Hey Friends,
Firstly, I want you to know that we are praying for each and every one of you. I can imagine the stress our current situation has placed on you whether health, financial, or wrestling with worry on some level. As “the light of the world,” as Jesus calls us in Matthew 5:13, I’ve seen believers unite to bring comfort and hope. I’ve heard stories of believers in China putting themselves at risk to share the Gospel with neighbors. I’ve watched churches finding creative ways to bless their communities and medical workers. I know this pleases God. Our current state is very unsure, at a global level, but this doesn’t surprise God. He has already provided us with promises and tested truths to be our foundation even now. As our supporters and our friends, as pastors of communities who are being light in dark places we are linking arms with you in prayer. We want to know how we can pray more specifically so don’t hesitate to reach out and share your needs with us. We love you!
"a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance." Ecc 3:4
This season of life the we are all in that for most of us began roughly 90 days ago has put our world, our friends and loved ones in such unique positions. Many are grieving the loss of people they knew and loved due to Covid-19. To those friends walking through loss we mourn with you. People are struggling with losing jobs and trying to take things one day at a time, and they’re praying for their families and their businesses. Still at the very same time people are celebrating milestones. People are graduating, celebrating birthdays, and continuing with wedding plans even though plans have been drastically altered. To those friends who are celebrating sweet moments during a world wide pandemic we celebrate with you. In all of this I see this theme of security. In these moments over the past few months the things we may have placed some sense of security in have been taken away. People we love, jobs and lives we’ve built for ourselves, our plans for the future and what we can expect from these things have in some degree been altered.
Even during crisis the one thing that cannot be shaken is the message and hope of Jesus Christ. In him we have eternal security that even moths and rust cannot corrupt. We have this promise of peace and comfort even in the moments when we grieve. We have the promise of hope even when we cannot plan for tomorrow. All of God’s promises are true. All of his desires for us are for our good. There is so much security in the person and character of Jesus. “For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.” 2 Cor 1:5Even on the journey when we take unexpected turns the goal remains the same, share the story of Jesus with those who haven’t heard. The apostle Paul met many challenges along the way but none too great to prevent him from continuing his journey to reach the people the Holy Spirit had prompted him to reach. The same Holy Spirit that spoke to Paul has spoken to us. Our hearts long to see Christ revealed in the hearts of the people of the Philippines. During Covid-19 and times of uncertainty; we have been humbled and encouraged by the faithfulness of each church and friend to help us reach the never reached in Asia Pacific. Thank you for praying for us and sending us to the Philippines.
Because they haven’t heard,
Justin & Anna Gilpin
