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Just a couple of weeks ago Wednesday night a lady walked up to me at prayer meeting and said something like "My [husband] is going to KILL me. I need to go and get the letter that he wanted me to give to you!" and off she went in a hurry. I was talking to a friend when she came back and thrust an envelope into my hand. Examining the envelope and the writing on it I was a bit confused. It didn't look like the penmanship of an adult. As I looked at the lady I suddenly realized my error. I had confused names. I was thinking "husband" when I should have been thinking "son". I opened the envelope and was shocked with it's contents. Inside was a neatly written note, on a Christmas card, which read as follows: "Please use this money to help build your new church in Brazil. From: I.C.B." Inside the card was a $10 bill. As I stood there speechless a tear crept into my eye and a knot into my throat. Here was ten hard earned dollars from an eleven-y

"Hard times" is a phrase we've heard much lately and seemingly rightly so. But, imagine being born in a stable, being destined to live in poverty and rejection, and then dying a criminal's death for crimes never committed. And then imagine the most wonderful Christmas gift in History wrapped up in this seemingly twisted scenario. Eternal Salvation is possible because of God's will demonstrated in the birth, life, and death of Jesus Christ; hard and seemingly tragic times that purchased our liberty. We who have experienced this inestimable gift remember with joy the first time that we understood the significance of our need and His redeeming sacrifice. In these difficult days let us not forget to whom we belong, the price of ownership, and the security and joy we experience because of Jesus' hard times. We thank you for upholding our family in prayer and contributing financially so that we might be able to share this Good News in Brazil. Because of you