Here in Kansas, despite the cold temperatures that usually accompany Christmastime, it isn’t uncommon to see a young boy outside riding a brand new bicycle on Christmas Day – and I always enjoy seeing the smile on his face at he tries out his new bicycle.

This week, although it would seem odd, we were able to see smiles on the faces of adult men who received the gift of a bicycle. It wasn’t at Christmas time, and, although we are in Kansas, the men weren’t.

Earlier this year, we received a Gospelink newsletter (Gospelink is an organization in the States which allows families to sponsor native missionary pastors in a foreign country; many of whom can be fully supported for $110 a month; you can often choose the pastor you would like to support; and you may write letters back and forth to your pastor – more information below). Many of the native missionary pastors that are sponsored through Gospelink have no form of transportation, and will often walk many miles to minister and share the gospel in villages near (or far) from their homes. In fact, at one point, when we asked a pastor that we support what his means of transportation was to the villages that he ministers to, he wrote back that his means of transportation was his feet.

The Gospelink newsletter mentioned that they had received a “matching donation offer” of several thousand dollars towards bicycles for pastors that had no transportation: for every dollar given towards bicycles during a set period of time, this other donor would match with another dollar (up to several thousand dollars of matching funds). Each bicycle cost $75 (US funds). As it was an incredible opportunity to help poor pastors advance the gospel, and at the same time was a great way to increase one’s financial gift, some in the family were excited to contribute towards the project.

Just this past week we received a thank you letter from the Gospelink National Director in the particular African country where the bicycles were purchased and then distributed. Accompanying the hand-written (and then photocopied) letter were photos of the pastors receiving and trying out their new bicycles. The joy that was on the faces of these pastors was a thrill to our hearts – and we hope it encourages you as well.

If you, your family, your church, or possibly your home church, is interested in fully or partially sponsoring a native missionary pastor, please visit or contact Gospelink.org.

We have been so blessed as we are approaching the half-way point on this trip. Being away is difficult, but we love being together and sharing as a family. The hearts vary greatly in each city, but there are always some that respond to the challenge to draw closer to Jesus and throw the world out of their home. Here is an email that thrilled my heart that I just received.

"Steve and Terri, I would like to thank you for ministry! I’ll admit that I was not the one who raised my hand when you challenged the entire conference on removing the beast, but when I got home I was so convicted that I removed BOTH beasts from our house. I have to admit that it was a very uplifting experience, stepping out and doing something in faith, even when my flesh cried out NOOOOOOO! I know my family will be blessed by this decision and my wife and I are very excited about what lies ahead. Thank you again and may God bless the rest of your ‘tour’." A dad of a home set free.

It is good to see Christopher and Sarah sharing their hearts with the young men and young women. They are blessed and challenged as they share with homeschooling children whose hearts range from tender towards the Lord Jesus to well, let’s say, just shy of openly hostile towards the things of the Lord. I’m sure the parents of the rebellious young people were praying that their children would respond to the message. Dad and Mom, don’t ever think that homeschooling is enough if your desire is to raise men and women of God.

If God would prompt you, please, please, pray for our meetings. We have seen God do a mighty work in many, many, hearts. He is the One that must do the work.

In Christ Jesus,
Steve

As I mentioned last week, we’ve just started our 22nd year of homeschooling. The Mom’s Corner for this month discusses some of the scheduling changes that we’ve made over the past week in starting school once again. Even now, we continue to modify our schedule as our needs change.

If you would like to read the Corner online, click for the September Mom’s Corner.

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Trusting In Jesus,
Teri

We’ve been sending the September Corner’s over the past few hours. My Dad’s Corner is based upon some of the interactions we had at the County Fair outreach, and also brings up the issue of Youth Mission Trips.

If you would like to read the Corner, here is the September Dad’s Corner.

If you would like to receive the Corner’s each month via e-mail, click here to subscribe.

In Christ,
Steve