Just last week we joined the team at World Gospel Mission in Marion, IN for a day of prayer and seeking the Lord. WGM is committed to the spiritual growth and development of its employees as well as its 230 missionaries serving God around the world.
I wanted to share a thought that came to me during my time alone with the Lord. The picture at the left is actually the Mississinewa River in Marion, IN. I was studying Psa. 46 and came upon verse 4 that says, "There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells." My mind traveled back into time to a camp meeting in Wellston, OH where I grew up as a young person. This camp meeting had a huge part in my call to serve Jesus. It was during this camp meeting that I was called in to full time Christian Service and felt God's touch on my heart as I surrended my life to answer His call. As the Lord refreshed that memory in my mind, I thought of one of the young people at that camp named George that used to sing a song entitled, "There is a River" the words which came back to me, "There is a river, and it flows from deep within. There is a fountain, that frees the soul from sin. Come to this water; there is a vast supply. There is a river, that never shall run dry." It seemed like God said to me go to the river, so I went to the Mississinewa and there the Lord reminded me that He has everything that I face in His capable hands and His resources are just like this river, they flow, unending, and never will run dry.
What an encouragement to our hearts as Marlene and I serve our missionaries at WGM. We enter into many situations that we need a lot of help to carry out our responsibilities and care for our most precious resource, our missionaries. God flooded my heart with His presence inviting me to come to the river, for it will never ever run dry. I looked through some recent pictures and saw a picture on the coast of Kauai' and the vast Pacific Ocean, and then the sunset in Florida on the vast Atlantic Ocean, and I know that Psa. 46:2 -3 "Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though the waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging....THERE IS A RIVER and from that river we can "Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth, The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Psa. 46: 10 -11.
We are mindful of this message as we minister among our missionaries. We were in the country of Peru to ring in the New Year. Marlene and I gathered just outside of Cusco, Peru with almost 50 of our WGM South America/Ibero missionaries for a reterat. We were able to spend quality time with each one and enjoyed laughing together, playing together and times of teaching and spiritual encouragement. We always enjoy prepping welcome bags of little surprises, complete with chocolate and more...to just say we love our missionaries and we care about them. The retreat was a tremendous time of refreshment and encouragement. We are often asked what is it that we do? Well, traveling to our missionaries and investing in their lives through developing relationships and coming alongside of them in their ministry is what we love to do. Many of you may remember us saying we are like the Aaron and Hur of the story of Moses praying for Joshua in Exodus Chapter 17. We help to hold up the hands of those that are ministering around the world. It is your faithful prayers and support that you give to our ministry that makes this all possible.
We returned from Peru in January, and visited Somerset Congregational Church in Somerset, MI for a missions fund raising dinner, and then we had some time to enjoy a vacation with some close friends and supporters of ours who shared their time share with us in Hawaii. We returned from vacation to stop off in California to visit some missionaries before we returned to Marion. Our mission offices are welcoming some new personnel to help in the next phase of growth for WGM and we are excited to see what God has in store for us as we grow. On Feb. 12 we were privileged to speak at our home church, Trinity Wesleyan Church in Jackson, MI and enjoyed seeing friends and supporters of a great church that stands with us in ministry. This week finds us in Largo, FL where we spoke at Ranchero Village Chapel and connected with family and friends that are part of our support team. On, Feb. 25 -26 we will be sharing about our missionary work with a new church, Wesley United Methodist in W. Melborne, FL.
Where are we headed next? We plan to be in Marion, IN for most of the month of March to get caught up on work there (including a move of offices for us) and also to do a planning time for our Member Health Department at the mission. On March 29 we fly out to Kenya, Africa where we will join our largest team of missionaries serving through WGM at their annual retreat there. Marlene will be teaching and we will be sharing with our missionaries there. As always we ask an interest in your prayers as we make this journey.
Thank you for you support and prayers. We constantly are reminded that your support and prayers are what keep us. You are part of The River and part of the encouragement that never runs dry. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Ned and Marlene McGrady
WGM
Box 948
Marion, IN 46952
www.wgm.org/mcgrady
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