Well, the leaves are finally changing here in Springfield. It’s always a beautiful time of the year, but it’s also a stark reminder that cold weather is just around the corner. I’m not sure I will ever get used to the cold temperatures here in the Ozarks.

In September, two new missionary couples were approved at the Fellowship Meeting in Tyler, TX. One other couple was reinstated (Benders) and we have one new WIN missionary couple and one single being approved this month. Please pray with us for more new missionaries next year.

Some in our office, along with BBFI missionary, Beau Moore, attended Global Focus Week at Liberty University. We made some good contacts at the event which will hopefully result in future missionaries. They also had a great time meeting up with our MKs for a meal.

In October, we hosted the annual World Mission Forum (formerly known as Mission Emphasis Week or Global Week) at Mission University (BBC). The first day, we met on campus, and the missionaries did a great job encouraging the entire student body to DO missions no matter what degree or profession they are pursuing. At the conclusion of the service, during prayer, some raised their hands to indicate that they are praying about changing their degree to missions. The second day, we hosted the Forum in the new Event Center on our property. There were approximately 70 ministry students plus several members of the faculty present. Once again, the missionaries did great discussing missions, presenting opportunities in missions and being a part of missions no matter what ministry they might pursue.

In a few days I will be heading to Brazil. I will spend a week with BBFI missionaries, Patrick and Ann-Janel McClure. I am looking forward to being with them and seeing their ministry. Then I will fly to Puerto Velho, Brazil at the invitation of the pastors in the Amazon region where the Mantonyas and Elams ministered. The churches are celebrating 50 years of ministry and asked that I come and speak to encourage them to continue going forward in unity to reach their country, and the world, for Christ. I would appreciate your prayers for my travels and that God would use me to be a blessing to all.

Check out our new documentary of Oliver and Gloria Williams (Peru) at www.project938.world. God has truly guided and blessed their many years of faithful ministry.

Thanksgiving is a time when many people will sit back and reflect on the many blessings of God. It is a time when our minds reflect on things we are thankful for and how we have seen the Lord work in our lives. 

I heard someone say that “thoughts are the thermostat that regulate what we accomplish in life.” Our body responds and reacts to input from our mind. If we feast our mind upon doubt, disbelief, and discouragement, that is probably the kind of day our body will experience. Good things can happen – but – so what. If we adjust our thermostat to thoughts filled with vision, vitality, victory and positive things, we can count on that kind of day. Bad things can happen – but – so what. We become what we think. Someone once said, “You are what you think, not what you think you are.” God has this to say about man in Proverbs 23:7: “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.”   

Thanksgiving is a good time to work on our minds. We can either manufacture positive, wholesome, encouraging, and reassuring thoughts, or negative, discouraging, and worrisome thoughts. Both sides are waiting inside us for the command to go to work. 

When it comes to Thanksgiving and we think of all that God has really done for us – which kind of thinking should we manufacture? We have someone in us who wants to help us in life and give us that joy that is there for us – that someone is the Holy Spirit – let Him have his way with our thoughts.

And so, I encourage you to pause and declare to God your expressions of gratitude. Think of who He is and what He has done for you and rejoice!  He is worthy of our highest praise. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

Happy Thanksgiving!

Your friend,

Jon