where He was ALL I had, which taught me to desperately cling to Him even more.

…Four of my family members who were at death’s door were able to get expert medical care and are healthy today.

…I have lived a minister’s dream – witnessing, training and being a part of an incredible harvest!

…I have been able to share Christ with people who had only heard of God, Jesus, Christianity, but had no idea about the real Truth.

...God has allowed me to love on others across the globe and show them His Love.

…I have been challenged to be faithful with what God has led me to accomplish in His kingdom.

…I was Upheld by God’s Hands when medically my own hands and arms could not be held up!

…I was God’s Fellow Worker as I invested in the lives of Kenyan church leaders who are students at our local Baptist seminary. The giving of Southern Baptists committed to the Great Commission makes it possible for IMB teachers to multiply themselves through the lives and ministries of the enthusiastic Kenyan Baptists who attend our school.

…My husband and I have the privilege to share the Gospel in many areas of Kenya in mud huts, in the urban well-built homes, in the slums, and even in Maasai bomas made of cow dung.

…We were able to show the JESUS film in IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) camps and help lead very needy people to Christ.

…I am able to have a good 4wd vehicle to drive over very bad road to go to people who would not otherwise hear the Gospel.

…I am able to disciple over 75 ladies in church planting. I am able to experience the extreme joy and peace which God provides when you surrender to His call to full time mission work.

…I was Upheld by God’s Hand as I dealt with a family crisis knowing that I was supported with prayer, counseling, medical coverage and surrounded with spiritual power.

…We were Upheld by God’s Hand as we left behind ageing parents in their 90’s, an unsold home, our precious children, and 11 grandchildren. Without the financial concerns of raising support money, we were able to be obedient to God’s call on our live and in all matters we were able to let go…and Let God!

…My wife and I can be together, work together, and do our little part together to serve the Lord. What a joy to be around not only IMB people but others that serve in other sending agencies.

…I am able to see first hand what God is doing in His vineyard!

…I am able to continue Lottie’s work of spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ to unreached people. I am able to be a part of Southern Baptists spreading out around the world to share the love of Christ.

…I was able to fulfil God’s calling upon my life and come to Africa as His Fellow Worker. I was able to work as a church planter in His Harvests in Zimbabwe and Botswana where many people received Jesus as their Saviour. My husband and I were able to plant 30 Baptist churches, as well as train leaders and Bible teachers in these churches.

…I was Christ’s Ambassador as I taught large groups of children about Jesus.

….I was Loved by God and given His grace as my two sons had to leave home and attend a boarding school to finish their high school educations.

…My husband and I are able to invest in the lives of others as we now teach the Word of God to students at the Kenya Baptist Theological Seminary. Thanks to Lottie these same students will carry the Gospel throughout Eastern and Central Africa as they become ambassadors of Jesus Christ.

…I was Loved by God as I went through one of the most stressful trials of my life and needed medical care. Through Lottie, I was well cared for by some of the very best physicians. I was Upheld by God’s Hand through it all and an continuing to be upheld each day as I now serve in Africa.

…I can live out my personal call from God to live in a foreign country and share Jesus daily. I am grateful that Southern Baptists enable me to be here and spend my full time doing what God has led me to do. Thanks for your faithfulness in giving!

…There will thousands in heaven shaking the hands of those who gave to Lottie Moon saying, “Thank you, because you gave, I’m here today!”

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Lottie Moon Christmas Offering provides for all missionary needs – not all our wants, but all our needs! Our first three years in mission work was as independent missionaries. Serving God without the worry of fundraising is a “breath of fresh air.” We can now do what God has called us to do without that hardship. There is NO greater life than to live your life in obedience to the Master. He is worth it and we thank you for giving!

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aaaaaaaaaaaBecause you give to Lottie Moon, your investment is eternal
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand interest is the highest available!
aaaaaaaaaaaaaa(from one who knows - an IMB missionary in Kenya)