LOOKING FOR A FEW GOOD MISSIONARIES
So who is harder to save? A Russian, a Jew or a Muslim? The answer: None of the above! It is "the grace of God that brings salvation" (Titus 2:11). Salvation is God's work, not ours. By God's grace each of us are able to partake in His holiness. It cannot be any easier or more difficult for Almighty God to save me or you or anyone else to whom His grace extends. Often we missionaries see ourselves in the role of the "doers" while those who stay home are the "supporters". The truth is that it is not any of our "work" that brings about salvation.
God is not waiting on mission committees to develop new strategies for reaching the lost. He isn't stuck waiting on new workers to be trained and sent to the field. He can't be held up waiting for fund raising events to bring in the needed cash. Rather He has called us all of us to join with Him through intercession and prayer for the lost. Quite simply it is God's work to save and ours to get in tune with His will.
"Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved." (Romans 10:1 NIV) The Apostle Paul was called as a missionary to the gentiles, but his real ministry was to the Jews through His prayers. It is prayer that brings us in tune with the will of God and from there the salvation of the world.
What is your prayer? What is your part in missions? For which country, region or people group are you petitioning the Lord for salvation? Consider carefully your role as a true missionary!
May we all be found faithful in the service of our Lord!
- Kevin, Lena, Sonia, Maya & Deena
COMING TO CANADA
"Will we come for Christmas?" is the big question in our family right now. With no visas in sight and the Christmas travel "high season" fast approaching we are wondering if we'll have to dig out the Christmas decorations from their very well-packed box. (It's hard to believe that it was ten months ago that we started packing for Canada...sigh!) It's hard to look at the calendar (not to mention the damp, dreary darkness of an approaching St. Petersburg winter) and not be somewhat discouraged. However, the good news is that none of this is in our hands! We gave the immigration process to God over a year ago and He will certainly bring it to a conclusion in His good time.
BLESSINGS
Answered prayer from last week! Thank you for praying for the Christian Camping Leaders Conference planning meeting last week. Twelve regional leaders and board members joined our eight staff members for three days of intensive prayer and planning. Meeting accomplishments included brainstorming about the theme "All My Springs Are in You" (taken from Psalm 87:7), logistics planning, academic program development, the appointing of leaders and giving a "test run" to the conference Bible study program. There are still many things to be done before the February 4-9 conference, but we give thanks to God for a wonderful time of preparation.
PETITIONS
Please continue to pray for CCLC preparations. Specifically, please pray for:
- creativity in planning,
- a deeper commitment from conference leaders, and
- greater unity and cohesivenesses among the leadership teams
Maya's health is still not back to normal. She has missed the entire month of school already and is fearful (not really) of not learning anything again. Please continue to pray for her healing.
Oh, for some word from Moscow... :-)
DID YOU KNOW...
...that today is my sister Kim's birthday? More significantly, our family has now missed seven of her last eight birthdays!!! Happy Birthday, Kim! Next year we'll be there for sure! ;-)
...that I have been prescribed a sure-fire cure for my aching joints? The good professor at the clinic I have been receiving treatment at suggests the following:
Boil two unpeeled potatoes in water, then drain. Mash the potatoes and add 50 grams of hot vodka. Mash again, then place the mixture onto a towel and wrap in plastic. Place the towel on the sore joint and leave in place for forty minutes.
I'll let you know if it works... ;-)
ESSENTIAL INFO
Kevin & Lena Hamm are missionaries with Mennonite Brethren Mission and Service International, serving with Christian Camping International/Russia in St. Petersburg, Russia.
A printable version in Adobe Acrobat format is always available for download.
Visit www.krhamm.com/pray for links to print versions, archives and more.
For more on our ministry in Russia, please visit www.krhamm.com.
You can help! Please visit www.krhamm.com/support for ways you can help our family & ministry.
Hundreds of our recent photos can be viewed at Flickr.com. (And now Sonia's pictures too!)
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