A Reminder about Christmas for our Missionaries
by: Jerry Benge
One of the things I miss about living in Ukraine is their calendar. While our Western calendar sounds more like a recital of Roman gods (like Janus for January) or Roman emperors (like July for Julius Caesar), the months of the Ukrainian calendar colorfully describe the changing seasons. Ukrainians call the 11th month "Lystopad" which literally means: "Falling leaves." No need for any explanation. Just a (literally) sensible reminder that winter is around the corner and with it the celebration of God sending His promised Son to rescue us from our sin.
As you finish raking your leaves and begin to make your plans for celebrating Christmas this year, please consider our partners throughout the world who have left their extended families and friends to live among people who have less, little or perhaps no access to the Gospel. There is no need to feel sorry for their joy in taking Christ to the nations. That indeed is their privilege. But at the same time, we can encourage them at a special time where they are not able to be with extended family and friends by giving them a generous financial gift. I have already heard many stories from our missionaries of how meaningful (and often timely) these gifts have been to them.
The Cornerstone Missions team is asking you to consider giving a Missionary Christmas gift to be sent to our missionaries on the field. You may designate a Missionary Christmas gift by:
1.Giving online, by choosing “Missionary
Christmas” on Cornerstone Connection
2 Giving by check or cash in the offering box
(Be sure to mark your gift “Missionary
Christmas”)
3 Giving by check in the mail. (Again, be sure to
mark your check “Missionary Christmas”)
To be able to mail the gifts out to our missionaries so they can receive it around Christmas, we ask you to give your gift no later than Sunday, December 7. Anything given after that date will be placed in the general fund.
Along with our Missions Team, I sincerely thank you in advance for your love and care for each of our missionary partners and their families.
Jerry Benge, Missions Pastor