Tuesday, May 8, 2012



In the midst of one of Christianity’s greatest events, the Lord’s final Passover with his disciple’s, we find not only a beautiful pattern for celebrating our Savior’s sacrificial death, but also the harsh reality of human relationships. We often forget that the tragic existence of a traitor was revealed, the disciple’s fought over who would be the greatest, and Jesus foreshadowed Peter’s trifold denial.  This is certainly not the nice and neat package that we celebrate in our padded pews.

Jesus explains to Peter, the soon to be leader of the universal church of Jesus Christ, that he was going to be sifted by satan.  The word “sifted” implies a real beating, the necessary process of getting rid of all that would hinder wheat from becoming wonderful and nutritious bread.  God,  “What is there in my heart that must be beaten away in order to be useful in your plan for the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world.”

Something dangerous has crept into our developed-world understanding of following Jesus.  We have somehow bought into the “health and wealth” subtleties of comfort and entitlement.  No problems or discomfort need to creep into our daily lives. Everything is going to work out just fine.  As a result, we are incredulous when difficulties come and Santa Claus God doesn’t give us everything that we have placed on our Amazon wish-lists.

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Dear Friends,

Thanks so much for your prayers on our behalf. The last couple of months have been an absolute whirlwind….very busy…yet very exciting. God has wonderful plans and treats us with such grace and mercy!

BLESSINGS and CHALLENGES!!!

Family:

Hannah has finished her first semester at Pfeiffer University. Please pray for her safety and for the provision of a good part-time job in order to help cover her monthly expenses.


Daniel is beginning to make application to several universities. Daniel will graduate in June, and we are praying that God will clearly guide this decision. Please pray for God’s financial provision as we will soon have two children in college….wow…how time flies!

Abi and Lizzy are doing well and are about half-way through the school year. They are both involved in local dance classes (ballet). Please pray that they will be great influences on their many friends.

Please continue to pray for Kathee’s parents, Jim and Ann Slaughter. Ann is recuperating steadily from her ruptured colon, while Jim is experiencing the results of Alzheimer’s. Jim and Ann just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Kathee was able to travel to the states using some old Continental Airline mileage….from almost 25 years ago. God knows how to provide long before we know what we need.

In addition, Tim’s father, Joe Hagler, needed to have a heart catheterization and an additional stint placed in order to open a completely closed artery. Thanks for your prayers as Tim’s mom, Dot Hagler, seeks to provide care while dealing with her own health issues. Please pray that God will help us to know how to “honor our parents” from so far away.


CELebración:


Thanks for praying for our new church plant. The last few weeks have been very encouraging with attendance ranging from 85-95 people. We have so many plans, a
nd we are excited about what God has in store. Please pray specifically:

“The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
Matthew 9:38

Celebración - every Sunday at 3:30pm


Coffee shop:

Please pray for our upcoming plans to create a community coffee-shop, Comunicafé, that will provide a constant location for quality conversations that lead to Christ! Our plan is to be open the majority of afternoons and be run completely by volunteers.

COMMUNITY SERVICE:

Although the primary purpose is to spiritually minister to the immediate community, we are planning to invest any profits from Comunicafé in meeting immediate needs of the local poor. We are looking for simple solutions like these efficient wood burning stoves and home and community water filters.


CHURCHPLANTING PLANS:


Our former church, CFC, and our new church plant, CELebración,
have entered into a partnership to work together in the planting of a new church in Balibrea….about 6 km from our home. The picture shows the proposed building site. Glory to God!!!

EDUCATIONAL EXPENSES

Two of our children are enrolled in online high school education. This great educational opportunity creates an extraordinary financial need. Please pray with us about this need, and please consider if God may have you to help out.

(Several of you have asked us about financially investing in our children’s college education. Our office is prepared to receive tax deductible gifts on behalf of their college needs. Thanks for your concern and generosity).

HEALTH and SAFETY

Please pray that God will continue to bless us with good health so that we will h
av
e the energy to enjoy all that God has for us here in Honduras. As some of you have noticed, Honduras has been in the news lately for all the wrong reason. The 2011 Global Study on Homicide calculated a rate of 82.1 homicides per 100,000 people for Honduras, the highest in the world. By contrast, the U.S. homicide rate is around 5 per 100,000. Thanks for praying.
FINANCES:

2011 was an extraordinary year of ministry, full of challenges and blessings. We believe that 2012 will be a wonderful year of harvest and rejoicing. We ask you to consider how God would have you to invest in His ministry here in Honduras. Thanks for your generosity and obedience to God’s leading.

In Him,
Tim & Kathee

World Reach ▪ P.O. Box 26155, Birmingham, AL 35260-0155
Tel: 205.979.2400 ▪ info@world–reach.org ▪ website: world-reach.org