Sunday, September 14, 2014

New Aspect of Ministry: Encouraging Words


As many of you know, I love reading the biographies of great men of the faith, especially those men of God who were courageously and lovingly preaching the gospel in the open-air. One of the things I have so appreciated about the lives of some of the evangelists and the pastors I've studied is the way they encouraged others through written correspondences.

I know how encouraged the family and I are when we receive a note or letter of encouragement from one of you. Thank you! Keep 'em coming! :-)

My eldest daughter, Michelle, has the gift of encouragement. All her life, she has shown great compassion for others. She weeps with those who weep and mourns with those who mourn. Michelle's life has been filled to overflowing with medical challenges. Yet, since she was just a baby, she has taken hard times in stride, with amazing faith and endurance. There have been times in Michelle's life in which I was the student and she was the teacher--showing me what faith and courage really look like.

Michelle had the idea of encouraging people through written correspondences. She was going to do it on her own, but I thought it would be a wonderful way for the two of us to love God and love people, together. So, I would like to announce the formation of a new aspect of Cross Encounters Ministries called "Encouraging Words." We hope to have a new section of the website dedicated to this new aspect of ministry, sometime soon.

In the meantime, let me give you a snapshot of what "Encouraging Words" will look like.

As Michelle and I come across people on social media or in our day-to-day lives who we think could benefit from some encouragement, we will send them handwritten correspondences in an effort to lift their spirits. When the situation warrants a more significant response, we will advise folks, either through the website or through the newsletter, of the need for a concerted effort to bring someone "encouraging words." People will be directed how to get their cards and letters to us. We will then, in turn, box up the "encouraging words" and send them to the person (people) in need.

The passage of Scripture that will serve as our motivator and reminder will be 1 Thessalonians 5:9-11, which reads:

"For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing."

Sadly, we will begin "Encouraging Words" on a difficult note.

For some time, a beautiful young lady (pictured at top) by the name of Cara Hansen (Harris) battled Leukemia. It saddens me to report that she has passed away. Cara was, and still is, and will always be, a follower of Jesus Christ. While we mourn her departing, we rejoice that she will never again face and feel the ravages of cancer. Cara left this world at 6:15 AM, Sunday, September 14. She is now in the presence of the Lord!

Her dad, Brian Harris, is a friend of mine. Needless to say, the Harris Family is in need of encouragement from the Body of Christ. So, please, join us in providing the Harris Family with some "encouraging words."

Mail your cards and letters ONLY (NO GIFTS OR MONEY) to:

Revival-USA
P.O. Box 220087
Newhall, CA 91322

Since we will forward all cards and letters to the Harris Family in a single mailing, your card or letter MUST be postmarked NO LATER than Monday, September 29, 2014. Anything postmarked after that date MAY NOT be delivered to the Harris Family.

I hope you will join Cross Encounters Ministries in providing "encouraging words" to the Harris Family.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Thank you for sharing your comment. Your comment is under review.

Comments that are profane and/or blasphemous in nature will not be posted. Comments including links will not be posted. Comments deemed otherwise inappropriate will not be posted.