As we move into December, its time to focus on our Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions. Our goal as a church family is $62,000. 

Every penny of this offering will go to the International Mission Board to help reach the unreached with the good news of Jesus. In a lost world that is hurting so badly, no gift you will give this Christmas will be more impactful or strategic. What can you do? 

Pray: As an IMB Trustee, I interact with our missionaries on a regular basis. More than anything else, they covet our prayers. That’s because the work of the gospel is supernatural. Unless the Spirit moves and opens hearts, they know they can do nothing. So as you prepare to give, bathe it in prayer. Pray that God will empower our missionaries and open the eyes of those who are spiritually blind. 

Trust: Trust the Lord to answer your prayers. Trust him to provide for you so that you can give generously and sacrificially. God is not needy. He has unlimited resources, and unlimited ways of blessing generous, sacrificial, and cheerful givers. Therefore, we can give with faith, hope, and love. 

Give: On December 10, we will have our Ingathering Service for the LMCO. This will be a special time of worship, where we will all have the opportunity to bring our gifts to the King. He will use them in incredible ways to touch people for all eternity! 

This week, as part of our focus on missions, I have invited a guest speaker to be with us. On Sunday morning, he will share part of his personal story, and how God worked in his life to call him to the work he is doing. His testimony is amazing. What God is doing among North African and Middle Eastern peoples is amazing. The fact that FBC gets to be a part of it is amazing! So we’ll hear about that in the morning, and then on Sunday evening, he will give us a more detailed report of the work, and do questions and answers.

He will also be speaking at our Men’s Breakfast this Saturday. It will be a great weekend with a man we love dearly. 

I’m looking forward to seeing you this Sunday! Men, I hope to see you Saturday morning.   

By His Grace, For His Glory, To The Nations,

Dr. Thurman Hayes, Jr.