​            I am sure that many of you can recall several times in your life where you have been told, and even reminded, about the benefits of proper posture. Maybe it was a grandparent telling you to sit up straight, or your middle school teacher that told you not to slouch, or a co-worker that reminded you to lift with your legs and not your back. Perhaps in your younger days you brushed off these warnings or bits of advice as nonsense. Perhaps you have come to see the advantages of having and maintaining a healthy posture. Whatever situation you may find yourself in regarding posture today, there is no doubt that there are definite benefits and advantages to paying attention to it.
            This week I was reading an article on the Harvard Medical School website about the importance that good posture and balance is for the human body. It struck me that there are some very obvious ways to tell if someone has good posture or not. Someone with a keen sense and awareness about good posture could tell just by looking at you or how you carry yourself. It is important to note that having good posture is not necessarily something that comes naturally. In many cases, it requires a bit of an intentional approach to turn it into a habit.
            As we continue our series on the parables of Jesus, we come to a setting that is unique to the Gospel of Luke where Jesus touches on proper posture, but not the kind we think of in terms of sitting, walking, or general body alignment. Jesus is talking about the posture of our hearts; how we carry ourselves spiritually; how we approach our Heavenly Father. The two main characters we are introduced to are a Pharisee and a tax collector. These two were at opposite ends of the scale of religiosity. On the one hand, the Pharisee would have been seen as a devout God-follower and the tax collector would have been viewed as a sinful, corrupt traitor. But it is not their outward appearance, social status, or how others view them that plays any role in how God sees them. It is entirely found in their posture in approaching Him. The Pharisee is full of himself and his good, moral behavior. The tax collector recognizes his sin and throws himself entirely at the mercy of God.
            For those of us familiar with this story, we know the ending: the tax collector goes home justified in the sight of God and the Pharisee does not. For the original hearers of this story, this would have been a sharp left turn, an unexpected twist to the plot. And even those of us today can miss the greater point that Jesus is trying to showcase when it comes to where we place our confidence and assurance in our standing before God. It is entirely on account of His mercy that we are forgiven.
May each of us, in our posture, identify and relate to the humble tax collector. Let our prayer be that we approach God with a full knowledge of who we are in our need for Him. And let us be blown away once again by the marvelous mercy and grandiose grace of God that sets sinners free! 

​            Perhaps you have a relationship with people in your life with whom you have an “open door policy.” You know, the kind of understanding where you are free to drop in on them at any time with no invitation and they will be ready to welcome you no matter what is going on. Or maybe you have told other close friends or family members that they are free to drop on by your place whenever they need. Those examples reveal a powerful and close relationship and friendship where being inconvenienced never describes these encounters. Think about the relational level you have to be at with someone to have that kind of access.
            I don’t know about you, but I don’t like inconveniencing people. I know that it happens and much of it is out of my control or level of awareness, but when I can help it, I go to great lengths to make sure that no one is having to wait for me or wait on me. Now, I must admit that my reasoning for this or behind this is not necessarily for the purest of reasons. Sure, on one hand, there is the reality that by me not inconveniencing anyone then they won’t have to be annoyed by something I do or don’t do. For example, some people consider it an inconvenience to be late for things so, in theory, if I help ensure they are not late because of me then I will make them happy. However, the not-so-good side of this endeavor to never inconvenience people is that I don’t always ask for or accept help as often as I should. I can find myself trying to handle things on my own so as to avoid “inconveniencing” or “bugging” others to offer me assistance. This is not such a healthy attitude either. All of us can find ourselves, at times, going back and forth on this continuum to varying degrees in our lives too.
            Enter our next story time with Jesus. In this week’s parable from Luke 11, we read about a very inconveniencing situation where a person woke up his friend at midnight and asked him for some food because he was hosting someone at his house and did not have anything to give him. Talk about a hassle and an inconvenience! I’m not sure how some of you would handle a situation like this, but I don’t know that my midnight response to a question like that would be so positive or understanding.
            But Jesus did not tell us this story to shock us about how audacious this person was in their request. Rather, He tells us this story because it is a lesson on prayer. It showcases the immense patience and availability of our Heavenly Father who is more than willing to listen to, hear, and answer our requests to Him at any hour of the day or night. Sometimes, we fail to bring our requests to God. We choose not to bug Him with our trivial things or inconvenience Him with the things on our hearts. But Jesus invites us to ask, seek, and knock knowing that our call with be answered. We are given the access and the confidence to know that the door is always open, that we will be welcomed in, and that we have such a relationship with God the Father that we can swing on by anytime for anything. How amazing is that!
 

           I love to read! I don’t always read as often as I would like to, but it still remains a passion of mine. I can remember taking trips to the library as a young elementary student and checking out as many books as I could carry. Upon arriving home, I would sit down in the living room recliner, crack open a book, and read. I would read for hours, sometimes finishing an entire book or two in one day. It was like I couldn’t get enough!
            There were several factors that played into this enjoyment of reading and how it grew throughout my lifetime. My mom would always read to my siblings and I each day. We would read stories during our afternoon quiet time or at night before going to bed. But another memory that I have that played a role in this love of reading was Story Time at our local library. Some of you have wonderful memories as well from this activity. These are awesome! I can remember sitting on the floor with a bunch of other kids, listening to the librarian read through several stories with all the inflection and excitement that piqued my interest. There were so many good stories and so many new worlds and characters that waited each week to engage my ears and mind.
            It is in this picture of Story Time that we continue looking into some of the parables of Jesus that are found embedded in the Gospels. The best part about this is that you can picture the best librarian storyteller imaginable and Jesus is even better! He is the Ultimate Storyteller and yet His stories go far beyond fiction novels, character development, or simple life lessons on manners. Jesus’ stories are meant to reshape our worldview. They are meant to confront us with reality. They are meant to showcase God’s grace to us. They are meant to set us free from our sin-filled lives and give us a new perspective on life and how God is on the move.
            This week, Jesus sets the harsh tone of reality when He talks about the depths of our need and brokenness as human beings. He talks about the sin-filled core of our hearts and how it can destroy us if it is left unchecked. Jesus wants us to see the full nature of the evil that is naturally inside of us so that it drives us to Him for the healing and transformation that each of us need. Only Jesus can take a sinful heart and renew it into something holy. Only Jesus can breathe life into an area that only brings death.
            How humbling it is to be confronted with our own brokenness?! But how amazing it is to see that God does not leave us as helpless and hopeless. Rather, He desires to make us clean and He gives us His Spirit that is alive in us that is renewing and transforming our hearts and minds each day. Now that is a story worth reading and talking about!

​            For most of us, when it comes to how we operate our lives, all of us can fall into familiar rhythms, patterns, and reactions that just come naturally to us. We have this built-in set of expectations that derive from our context, our culture, our personality, family, or just our nature as human beings. For many of you, you spent the first 18+ years of your life operating in this norm. You only knew what you knew and what you knew was best…at least, that is what we each may have thought…
            But then, some life changes occurred. You may have left your confined comforts of home and normalcy for the workforce or for additional schooling or some may have even married and started a family. In all of these scenarios and situations, you more than likely rubbed shoulders and encountered some thoughts, ideas, and patterns of life that were different from yours; that did not fit your prefixed worldview. Some of these behaviors you might have thought as odd or strange, some were frustrating, and yet others you learned from and they made an impact on shaping your own worldview.
            This week, we wrap up our two-month study looking at some of the parables that Jesus told about the Kingdom of God. We have been both confronted and invited to see this Kingdom like never before. This Kingdom is an upside-down, counter-cultural reality that really makes us think and revisit some of the natural expectations that we might have living here on Planet Earth. Each time, God’s Word comes to us with this life-giving reminder that His ways are best, His promises are sure, and His invitation remains intact to receive and be welcomed into Kingdom Life.
            Our final parable this week from Matthew 20 shows us a great picture of this tension that exists between our sinful tendencies and worldview compared to the overwhelming grace given to us in the Gospel. In the end, the only reason we are given a place as a citizen in this Kingdom is by the mercy and generosity of the Savior. God did not have to include us in His plans, and He did not need our company for His happiness and contentment. Yet, He chose to create us, die for us, redeem us, sanctify us, and set us free to live with Him forever in paradise. How good is that?! As those who are both citizens of the Kingdom and those that are invited, we can rejoice in the fact that God calls us to Himself each day and He offers us glimpses of how He is at work in our lives and in our world as He is leading us home.
            One last unique and special opportunity we have this upcoming Sunday is to have God’s Word proclaimed to us by a son of this congregation. Many of you know that our youth director, Drew Skog, grew up attending Oak Hill and is also in the midst of his journey in ministry as he is taking online classes through our Lutheran Brethren Seminary. As a part of Drew’s seminary experience, he gets the opportunity to get to create and preach in preparation for both his schooling and future ministry. This will be such a wonderful time for many of you who remember Drew as a young man and others who know him and see him in his role as youth director. Please be in prayer for him as he prepares to share God’s Word with us this week!

​            “Forgive and forget.” Do you remember being told those words? It probably occurred during an instance where you were in conflict with someone else. Maybe it was an argument with a close friend where you felt that you had been hurt deeply. Perhaps it was a dispute with a sibling, and you felt that you had been wronged. It may have even been a situation at school or at work where you felt that justice was not served. This phrase would have been uttered by the person trying to cool you down and help you through this moment. Whether it was mom, dad, a grandparent, or a teacher, many of us can recall this advice during moments like these: “Forgive and forget…”
            For most of us, our natural reaction when we have been hurt, wronged, or slighted is to enact revenge or to get even with those that have caused us to feel this way. We feel right and vindicated when we attempt to make them feel as horrible and rotten as we are, and some can go to great lengths thinking up ways to get back at others. There are many times when we don’t even think about any other option. Our natural, sinful, broken tendency when we are hit is to hit back. How much time and energy can we be tempted to waste when we think this way? This is one of the many reasons we need a Savior!
            As difficult as it can be for us to forgive others at times, it can be even harder to forget. You may think of a case in your own life where you have forgiven someone but are still carrying around a grudge or some animosity toward them for what they have done. All of us can be tempted to not truly let go of our inner nature to hold on and return evil for evil. And let’s be honest, this idea of forgiveness is hard, it’s challenging, and it goes against how we might naturally think and operate on our own. There are some of you that have been wronged, hurt, and slighted so often and to the point of immense, emotional pain that forgiveness isn’t even on your radar. Many of us can think at times of those that have sinned against us and think, “I could never forgive them…”
            It is in this raw reality that Jesus enters the scene with a parable that is quite well-known to many. In Matthew 18, He tells the story of a servant who was forgiven an unpayable debt by a king. Upon having this debt removed, this servant sought out a fellow servant who owed him some money as well. But his intent was quite different than the reaction he had just received from the king. Rather than showing the same mercy and grace that he was just shown, this servant demands repayment. He has his fellow servant thrown in jail to pay back the debt. Let’s just say that the king was not happy to hear about this and instills some harsh justice on the servant for his wicked actions.
            The lesson from Jesus comes to us today: On our own, we will never be able to truly forgive someone. We will remember, we will hold grudges, we will seek revenge. Only God can create the ability to even think about offering and extending forgiveness toward someone who has wronged us. This kind of forgiveness can only flow out of a life that has experienced an out-of-this-world forgiveness that God, our Merciful King, offers to us as members of His Kingdom.
            We are forgiven people. We have been forgiven much! God has given us a clean slate and a new ledger and the debt that we owe for our sin and rebellion against Him has been paid. Isn’t that Good News?! When you know that you are loved like that, when you receive that undeserved mercy, when you live in the freedom that this forgiveness brings, how might that shift and transform your view of those who have and will hurt and wrong you? When we realize and recognize how much we have been forgiven, that makes it possible for us to truly forgive others from the heart. As another saying goes, “Forgiveness known is forgiveness shown.”

​            Even though it is not technically “wedding season,” it sure feels that way as we move through our series on the Kingdom Parables in the Gospel of Matthew. Last week, we took a look at how God’s Kingdom is like an immaculate wedding banquet that would put any earthly reception party to shame. This table would be overflowing with the best food and drink and the atmosphere will be unrivaled. The invitations have gone out (everyone is invited) and the party is on! This will be a gathering you won’t want to miss.
            This week, we again get to hear the truth and power of God’s Word shared with us by one of our own. Manley Olsoe will be walking us through the beginning portion of Matthew 25 where Jesus describes another aspect of His Kingdom and likens it to a bridegroom that is coming. When He comes, He will bring the full party with Him, but in the meantime there is waiting. But before the wedding festivities can begin, there are preparations to be made. Key elements and logistics must be set and made ready so that when the bridegroom arrives, the celebration can begin.
            This aspect of being prepared and being ready has always been a cultural component both in Jesus’ time and in ours today as well. This imagery we get about the importance and value of being ready for His second coming as illustrated in this coming wedding party reminds me of a story I read recently about a couple who wanted to have a destination wedding in Wales. They sent out some “Save the Dates” nearly a year in advance to inform their friends and family of their decision to get married across the pond on July 6, 2008 and wanted to see who would be able to make the necessary preparations and commitment to be there. Now, unfortunately, one of their best friends named Dave was so excited to arrive that he misread the invite and assumed that the wedding was happening in just a few short weeks…on July 6, 2007. Needless to say, that after booking a very expensive plane ticket and arriving in Wales to an empty venue with no one he recognized, he realized that he had been a little overzealous on his arrival.
            While some of us smile and can chuckle at this oversight, I hope we can at least appreciate his conviction and his resolve. Dave was committed to making things happen to ensure he would be ready for his friends’ big day. In much the same way, Jesus uses this parable of the coming bridegroom to invite us to be ready and prepared for His return to take us home to be with Him forever. We are to be watchful and anticipating His coming again because we do not know when it will be. How should this excitement and uncertainty play itself out in our lives? On the one hand, we are not called to just sit around looking up at the sky, but we are also not to become so invested in the things of this world that we miss being ready. There is a fine balance and, thankfully, we have the power of God’s Spirit living inside of us that teaches and reminds us of everything He has said and gives us a directed hope for what lies ahead.
            This week, let us also be given eyes to see and ears to hear this gracious and joyous reminder that our Bridegroom, Jesus, is coming soon and let our prayer be that we are among the ones that are eagerly waiting for Him, ready to join the party!
 

​            I love weddings! There is something very special, meaningful, and amazing that surrounds the joy, exuberance, and excitement involved in all of the festivities of the day. Throughout my life I have been invited to many weddings, been a part of several, and have even officiated a few as well. It is so fun to get to see the love and commitment that this young couple displays as they promise to love each other with a love that is way beyond their own personal capacity…even if it might not feel or look like it in that moment. But even beyond, the happiness of the ceremony and seeing friends and family, one of the best parts of the wedding is the afterparty…the reception! While I completely understand and respect all that happens to get up to this point, the reception takes the cake…literally. The food, the punch, the candy bar...bring it on!
            Do you know who is another fan of wedding parties? God! All throughout Scripture, He uses imagery of banquets, feasts, parties, and weddings to communicate the immense generosity and communal joy that will surround the family of God when we are home in heaven. We read images like in Isaiah 25: On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine—the best of meats and the finest of wines. Or in Isaiah 55: “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost...” Even Jesus’ first miracle that kicked off His Earthly ministry was at a wedding reception! What can we say? God sure loves to throw a good party!
            It is with this reality in mind that we come to another Kingdom Parable describing the Kingdom of God like a wedding banquet. We will see, hear, and experience again how each of us is personally invited by God to receive His good gifts to us. He is so excited to have us come and join this celebration! Who would want to miss out on this? And yet, the sad and unfortunate reality is that some do. There are many reasons and excuses that people might give for not coming to the party or even returning their RSVP. For some, they are too busy, others are simply not interested. But the invitation still stands, the offer is still on the table. Come to the party and be received gladly and with open arms. We are asked to bring nothing but ourselves and allow our hearts, minds, and souls to overflow and be transformed as a result of this life-changing banquet.
            So, what have you done with your invite to this wedding feast? Is it on the table hidden in the pile of mail? Is it in the garbage? Or is it signed, sealed, and returned? Either way, the invitation to come and enjoy remains the same.
 
Looking forward to the party of all parties,
Ben

​One of the many blessings that I received from growing up in the family that I did was having a love and appreciation for the outdoors passed along to me. One of the ways that this enjoyment played itself out was in several fishing trips that my family would take each summer. These trips were usually tied in with a camping trip so we would pack and load up our van and pull our boat behind us to various campsites in northern Minnesota. It is funny to think about all 7 of us crowded into this tiny fishing boat with a 35-horse motor. I have so many fond memories of adventures in that rusty trusty vessel. Whether it was running out of gas and having to use the trolling motor to get back, racing back to shore to beat a rainstorm, reeling in my first walleye, getting to drive it for the first time, or feeling the wind in my hair as we “sped” across the lake, these images and feelings are the kind that will stay with me forever.
            When it comes to the sport of fishing, the principles of how it is done and accomplished have not changed very much since it was first invented as a means to get food or for recreation. The idea of a hook, line, and sinker have been with us for generations and while the materials may be different, the essential design and intent remains the same. It would be safe to say that the process for catching a fish has stayed relatively consistent throughout history.
            The same cannot necessarily be said for how fast things like culture and society changes. As I write this, I am sitting up in Fergus Falls at the J-Term that Lutheran Brethren Seminary offers each year. It is a great time to get to see friends and colleagues and get some great teaching from the various speakers that are here to share and impart their knowledge and wisdom on a variety of topics related to ministry. One of the keynote speakers today shared with us about the realities of the ever-changing culture that we are living in and how fast things are moving as the years go by. This is not to say that people are so much different, but the ways that we think about the world around us have been reshaped in many ways. Our worldview in 2020 looks quite different than it did even 50 years ago. Now, this is also not to say that change is a bad thing or that these cultural shifts have all been negative. Rather, this speaker spent his time focusing on the reality of these trends and cultural shifts and offered insight on practical ministry applications that naturally spring up as a result of these changes. The opportunity for sharing and spreading the Gospel is still there and still needed even in a fluid culture. The implications for sharing and living out our faith as followers of Christ still remain as important and valuable as ever.
            As we look at this week at the Parable of the Net in Matthew 13, I am struck by an encouraging truth from these two examples of fishing and culture. It should be a blessing to know that even though the elements of fishing have changed and even though our worldviews as humanity have shifted throughout the generations, the Gospel has not. It has stayed true and consistent and our inviting God has never wavered or halted in His pursuit of us to be His children. How amazing is that?! Throughout all of history, one essential constant has been at the forefront of all that is right and true for eternity. The God of the Universe continues to cast out His wide net into all of the world, to reach people with His love, to reveal to them their need for His grace, and to invite them into His family. Let us be encouraged again at this extraordinary and extravagant grace that pursues, invites, claims, restores, and redeems us as sinful human beings. Let us rejoice that God’s love for us and His Word to us are constant, consistent, and sure. We can trust Him and His promises to us as we move from one day, one year, one decade, one generation to the next. Now, that’s quite the catch! 

​Have you ever experienced going to a double feature? I’m not sure they even exist anymore, and they almost seem too good to be true, but moviegoers everywhere would have to appreciate their fortune when they went to a double feature. The phenomenon known as the “double feature” occurred when the movie theater director showed two films for the price of one. Imagine the cost of paying for your family to go see a movie today. Include the popcorn, candy, and drinks and you are talking about quite the evening out. Now imagine that your movie ticket was really for two! Pretty sweet! Now, some of you don’t make a habit of going to the theater. I maybe go to one per year. Others of you wouldn’t want to spend nearly 5 hours sitting and watching movies either. But I know some of you absolutely love this idea! Maybe you will start a petition to bring back the double feature. Let me know how that goes.
            This week, as we continue our series looking at some of the parables that Jesus tells about the Kingdom of God, we come to a double feature. Jesus gives us two parables for the price of one and both are related to each other. Both uniquely describe the presence and growth of the Kingdom of God in our world today. Remember, for many people then and now, God’s Kingdom was something that was coming in the future. But once Jesus came to live among us, that changed everything. Now, God’s Kingdom was here. It was unleashed through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
            Like the rest of His parables, Jesus tells us these Kingdom Parables for two main reasons. The first is to check the status of our eyes, ears, and hearts. Are we truly seeing things as He is revealing them to us? Are we truly hearing the message that He is giving? Are our hearts in tune with His will and His ways? Because the other reality is that for most people, we have an idea of what God’s Kingdom is and what it should look like. We can drum up a lot of ideas of how it should operate and our visions of it are usually impressive and big-time. But Jesus’ parables give us almost the opposite picture…at least initially. He uses the examples of a mustard seed and a little yeast to showcase this point. Now, by themselves, both of these things are not very impressive. They are not big-time. They are hardly noticeable or powerful by their sheer size, but they bring about some pretty remarkable realities as they grow and spread. Though God’s Kingdom is quite impressive, its impressionable nature is mostly hidden from the eyes of the world. God’s Kingdom is big, but its size is concealed in that which might seem to be small and insignificant. But the mustard seed and yeast, though small, hold great power and influence. Size doesn’t tell the whole story.
In his recent biography simply titled Grant, Ron Chernow tells the story of Ulysses S Grant's rise from store clerk to Civil War hero and beyond. By the fall of 1863, Grant had overseen successful campaigns in Vicksburg and Chattanooga. Suddenly, national leaders and politicians who just months before would have hardly recognized his name now sought to rub shoulders with the Union's hope of victory. In October of that year, on his way to a meeting in Louisville, Grant was approached by Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton, and Ohio Governor, John Brough. While Grant and Stanton had communicated via telegraph, they had never set eyes on each other. Short of breath, asthmatic, snuffling with a heavy cold, the short, stout Stanton barged into Grant's car, eyed the officers present, and then began to pump the hand of a bearded man with an army hat whom he assumed was Grant. “How do you do General Grant?” he cried. “I recognize you from your pictures.” Stanton was embarrassed to learn he was shaking hands with Grant's medical director, Dr. Edward Kittoe. Chernow explained: “Stanton later admitted that in guessing which officer was Grant, he had eliminated the real Grant because he looked much too ordinary and wasn't the prepossessing figure he had imagined.”
            It is much the same way that the Kingdom of God operates. Its presence might be hard to notice, it’s growth might not seem progressive, it’s size and influence might seem unimpressive, but what does Jesus promise? His promise is that God’s Kingdom grows…that it is growing…and it will grow into something that will be impossible not to notice. He promises that it will permeate throughout the whole world in a way that cannot be denied or brushed aside. How reassuring it is to know that this is true even when life gets discouraging or when challenging times befall God’s people! How humbling it is to be a part of one of the agents that God uses to build and grow His Kingdom: His Church.
            Again, let our prayer be that we are given eyes to see and ears to hear the ways that God is growing and building His Kingdom here and now. And may we rejoice that His Word holds the power to make the seed grow and to make the bread multiply so that many are fed.

​This week, we get the very special opportunity to hear from a good friend of mine named Jason Rogness. Jason serves as the pastor at New Hope Church, which is a Lutheran Brethren church plant in Parker, CO and will be our keynote speaker for our Overflowing Hope Missions Sunday. Jason, his wife Savannah, and their new daughter Eva have been living out in Colorado the past several years and just recently felt the Lord calling them to begin a church in Parker. They are a couple years into this process and will be sharing with us about some of the exciting ways that the Lord is on the move and how we can partner in prayer with them and encouragement for them as they continue to reach lives with the hope of Jesus.          
            Along with hearing from Jason we will also get to take a moment to celebrate, see, hear, and be encouraged by how God is moving in the hearts and lives of our own congregation as we partner in mission with Him to reach others with the love of Christ both here in Minnesota and around the world. At the beginning of 2019, we committed to partner in ministry with two specific local organizations as well as provide four quarterly financial gifts to projects, groups, and organizations that carried forward the spread of the Gospel. Let me fill you in on some examples of what those partnerships looked like this year:
 
Feed My Starving Children
            This year, we committed as a congregation to pack enough meals to feed approximately 208 kids around the world who had trouble finding enough to eat. Thanks to your generous support with your time and financial gifts, we exceeded our yearly goal at 113%. These meals went to feed children from over 13 different countries.
 
Hospitality Center for Chinese
            This year, we helped provide food and personnel for two Friendship Meals at the HCC site where individuals from Oak Hill spent an evening serving Chinese students and their families while engaging in dialogue and conversation with them about life and the Gospel. We also hosted a movie night here at Oak Hill this past summer where we invited around 40 Chinese students and their families for a showing of Mary Poppins.
 
Overflowing Hope Allocations

• 1st Quarter – We gave $7,400 to Pastor Malloum and his son, Ezekiel, to purchase equipment for their own well-drilling business in Chad, Africa. Earlier this year, there were over 25 villages on a wait list for these new wells.
• 2nd Quarter – We allocated $8,000 to support the training and one-year salary of Alona Jean and his wife Jacqueline, who are new Chadian missionaries to the Fulbe people.
• 3rd Quarter – We allocated $8,000 to help outfit the new beach at Inspiration Point at Twin Oaks. Twin Oaks is the brand-new second site that will now house all of the summer operations and camps for Inspiration Point due to flooding challenges at their original site.
• 4th Quarter – We allocated $7,895.99 to provide additional support for Alona Jean and Jacqueline as they are looking to move to a Fulbe village to begin their mission work. These funds will go towards the construction of their house, along with additional language learning expenses.

 
            All of these partnerships and projects could not occur without the hope of the Good News and your generosity. So many of you donated time, resources, and finances to help make these things happen. Whether it was donating food for a Friendship Meal, packing meals at FMSC, or writing a check for Overflowing Hope, all of it was used to bring glory to God and make His name known so we humbly say, “Thank You!”
            As we enter this brand-new year of 2020, we are excited to see how God will continue to grow and strengthen these partnerships and also provide new ways for us to give of what we have to build His Kingdom. There will be a special opportunity this Sunday to give toward the support of Overflowing Hope here at Oak Hill. As you have seen, all of these funds will go directly to support these quarterly gifts and projects that are above and beyond our budgeted dollars to partner in the spreading of the Gospel both locally and globally. Thank you in advance for the many ways that your pray for and support God’s Kingdom work here at Oak Hill and around the world.