Thanksgiving 2013

Colossians 3:15-17

¹⁵ And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. ¹⁷ And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

I am thankful for each of you who have been a part of this ministry in any shape or form.  Some of you have attended classes or retreats over the past 18 years.  Some use the EGP Prayer Journal to give guidance in letting the "word of Christ dwell in you richly." Others have helped edit and wrtie.  Some have used the princilple to "admonishih one another."  Many have helped monetarily over the years.  I give thanks to God the Father through Christ for you!

I am encouragaed that many of you have shared how thankful you are that this ministry has taught you to "let the peace of Christ rule in your heart."  I would love to include the story of your journey to intimacy with Christ and how EGP played a part on the website so that we can give thanks for what God is doing in the body of Christ.  Please take time to write me back if you want to participate in this ventrue.

And be thankful with me,
Verna

October 2013

 
Dear Friends of EGP,
 
It has been a long time since you have heard from me – for this I apologize. Establishing God’s Peace has been plugging along with not much happening other than a few updates and editing, and orders coming in and going out at a much slower pace.  Thankfully, our loving Father has matched the pace of this ministry to my life.  He knows that the lull in this ministry gives me room to minister to my family when they need it. 
 
Perhaps you remember that my husband’s parents moved in with us six years ago.  We had the privilege of assisting my mother-in-law through her last stage of life as she struggled through the “long goodbye” of Alzheimer’s.  A year ago she had a fall and three weeks later she was with the Lord.  Dick’s dad is still here with us, going strong. Just recently, my mom came to stay with us for three months as well, giving us more opportunities to care for our parents through the aches and pains of growing older.  
 
In the meantime, my children continue to have babies.  I just had the joy and privilege of assisting at the birth of my twelfth grandchild in Vancouver, B.C. last month.  My children and their families are scattered all the way across the country, from Hawaii to Norfolk, so traveling is part of my life.
 
I continue to be amazed how God is at work, using the EGP journal and the teaching to bring His people to a place where they can see Him new and afresh each day in Scripture.  Many of you are still reporting to me how He is continuing to change you as you get to know Him and how thankful you are for the foundation and stimulus for transformation that EGP offers.
 
I have continued to maintain the nonprofit status for this ministry (501C3) but each spring I recognize that it may actually be the last year that we qualify.  We are required to receive funding from the public to keep this status and I have been reluctant to ask you for help in this area.  God is showing me that my resistance comes from my own pride;  I have not wanted to sound needy, wanting instead to be self-sufficient.  As I am confessing this to you, I am so thankful for the truth of the gospel, the forgiveness I receive and the grace Jesus offers to move toward God instead.  Would you please forgive me for robbing you of the privilege of seeing how much I need God and how magnificently He supplies?  I have been selfish and I am sorry. 
 
A couple of things I think may interest you.  In keeping with the times, this last year the EGP ministry embarked on some new directions.  We started offering churches the opportunity to purchase PDFs and copy the books themselves to save money.  And this Fall I started an online study through Facebook with 13 ladies who are spread all over the country (the world, actually, since one is in Japan).  Both of those things require me to use the one resource EGP actually owns, my dear old MacBook computer.  Sadly, it is now eight years old and dying a slow death.  I am asking each of you to consider jumping in to support this ministry with a small amount to help with this need.  If more comes in then I will then turn my attention to updating the website, which is in need of some updates and some general TLC.
 
In return, I will continue to ask God to humble me and remind  me to keep you aware of His goodness, His provision and His love as He uses this ministry to honor Him.  At the heart of all we do is the mission to encourage you to know God in Scripture, to see who you are apart from Him, to know who you are in Christ and to grow in trusting your life to Him.
 
If God is leading you to join His work in this way you can still give in two ways – either by check to EGP, 1030 Cambridge Cres., Norfolk, VA 23508 or online through the website: www.egpministries.com
 
If there is anything else EGP can do for you, please let me know.  Or if you have ideas for how to do things better or questions, I would love to hear from you. I am  currently working on new editions of the workbooks, that will offer ESV (English Stand Version) translation of the verses for the churches that use that version. I have also updated the belief system chart and am editing each letter to make sure the it reflects clearly the gospel message.  If you are interested in seeing the updated belief system chart I have attached it to this letter.
 
Thank you for reading this letter.  I am so thankful for each of you and the common love we have for Jesus.  Thank you for your commitment and prayers over the years.  It is you that keeps this ministry moving forward.  Thank you!  I thank my God for you.
 
Grace and peace,
 
Verna
 
Link for belief system:/Articles/1000134609/Establishing_Gods_Peace/Resources/Tools_for_life/Belief_System/_New_Belief.aspx