The Gideons- Merry Christmas

Ken Warwick- EFCA in Berlin

Getting stoked about what's happening in this strategizing session about Berlin. We're on the verge of a massive work of God in that great city.

Pray for wisdom and creativity in this strategy

Kathy Keller- Christmas 2012

Hello to you all!

I am about to leave for ....... on a trip with our TIMO team to ........ for a language, culture, meeting up with friends (a few, God willing) extravaganza.I will be gone until December 26th. I will write more about what has been going on here at that time. For those of you who had been praying for our Friday Club kids our last night was two days ago and we had a TON of parents come to our parent night. Oh, that God may use this club in the lives of family members here to draw them to Himself. Some exciting things have happened lately and I see God working and moving in the lives and hearts of people who have been hearing the gospel. Keep praying! Please pray for three people  that I believe God is working in—......, .........., and ........ I look forward to telling you some stories about them soon!

How can you pray for us while we are gone?

Please pray for team unity. When a group of eight people travel to a foreign land there are bound to be some tense moments. Pray that we would be the aroma of Jesus to each other and to all we meet on this trip. Pray for Jenny, myself, Angela, Becca (standing in back) and Matt, Erin, Kayla and Laura (sitting down). Pray this trip will help us to understand the heart language and worldview of our people. They are a lost bunch, and we want to faithfully serve them by knowing more about what makes them tick.

I do pray you have a wonderful Christmas Season in the states or wherever you find yourself in the next few weeks. I am looking forward to sharing more when I get back.

God works through prayer.

Dutton's- Thanksgiving Message 2012

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Issue November 19, 2012

What we are thankful for.... As this time of year approaches, I think it is a great opportunity to truly think about all that the Lord has done in our lives. It is beyond me to comprehend that the God of the universe, to Whom the earth is His footstool, actually loves and cares for all His children and works in our lives in so many ways. So many times we tend to lose sight on all the things He has provided, what He has protected us from, and how many ways He has worked things for good, as we tend to focus our eyes on the things that we don't like or are wrong in our lives, society, etc. As I take this time to shift my eyes upward, I find so many things to thank Him for: A roof over my head, clean water, medicine, sanitation, plumbing, hot water, food, dessert, protection, healthy children, vision, hearing, the ability to walk, the ability to eat food, the ability to smell, my family, friends, ministry, and SO MUCH more. I also want to take the time to THANK HIM FOR YOU and FOR YOUR SUPPORT of Heavenly Hope MInistries. We can't thank you enough for your prayers and generosity. Sometimes it is difficult to continue the work: Opening up our lives to the pain, suffering, and need of others can be heavy, exhausting, messy, and difficult. I also know that it has been the most rewarding, amazing, growing, and wonderful things that God has ever done in our lives and I wouldn't trade it for the world. It is in large part because of YOU that we are able to continue to serve the "least of these" for His glory. If it weren't for your generosity, we couldn't meet the needs of others. If it weren't for your prayers, we wouldn't have the strength, guidance, and protection needed to continue on. In Exodus 17:10-13 we see that when Aaron and Hur held up Moses' hands, Israel would win. Prior to that, whenever Moses' hands fell, Israel would start losing. It took his partners holding up his hands when he became too tired, for them to gain the victory. It is the same with us. We need each other, the body of Christ, and all our supporters to hold up our hands, so that we can continue to gain the victory in the lives of those we serve. So, we THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts! May you have a wonderful THANKSGIVING filled with His peace, joy, love, and blessings. In Him, John & Terina Dutton

Dutton's- Praise Report 11-2012

“For this is not for the ease of others and for your affliction, but by way of equality—at this present time your abundance being a supply for their need, so that their abundance also may become a supply for your need, that there may be equality; as it is written, “HE WHO gathered MUCH DID NOT HAVE TOO MUCH, AND HE WHO gathered LITTLE HAD NO LACK”...2 Cor 8:13-15-

In This Issue: End of the year gift Stats of Christian Spending Current Update/ Needs Catalog Request for Project Tesfa Automatic Monthly Donations "To whom MUCH is given, MUCH is required"...Luke 12:48 STATS: ​ ·If you have a fridge, bed, roof, & clothes in your closet you are in the top 75% richest in the world. · If you make $10,066- you are in the top !6% in worlds wealth. · If your net worth is $61,000-you are one of the 10% richest IN THE WORLD. ·½ of world lives on less than $2/dollars a day. ·Over 1 billion attempt to live on $1/ day. ·It would take an estimated $13 billion to provide basic nutrition to every starving person in the entire world. Christians in the US spend: · $3 billion/ year on bottled water · $4 billion/ year on cosmetics · $7 billion on sports events · $11 billion a year on coffee · $13 billion a year on pets and also on diet programs · $17 billion a year on golf and also on boating · $20 billion a year on soft drinks · $21 billion on cable TV · $76 billion a year on eating out WE LIVE in the top 2%-5% in world!!! We have been given MUCH. What are we doing to bless others with what we have? Do we spend more on our vacations, remodels, pleasures, clothes, and extras in a month than we do on the poor, orphaned, and needy? Billy Graham said this: "give me 5 minutes with a persons checkbook and fincancial records and I will tell you where his heart is". If someone were to look over our financial records what would they say of us. Would they see one who's heart for the poor, orphaned, and needy of this world spilled over into their pocketbook? Would they be blown away by the generosity and lack of selfishness reflected by what was recorded? That is my hope, my encouragement, and my challenge, and I hope that it is yours as well. "Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver" ...2 Cor 9:7. AUTOMATED GIVING: Would you be willing to join the Heavenly Hope Ministries Automated Giving Program? Sign up on our webpage to donate a certain amount per month (any amount from $5 a month and up), and we will send you a bag of fresh Ethiopian Coffee. Click HERE to sign up today. When you get to the FREQUENCY drop down tab select MONTHLY. THANK YOU!!! PRAISE REPORTS and NEEDS: SHONI, ETHIOPIA: Thanks to our ministry partners, One Child Campaign, over $20,000 was just donated for the completion of Shoni, the 3rd orphanage we are working together on in Ethiopia. This is a huge praise report! Currently there are over 25 kids in the sponsorship program here, and hopefully soon, we will begin to move some of them into their new home! M.A.R.K 10:14: 6 months of rent and food were just provided for the kids shelter. This is a huge praise report!!! The are still many things needed for the kids in the M.A.R.K 10:14 ministry including: CLOTHES & SHOES-Summer clothes and shoes are needed for the kids in the shelter. PERSONAL HYGIENE ITEMS-soap, toothpaste, etc. HOLIDAYS-Money for the purchase of food and gifts are needed for the kids in the shelter. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT. To make a donation to support the ministry please click Here: Make sure to select the program you are wanting to support on the drop down tab. THANK YOU!!! END OF THE YEAR GIFT: "I wanted to ask the Lord why He allows starvation, poverty, orphans, etc. but I was afraid He would ask me the same question". As the end of the year approaches we want to encourage you to get your tax deductible donation in! The needs of the ministry are greater than ever as we continue to grow and partner with other organizations in working for His kingdom and His children. At this time, the funds of the ministry are lower than they have ever been. We are partnered with a lot of amazing ministries, doing amazing things for His kingdom, but are finding that we can't support them in the work they are doing. With your generosity, we currently have over 100 children in the child sponsorship program through the 3 orphanages, we are working with street kids through the M.A.R.K 10:14 program, are involved in family sponsorships, and are partnered with 4 at-risk women's groups. Not only this, but we know of MANY other amazing ministries that are looking for support in the work they are doing. I have received email after email of pastors who are unable to feed or provide the basic neccessities for the orphans they are caring for in their church. I get pleas from pastors serving our brothers and sisters in countries of great persecution towards Christians, who are unable to provide basic needs for members in their churches where the husbands, being the only financial supporter of their families, have been put in prison for their faith. Time after time my response is the same, "Im sorry, we can't take on any other projects at this time". Easy to read, but I can't tell you how hard it actually is to tell a pastor you have nothing to give and the feeling of knowing how hard it must be to hear another NO in a desperate situation. IT IS A HEAVY BURDEN. While I know we can't save the world, and I must not carry a burden that the Lord hasn't given me, I do feel the burden of knowing that we, as a church, can do so much more! When I see the stats of how much we spend on so many temporal things I know that we can do so much more and I want to challenge you to join us in doing just that! We, TOGETHER, can change the world one life, one family, one community at a time. What are you willing to sacrifice to join me in this cause? We have been given the resources to end world hunger, give the entire world clean drinking water, and more. Will we??? REQUEST YOUR CATALOG TODAY: Heavenly Hope Ministries will be releasing its first ever Project Tesfa Catalog. It will be full of items you can purchase for Christmas gifts as well as gifts for any other occasion throughout the year. It will have items made by women in Africa such as scarves, handbags/ purses, and beaded jewelry, as well as coffee, silver jewelry, and body products. For more information about Project Tesfa check out our new website at: www.projecttesfa.org

Heavenly Hope Ministries P.O. Box 1224 Fallbrook, CA 92028 www.bringHishope.org

Gideons- Please pray for Eastern Seaboard

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Much of the U.S. eastern seaboard is beginning the recovery from Superstorm Sandy which ripped through more than a dozen states this week.
“We are praying for the safety of all those directly impacted by the storm,” says Craig Warner, Executive Director of The Gideons International.
Please join us in praying that God’s grace and comfort will be upon our brothers and sisters in these areas whose lives are deeply affected by this disaster. Continue to pray for those victims who are now staying in emergency shelters or without power. And please pray that God would open the opportunity for Gideons to share God’s Word and that many people will come to receive Jesus as Lord and Savior.
In the past 90 days, The Gideons International has placed more than one million Scriptures in areas directly impacted by Sandy. Just last month, The Gideons International conducted a Metro Scripture Blitz in New York City in which thousands of Scriptures were distributed.

Johnson's- Help Needed

Dear ministry partners,

On Friday our RG-Europe Business Manager notified us that we will no longer be reimbursed for our ministry expenses since we’ve dropped well below the minimum required reserve in our ministry account.

And if the balance continues to drop, we will also need to take a cut in salary.

This has come about because:

· we’ve chosen not to raise our salary since 2009, being sensitive to economic difficulties experienced by many Stateside

· we’ve lost a few supporters over the past years

· our ministry expenses have been increasing gradually due to inflation, cost of living overseas, and increased non-taxable benefits such as medical, RG allocation, etc

As a result, over these past 12 months through August we’ve averaged a shortfall of about $1000 per month, which means we’ve gradually depleted the reserve we had due to one-time donations.

All this to say, we desperately need churches and individuals to:

· help us with one-time gifts to re-build our reserve so that we can be reimbursed for ministry expenses and also not have to take a cut in salary

· help us with our ongoing monthly support needs

Would you please pray about our needs and consider investing in our ministry to reach Muslims for Christ by adding us to your church or personal budget? Or if you’re already a financial supporter, would you please consider increasing the amount of your support? As you can appreciate, we prefer not to have to return to America prematurely before our summer 2013 Home Assignment.

We trust that our God who has called us to this ministry is the same God who will provide our needs. But we have a responsibility to make our needs known and to invite your prayerful consideration. Admittedly, I’ve been negligent about making these needs known in the past, tending instead to rely on the one-time donations.

As always, we remain extremely grateful for whatever contributions you’ve made in the past, and can make in the future!

For contributions to our ministry:

a) For USA checks, please make payable to "EFCA" , noting “1862, Johnsons support” on memo line. Mail checks or the attached pledge form to: Evangelical Free Church of America, 901 East 78^th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55420-1300.

b) For UK cheques, make payable to “ReachGlobal”, noting “Johnsons support” on the reverse. Post cheques or the pledge form to us at: 117 Sandford Road, Moseley, Birmingham B13 9BU.

c) For online contributions, visit: https://my.efca.org/NetCommunity/SSLPage.aspx?pid=359&des=Johnson-M1862