Happy New Year!!! As this letter is being sent out, I will have just arrived in Uganda. My time will be spent with missionaries Russ and Sylvia Daniels and a host of pastors from all over Uganda for a special mission conference. Pray that these pastors will grasp the concept of the Great Commission in order to reach their country, their continent and the entire world.

We will be promoting Project 938 again this year. We are asking God for more laborers. Would you join us again this year and encourage the pastors and churches in your country to participate? It will be a little different than last year so stay tuned for more details. Go to www.project938.world and watch for updates around March or April.

The 1099 forms for 2022 will be completed no later than January 31, 2023. Please be patient as it takes time to complete the process of preparing the 1099 information. If we have a tax preparer on file for you, a copy of the 1099 information will be sent to your tax preparer and a copy will also be sent to you. Your copy will be included in the first mail packet sent after the 1099s are completed. If we do not have a tax preparer on file for you, your 1099 information will be mailed via First Class no later than January 31, 2023.

Be looking for the survey about the Missionary Family Reunion. It will be sent out the end of January or first of February. Your input is greatly valued.

I thought you might like to know that the book I wrote From Alcatraz to Africa is now available on Amazon in Spanish. De Alcatraz A África (Spanish Edition) | Dec 17, 2022 – Pretty cool!

I know many have had a lot of struggles this past year. Our world is chaotic in so many ways. Satan is fighting ministries relentlessly. Some have had family members pass on to their reward in heaven. Who knows what this next year will be like? Who knows what is in store for each of us? Well, actually, God knows and will be there with us all each step of the way.

You know what helps me in these troubling times and difficulties I face? I focus on heaven. I still follow and serve God here on earth day by day. Following God’s call isn’t always easy. He expects us to completely trust Him. He doesn’t ask our advice on decisions that may impact us. He doesn’t tell us about His specific plans at any given point in our lives. He doesn’t always keep us from adversity. Sometimes these things are painful. He does, however, promise to always be with us through it all.

Imagine how it must have been for Abraham, who had no Bible, no pastor, no sermons, no podcasts and no Christian encouragement or accountability. But what he did have was the promise of a nation, a land, and a blessing (Gen. 12:1-3). That was good enough for him.

As important as the earthly land was to him, Abraham’s sight was on his heavenly home, “a city . . . whose builder and maker is God” (Heb. 11:10). He knew beyond any doubt that he would inherit that city.

In the same way, keeping our sights on heaven helps us to continue working for the Lord when things get tough. It’s the best remedy I know for discouragement or spiritual fatigue. Remember that Paul says to set your mind “on things above, not on things on the earth” (Col. 3:2). If your mind is set on heaven, you can endure whatever happens here.

As we start this New Year off, let’s start by praising God and thanking Him for our heavenly home. When trials and difficulties come – let’s keep heaven in mind while we go through them and enduring this chaotic world. At the same time, let’s keep following and serving Him day by day being faithful to His calling.

This could be the year that we are raptured to be with our Lord and Savior in heaven. Now, wouldn’t that be great?! Lord, help us keep our eyes on THEE in 2023!

Your friend,

Jon