West Texas Missioner: December 2020

Thursday, December 31, 2020

In the News ... "From 'The Field’s Edge' - Looking Back at 2020"

• Everyone deserves a place to cultivate home
By The Field's Edge
• Courtesy of the Midland Reporter-Telegram

MIDLAND, TEXAS - The Field's Edge is a local Midland, Texas non-profit serving the chronically homeless. Our mission is to promote human dignity by cultivating home for the homeless and empowering a lifestyle of service for the glory of Christ.

This Year

The Facts

• 227 individuals experiencing homelessness in Midland were counted in 2020. Of those, about 65 are chronically homeless.
• The average life expectancy of the chronically homeless is about 55, or 17.5 years shorter than the general population
• One chronically homeless person costs the Midland local government about $17,450 annually. *
• Average age of chronically homeless is 50
• Our glean up crew picked up 33,600 pounds this year-to-date

* per a 2019 economic study on the cost of homelessness in Midland by the Perryman Group

• Visit The Field's Edge website ...

C.S. Lewis Daily - Today's Reading

Presented by Bible Gateway

Today's Reading

TO MRS. JOHNSON: On the four kinds of love; on the various forms of charity; on pride as the pleasure of self-approval; and on self-forgetfulness.

18 February 1954

Of course taking in the poor illegitimate child is ‘charity’. Charity means love. It is called Agape in the New Testament to distinguish it from Eros (sexual love), Storgë (family affection) and Philia (friendship) [E.g., I John 4:9]. So there are 4 kinds of ‘love’, all good in their proper place, but Agape is the best because it is the kind God has for us and is good in all circumstances. (There are people I mustn’t feel Eros towards, and people I can’t feel Storge or Philia for; but I can practise Agape to God, Angels, Man and Beast, to the good and the bad, the old and the young, the far and the near.

You see Agape is all giving, not getting. Read what St. Paul says about it in First Corinthians Chap. 13. Then look at a picture of Charity (or Agape) in action in St. Luke, chap 10 v. 30–35. And then, better still, look at Matthew chap 25 v. 31–46: from which you see that Christ counts all that you do for this baby exactly as if you had done it for Him when He was a baby in the manger at Bethlehem: you are in a sense sharing in the things His mother did for Him. Giving money is only one way of showing charity: to give time and toil is far better and (for most of us) harder. And notice, though it is all giving—you needn’t expect any reward— how you do gets rewarded almost at once.

Yes, I know one doesn’t even want to be cured of one’s pride because it gives pleasure. But the pleasure of pride is like the pleasure of scratching. If there is an itch one does want to scratch: but it is much nicer to have neither the itch nor the scratch. As long as we have the itch of self-regard we shall want the pleasure of self-approval; but the happiest moments are those when we forget our precious selves and have neither, but have everything else (God, our fellow-humans, animals, the garden and the sky) instead.

Yes, I do believe people are still healed by miracles by faith: but of course whether this has happened in any one particular case, is not so easy to find out.

• From The Collected Letters of C.S. Lewis
• Compiled in Yours, Jack

Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook

The Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study is a daily devotional with 365 inspiring mission stories that come from next door and all across the globe. It inspires thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer.

Today in the Mission Yearbook: December 31, 2020

Photo courtesy of Presbyterian Mission Agency

SPECIAL OFFERINGS - It had been several weeks of selling glasses of lemonade in the fellowship hall after worship, but the children of Northminster Presbyterian Church in Endwell, New York, were determined to raise enough money to provide a garden well to a community in need ...

• CLICK HERE to read more.

Wednesday, December 30, 2020

WAW Wednesday ... "2020 IN THE REAR VIEW!!!"

"The Word at Work is a ministry that mobilizes churches and individuals to answer God's call to minister to those in need," writes Rev. Tim Tam, Spiritual Director of the Amarillo, Texas-based ministry. "Through our relationships, God reveals needs and opportunities for service. As we come along side the poor, new friendships develop and doors for ministry open. As we serve, God provides the resources to supply for the needs he reveals."

WAW Photo

WAW Wednesday: "2020 IN THE REAR VIEW!!!"

Friends of The Word,

Needless to say we are all looking forward to 2021 !!! With new hope and anticipation, we at the Word at Work, are planning and preparing for Great things to happen in our ministry for the people of Belize.

2020 has indeed been a challenge in so many ways ! Not having teams from the US working with the ministry partners in Belize, has been a huge disappointment, due to Covid limitations. But yet we persevered, by feeding hundreds of families through our Feed the Need program. And through generous donations from many people and churches, a container with One Million meals of dehydrated food is due to arrive this week !!

WAW Photo

Kenny and Chepito have been busy organizing fellow Belizean’s to deliver the thousands of Christmas toys to our TWAW partners, which allows them to give gifts to the children in their areas. This is usually a joint activity with folks from the US but not this year. With this opportunity for Belizeans to serve Belizeans, many children will receive gifts !! And hopefully after hurricanes, flooding, and Covid limited classrooms, they can have somewhat of a normal Christmas!

We as the leadership and board of TWAW, were tasked with a difficult choice recently. We have decided to not recommend or support travel to Belize until the Covid situation has been resolved or vaccines have proven themselves and are widely available in both the US and Belize. This is incredibly difficult for us. We accept the responsibility of everyone who travels in our name and understand the frustration this decision brings.

We , however, invite you to join us in supporting Belizeans helping Belizeans. We ask that you continue to give to our Feed the Need program to provide food, medical supplies, clothing, beds and bedding and whatever Need arises in the next few months. Lets do whatever we can do to help our friends in Belize.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

Our Lord is Great, lets watch Him work !!

Ron Allen - Executive Director
Tim Tam - Spiritual Director
#wearethewordatwork

WAW Photos

EDITOR'S NOTE: Speaking from my own first-hand experience - working side-by-side with Tim, Kenny and our brothers and sisters in Belize - won't you give thoughtful, prayerful consideration to supporting the efforts of Ron and Tim, the Word At Work staff and their partners?

Also, remember that you can follow The Word At Work on their Facebook page!

From @FWMission ... “2 Days Left ...”

Founded in 2001, Free Wheelchair Mission is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to providing wheelchairs for the impoverished disabled in developing nations. Headquartered in Irvine, California, FWM works around the world in partnership with a vast network of humanitarian, faith-based and government organizations, sending wheelchairs to hundreds of thousands of disabled people, providing not only the gift of mobility, but of dignity, independence, and hope.

... to make a year-end gift and help reach our goal”

Seasons greetings,

This year, the Southwest Region Advisory Council set a goal to raise funds to provide 900 wheelchairs, and we are currently at 474. As 2020 draws to a close, would you make a tax-deductible, year-end gift to help us reach this goal?

• Give a gift today ...

FWM Photo

Your gift will provide mobility, freedom, and hope to someone like Mayuri, a bright and curious six-year-old girl who lives in the mountains of Peru.Mayuri was born without hands or a right leg. Doctors told her mother, Eulaia, that it was likely caused by poor nutrition and health habits during pregnancy. Eulaia has struggled with guilt ever since.

Mayuri's parents, who earn a humble living as potato farmers, couldn't afford a wheelchair, leaving her to get around by crawling. But thanks to the generosity of supporters like you, Mayuri received a new wheelchair earlier this year.

“Now, she won't have to crawl on the ground,” said a hopeful Eulaia. “She can stay clean, go longer distances, and see her friends and teachers at eye level.”

Your year-end gift will help more people like Mayuri and her family, who are incredibly grateful for the gift of mobility....

• Read the rest of this story ...

• Give a gift today ...

In the News ... "Lubbock churches find ways to celebrate Christmas despite COVID-19 concerns"

Image provided by Christ the King Cathedral-Lubbock

• Emphasizing safety

Staff Report
• Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - Lubbock area church congregations celebrated the birth of Jesus with Christmas Eve services that featured traditional elements including communion and the singing of hymns by candlelight along with the safety precautions made necessary by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Many of the celebrations emphasized safety through social distancing in parking lot services or the use of masks and physical separation in their sanctuaries.

And numerous churches shared their services online through social media or offered live-streamed viewing options to let at-risk worshipers participate from home ...

• Read the rest of this LAJ report ..

Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook

Photo courtesy of Patricia “Pat” Petty Morse

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF RECONCILIATION IN RWANDA - Entering retirement in 2019, Presbyterian elder Patricia “Pat” Petty Morse wondered where God would direct her to serve next ...

• CLICK HERE to read more.

Tuesday, December 29, 2020

From ServLife International ... "Only three more days left to give this year!"

ServLife International is a movement defined by values of God’s kingdom, not programs built around human efforts and activities. The reign and rule of God should be made apparent to every person on the planet, despite their religion, race or socioeconomic status. We believe that issues of justice are inseparable from the good news that Jesus Christ came to proclaim. ServLife exists to take the gospel of Christ and the hope of a better, more just, world to the lives of people we touch. This happens through individual contributions of time, creativity, resources and dreams.

ServLife Photo

Only three more days left to give this year!

Your gifts to ServLife bring education, hope and connection to children in India and Nepal, small business loans to families, and training for pastors.

This year the IRS has recognized the work being done by charities and has made a special provision that will allow deductions to qualifying charities up to $300 a little easier. Following special tax law changes made earlier this year, cash donations of up to $300 made before December 31, 2020, are now deductible when people file their taxes in 2021.

"Our nation's charities are struggling to help those suffering from COVID-19, and many deserving organizations can use all the help they can get," said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. "We encourage people to explore this option to help deserving tax-exempt organizations - and the people and causes they serve."

We couldn't do the work we love without partners like you. Thank you for your support, and please make a year end donation to ServLife today!

Thank you,

From Adam Nevins
Executive Director
ServLife International Inc.

Click here to give a gift of $30, $90, $150, $300 or more to help families in India and Nepal.

Join Our Mission

ServLife International propels reconciliation and justice by building global community to plant churches, care for children and fight poverty. Compelled by the message, life and love of Jesus Christ, we seek to care for the spiritual, physical, social, and economic areas of life in northern India and Nepal. Learn more about our latest news, featured stories, and how to get involved at servlife.org


Support a Pastor Our church planters spread the love of Christ in some of the most difficult environments in the world. • Support Them ...	Sponsor a Child For only $30 per month you can help give a child food, education, care and, most importantly, hope. • Sponsor Now ...	Fight Poverty The HOPE Fund, our micro-finance program, provides start-up funds for a small business, paving a way out of poverty for families in need. • Learn More ...

ServLife International, Inc.
P.O. Box 20596
Indianapolis, IN 46220
USA

In the News ... "Merry Christmas"

BSH Photo

• Looking forward to the new year

By Amanda Duforat, Managing Editor
• Big Spring Herald

BIG SPRING, TEXAS - Thank you for supporting us this past year. We are thankful and blessed by our loyal readers. ...

• Read the rest of this BSH message ...

In the News ... "MASTER GARDENERS: What’s happening at the West Texas Food Bank?"

Courtesy Photo

• Spring of 2021 will be a fun, busy and exciting time for our new gardens

Patti Edgar, Contributor
• Odessa American

MIDLAND, TEXAS - Have you driven by the West Texas Food Bank’s Midland location lately and wondered what is going on? Well, what you’re seeing is the construction of the new Innovative Gardens and additional parking space. Hi, I’m the gardener for the WTX Food Bank in both Midland and Odessa. Let me take you on a quick tour around our new garden addition ...

• Read the rest of this OA report ...

Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook

Mabel MalavéIglesia, Presbiteriana en Cibao — San Sebastián, Puerto Rio

HISPANIC LATINO-A VIDEO REFLECTIONS - COVID-19 has us all rethinking the way we do ministry. And now, as churches ponder reopening, what will worship service look like? Will the new model of online worship service become the new normal?

At the invitation of the Hispanic Latino-a Intercultural Congregational Support Office, part of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s Racial Equity & Women’s Intercultural Ministries, a group of tech-savvy Hispanic/Latino-a ministers have used their time and talent to develop a series of 60 devotional videos to comfort, bring hope and reassure viewers that even in a pandemic God still caress ...

• CLICK HERE to read more.

From Catholic Charities USA ... "Advent and Christmas Daily Reflections"

The Fifth Day in the Octave of Christmas

Today we read in the First Letter of St. John that we are to keep the commandments of Jesus Christ if we profess to follow Him. The apostle’s articulation is clear – we must do more than simply say that we are followers. Our actions must reflect what we profess. How does this look to the world around us? By loving our brothers and sisters. The light of Christ that entered the world through His incarnation on Christmas shines ever brighter when we follow the commandment to love our neighbor as we love ourselves ...

• Read the rest of today's reflection ...

The mission of Catholic Charities is to provide service to people in need, to advocate for justice in social structures, and to call the entire church and other people of good will to do the same. Catholic Charities is a network of charities with headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia. The organization serves millions of people a year, regardless of their religious, social, or economic backgrounds.

Monday, December 28, 2020

In the News ... "Food Bank of First Presbyterian Church in Fort Stockton to distribute food on December 28"

• They will receive a huge distribution of food from Wal-Mart and the West Texas Food Bank

By Zach Leff, Reporter
• KWES-TV

FORT STOCKTON, TEXAS, TEXAS - The First Presbyterian Church food bank in Fort Stockton will have a big food distribution on December 28. The food distribution will begin at 1:00 p.m. at the church ...

• Read the rest of this KWES report ...

In the News ... "Normal 2021 is fondest hope"

ZDNet Photo

• Once-routine things have gained value in the past year, ministers say

By Bob Campbell, Reporter
• Odessa American

ODESSA, TEXAS - Far from a bevy of ambitious resolutions, the most logical hope for 2021 is a return to normality, ministers say.

Leslie Boone, Del Traffanstedt and Beth Harrington say the pandemic has been so stressful that 2020 was a bad memory long before it was over ...

• Read the rest of this OA report ...

Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook

ORDINARY TIME - A recent cartoon in our Sunday newspaper depicted an exhausted mother, sprawled in a chair surrounded by typical birthday party chaos: torn wrapping paper, balloons, toys spread everywhere. Standing next to her, a little boy with a party hat tilted on his head asks, “When’s the next birthday?”

I can relate to that as both the exhausted mom — ready for a break from the party planning, implementation and aftermath — and as a pastor — physically, spiritually and emotionally drained from the liturgical seasons of Advent or Lent/Holy Week/Easter. ...

• CLICK HERE to read more.

Sunday, December 27, 2020

Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook

LOVING ACTS OF CARE - Sometimes a great disruption provides the catalyst for change. Sure, disruptions can be painful, causing grief and anger. Disruptions, by their very nature, rupture our lives ...

• CLICK HERE to read more.

Saturday, December 26, 2020

Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook

Photo by Alainna Brummert

CEDAR RIDGE CAMP - Nearly 50 mask-wearing, health-screened, socially-distanced friends, board members and staff of Cedar Ridge Camp, a ministry of Mid-Kentucky Presbytery, gathered recently to celebrate groundbreaking for the 60-year-old camp’s new chapel ...

• CLICK HERE to read more.

Friday, December 25, 2020

From ServLife International ... "Help us end the year strong"

ServLife Photo

Help us end the year strong

We are so grateful for your support this year, and want to invite you to help us end the year strong. With another $57,721 left to raise this month to hit our annual budgeted need, we would love for you to click here and make a donation to help us close the gap!

ServLife Photo

This has been a challenging and good year. As a result of the global pandemic, ServLife's leaders in India and Nepal have had to pivot many times to continue to serve their communities. When schools and businesses shut down, they provided economic relief for families in need. When the schools did not start back up in person, they bought laptops and tablets for the children to continue their education online. When churches stopped gathering, pastors started visiting families and praying for them. Hundreds of pastors have been empowered to serve their villages and provide food and basic supplies for families in need. 75 families in seven villages have received small business loans so far this year. Over 400 children have received an education this year, both in person and online.

Your support is so important to this life changing work. I want to personally invite you to continue to invest in God's kingdom come in India and Nepal by making a donation today. Help make it possible for Udaya and Bhakti to care for kids, Raja to lead a school, and Bekharaj to train pastors. Thank you for considering a gift this month for the sake of God's glory and kingdom.

Thank you,


Support a Pastor Our church planters spread the love of Christ in some of the most difficult environments in the world. • Support Them ...	Sponsor a Child For only $30 per month you can help give a child food, education, care and, most importantly, hope. • Sponsor Now ...	Fight Poverty The HOPE Fund, our micro-finance program, provides start-up funds for a small business, paving a way out of poverty for families in need. • Learn More ...

ServLife International, Inc.
P.O. Box 20596
Indianapolis, IN 46220
USA

From @FWMission ... Friday Story: “A Gift for Gift”

FWM Photo

Friday Story: “A Gift for Gift”

Her parents had the perfect name for her.

When they first laid eyes on their beautiful baby girl, they named her Gift.

Gift was born with no hands or feet. When she was still a toddler, her parents took her and fled from their home in South Sudan due to violent conflict and deteriorating conditions.

In 2016, the family eventually made its way to a refugee camp in neighboring Uganda

Although she has led a challenging life, Gift has never stopped smiling...

• Read the rest of this story ...

From ServLife International ... "Merry Christmas from our team to you"

Merry Christmas

From our Zoom call to yours ...

The angel said, "'Your savior is born today in David's city. He is Christ the Lord.' Suddenly a great assembly of the heavenly forces was with the angel praising God. They said, 'Glory to God in heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors.'"

May God's peace rest on you this Christmas.

- Adam, Rachel, Lauren & Olivia

Thank you,


Support a Pastor Our church planters spread the love of Christ in some of the most difficult environments in the world. • Support Them ...	Sponsor a Child For only $30 per month you can help give a child food, education, care and, most importantly, hope. • Sponsor Now ...	Fight Poverty The HOPE Fund, our micro-finance program, provides start-up funds for a small business, paving a way out of poverty for families in need. • Learn More ...

ServLife International, Inc.
P.O. Box 20596
Indianapolis, IN 46220
USA