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New Heights With the holidays behind us I find myself setting my hopes to new heights. What new heights could I be talking about? Those that only comes from embracing our Lord and Savior and those that flow into us through the promises of His Word that penetrates the heart and draws us nearer to Him. Acts 20:32 tells us that the Word of His grace is able to build up and give us our rightful inheritance. God has allowed me some of those precious times since I have been home to spend in meditation with HIM. This year my heart’s desire is to be built up through the Word of His grace and to grow to new heights in the promised inheritance that has already been given to us. I’m not talking about worldly material but rather the inheritance that is promised us as we daily serve Jesus with all our heart, soul, and mind. Through these promises we will be filled to overflowing with the joy of His presence. Hab. 3:19 tells us “The Lord God is my strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army; He makes my feet to walk (not to stand still in terror, but to walk) and make (spiritual) progress upon my high places (of trouble, suffering, or responsibility)!” [AMP] When I think of that verse it encourages me that no matter what comes my way this year God is my strength and He fights on my behalf and helps me to walk each day in Him. Thank God that He walks with us each day leading, guiding and strengthening when we look to Him. I am looking forward to seeing what this year holds with God but I am ever mindful that each day is its own. We never know all that is in the heart or mind of God. We can only seek HIM (God) one day at a time! Ferma Larga Building
Our Need Since I have been home many of you have asked me what are our needs. So this month I decided to take a moment to let you know about the need of our ministry. If you all remember our old blue van died on us last year and with spring just around the corner we are in need of transportation in order to go into the villages as we have done before. And so we still have no means of transportation to continue the outreaches that we feel God has placed into our hands. I have been contemplating on if I should try to purchase a van and make payments on it. However, at this point and time our monthly support base is not financially able to make payments on a van. This would be a used van even on payments. I believe God is able to provide us with the needed transportation and I am asking that you all pray with us that God will make a way where there seems to be no way. We never like to impose on you. Rather, each month when I write our newsletter my deepest desire is to impress upon you the joys of service that our ministry is able to undertake thanks to you. Nevertheless, we do have the critical need of a van. Even a good used van will be no small drop in the bucket. With the high inflation rates of everything in Romania and the switching from the dollar to the Euro and the standard currency, everything has tripled in price. Even the price on a good used van has risen far above the cost of a good used van in America. Presently, we have only 2 options - either buy on credit and make payments (which for a used one will be hard to find) or pay cash for one. The cost for a good used van will be somewhere around $12,000.00 to $12,500.00 - like I said no small drop in the bucket. However, if we all could pull together then God can work a work through us all to bring this about. Would you ask God if you could be of service to Him in helping us with this need? Could you as churches help by giving perhaps a larger amount, as God would lead you toward this need? I know that God will reward you as you faithfully seek Him in your giving because He promises in His word in Luke 6:38; “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” [NIV] Unless this need is met we will no longer be able to go into the villages with the love and message of Jesus Christ. We will not be able to reach out to those homeless families, hospitals, elderly centers, and centers for the handicapped – many of which are in critical need themselves for humanitarian aid. We will not be able to do the weekly children’s programs that God has powerfully seeded in the heart of our co-worker, Lyn Dennis. Also, without transportation we would not be able to go and fulfill the planting of the church that God has so miraculously proven is His will. Nor will we have the means of transportation for all our other needs regarding the foundation. Please take this to heart with us and help us pray that this need will be quickly met. God is able! Please Pray for these engagements. We will be speaking on...........
Thanks to all the Pastors who have asked us to come and share about our ministry. We appreciate your continued interests in the work in Romania. Also, a special thanks to these churches that we already have had the honor of speaking in:
Thanks “First Assembly” (Pastor Randy Reid) and “Fountain of Life Church of God” (Pastor John Jacks) for your generous love offering toward our ministry. May God richly bless you! If you would like for us to come and speak at your church or organization about our work in Romania, please call at 205-755-4000. However, please note I will be returning to Romania on March 15th so make your appointments as soon as you can. Thank You I am always honored to write this portion of our newsletter. For this is the part that truly brings to attention the backbone of the ministry. The credit of the work that is being done in Romania goes strictly to those of you to whom we say thank you every month for your continued support to the ministry, regardless if you support prayerfully or financially. When we received our year-end financial statement from Calvary Ministries (our missions director, Pastor Gene Throop) I could not contain myself from sitting down at my desk and laying hands upon the statement and praying over each name that has so faithfully supported the work God has entrusted in our hands. Many of you I know have dearly made a sacrifice to give monthly as you have and then there are others of you who have given a large one-time gift which we know too was a great sacrifice for you. We want you to know that we appreciate all that you have given so that we can continue to bring a ray of hope to the people of Romania. Through your giving we have been able with joy to continue on in the ministry, which God has entrusted to us. Our prayer is that we will maintain your trust as we press on this year to minister the good news of God’s grace, His unmerited favor and blessings to all who will receive. Be blessed in the mighty name of Jesus as you daily serve Him in whatever capacity that may be. Yours in Christ, Freddy and Rita |
Praise
the Lord! I would like to update you on the building that we were looking at to
purchase in Ferma Larga as a future site for a church. Many of you have given
towards this project and I praise Jesus for your faithfulness to give. We have
reached our goal with some extra. Thanks to all of you, we have received
$7,470.00 as of January 23rd towards the purchase of the
building in Ferma Larga. We have already made contact with the owners to start
the negotiations for purchase of this building with the hopes that we can
purchase an additional acre to secure a plot of land around the church.
Keep us in your prayers as we meet with the owners that they will accept our
offer. God is awesome and always on time! Again, thank you for your
faithfulness to make God’s visions a work in progress. Continue to keep this
in your prayers for a lot of hard work is ahead of us. TO GOD BE ALL THE GLORY!