New Year Letter 2009
Dear brothers and sister in the Lord,
Peace to you all.
“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits.” (Psalm 103: 2)
Looking back on this year full of God’s grace and love, we cannot help but praise Him, thank Him, and glorify His holy name with all of our hearts and tongues.
First, we thank God for guiding us safely through the most difficult times of last year. Through faith and prayer, we experienced God’s mercy, which transformed hilly roads into smooth paths.
We also thank God for his love and faithfulness, with which our coworkers were able to overcome all kinds of obstacles. Richly blessed with God’s guidance, several teams of our coworkers took multiple mission trips overseas. Besides Europe and Africa, this year God also opened for us the mission door to South America.
We give special thanks to God for a ninety-one-year old worker at our Home. While in Beijing last year, she had a sudden stroke. Although she was rescued from death through the emergency treatment at the hospital, it seemed extremely difficult and almost unimaginable for her to travel back to the United States in such condition. However, through the unified prayers of brothers and sisters all over the world, our coworkers were able to make a special trip to bring her back to the States safely. Over the last year, all our workers at Home of Grace have been serving her wholeheartedly. Now, twice a day in her wheelchair, she is able to participate in Bible studies and prayer meetings at our Home. God’s great love is manifested among us. We cannot help but give all glory to our faithful God!
“. . . giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth . . . .” (Isaiah 55: 10/11)
Looking back and forward, we feel intensely that the day of the Lord is approaching! What a urgent task it is to sow and reap for the sake of all the souls over the earth and the need of all the hungry people! Amid and besides our work, we should double our effects in “eating more” and “eating thoroughly” the word of the Scripture in order to equip ourselves. We should also be prepared at any time to retreat into the Lord, enter the inner curtain, go up to the mount, and pray with our hands up. On one hand, we should pray earnestly, confess sins and intercede for all people. On the other hand, we should pray for God to generously send rain to all and bless us with revival. “The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.” (Habakkuk 2:14)
Dear brothers and sisters! Let us continue to unify in heart and strength, earnestly pray for one another, and make the best effort to accomplish the double commission of preaching the gospel to all people and making all people God’s disciples. We are deeply convinced that “The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective” (James 5:16). Amen.
We wish you a fruitful year in the Lord,
from all of us at Home of Grace of North America
December 17, 2008