Merry Christmas!  The good news of Christmas is that Jesus came to save us from our sins.  At His birth the Scriptures say, “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”  (Matt. 1:21) Then Jesus, meeting with His disciples before His arrest, said, “. . . for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”  (Matt. 26:28) The birth and death of Jesus both highlighted the sin of mankind and their need for a Savior.  To often though, this truth of the Christmas Story is left out.  It does not fit the warm, cozy and festive type of atmosphere we have fashioned Christmas into.  Let us declare this truth of Christmas this holiday season, and call people to turn from their sinful ways and to Christ, that they would experience heaven’s joy.

TEACHING MINISTRY STUDENTS IN KENYA

It was a similar message, that I taught via video link to the students at Manna Bible Institute (MBI) and School of Missions in Kenya, the morning after Thanksgiving.  The ministry students, both younger and older, men and women, were set to graduate the next day.  Their final class was with me and was called “The Essentials of the Gospel Message.”  The foundation for my class was the evangelistic messages of the Apostles in the book of Acts.  I taught them what the Apostles preached to the lost about God, Jesus, the cross, sin, repentance, forgiveness, judgement and more.  Then I urged them to use the Apostles as a model for the content of their gospel messages, “Preach the same gospel the Apostles preached.”

The end of April I will be traveling to MBI in person.  I will be teaching the same class again along with other classes I am preparing.  In addition to the teaching, we will be holding an outdoor crusade to reach hundreds for Christ, along with other outreaches being planned.  This is my first solo international ministry trip.  I am grateful for a portion of the funds that have already come in.  MBI Principle, Bishop Dr. George Muguro and I are trusting in God for His full and timely provision.  The first half of our funds are needed by January 5th.

To help with raising funds for the Kenya mission, a friend of the ministry has produced a 2 disk-DVD set, “From Branson, Missouri to Kenya, Africa and back” It features popular Christian hymns sung in English, by Branson personalities, then in Swahili, by Kenyan singers.  It contains songs like “Are You Washed in the Blood?”, “Blessed Assurance”, “Hark!  The Herald Angels Sing” and many more.  The DVD set can be yours for a donation of any size.  Click here and you will be given directions in how to order.  It can be a Christmas gift, New Year’s gift or just for yourself.

PREACHING IN COUNTRY CHURCHES

Recently, I preached in a small church in an unincorporated town several miles off a paved road, out in the middle of farm ground.  Woodlawn used to be a bustling area in the late 1800s and early 1900s.  There were two churches, a school house, homes, grocery store, bank and other businesses and buildings.  Today though, just one church sits ministering to a group of faithful believers.  There are so many churches like this, that sit out in remote country areas.  I have the opportunity to preach in some of them.  They are hungry for God’s Word and need to stay open, to continue ministering to those that come, while seeking to develop a vision for the lost around them.

THANK GOD AND THANK YOU

A couple times in the last few weeks I have had people stop and thank me for my columns running in our local paper, The Clay Center Dispatch.  A woman emailed me after reading a column in another paper saying, “Mr. Decker, I really enjoy your articles. The last one I read, ‘Is Your Belief in God Meaningless?’ really hit home.  Thank God and thank You.”

YOUR PARTNERSHIP

If you supported or prayed for me and the work of Great Awakenings in the last year, thank you so much.  I am eternally grateful for your financial and prayerful partnership in the gospel.  Through your support I continue to preach and teach the gospel every week in small churches, on social media, in local newspapers and to all the Lord brings across my path.

Kathe and I, along with our board of directors, wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Living for Christ this Holiday Season,

Clint Decker
President
Great Awakenings, Inc

P.S. 1:  Would you consider making an end of year donation to join us in our work at proclaiming Christ in rural communities for 2022?  Pray and seek the Lord God if He will have you give a donation of $500, $100, $50 or $25.

P.S. 2:  Soon we will be making a public announcement about another international ministry trip we are planning for 2024.  This one though, you will have the opportunity to join with me on.