Month: September 2023

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From the Memo Board: October 2023

Dates to Know

October 1 – August Financial Reports will be due for US Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.

October 1 – September Financial Reports will be due for Non-Resident Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.

October 9 – Most US banks will be closed for Columbus Day.

November 1 – September Financial Reports will be due for US Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.

November 1 – October Financial Reports will be due for Non-Resident Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.

November 10 – Most US banks will be closed for Veterans Day.

November 23-24 – The Office will be closed in celebration of Thanksgiving.

December 1 – October Financial Reports will be due for US Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.

December 1 – November Financial Reports will be due for Non-Resident Missionaries. This includes FNPO reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations

December 5 – All prayer letters the Office assists in mailing via PrayerLetters.com should be submitted to our staff in order for your recipients to get them before Christmas.

December 15 – Please contact us by this date via Signal if you will need funds in your account before Christmas or the end of the year.

December 18 – All prayer letters the Office assists in sending via MailChimp should be submitted to our staff in order for your recipients to get them before Christmas.

December 21-27 – The Office will be closed in celebration of Christmas. The Office will reopen on December 28th.

January 1 – November Financial Reports will be due for US Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.

January 1 – December Financial Reports will be due for Non-Resident Missionaries. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.

January 10 – All Missionaries will receive their statements of December Support Received.

January 12 – All Missionaries will receive they final December support on this day, regardless of the day they normally receive support.

January 15 – December Financial Reports will be due for US Missionaries, along with any remaining receipts or financial paperwork for 2023. This includes FNPO Reports for those with Foreign Non-Profit Organizations.

February 1 – 1099 Forms and other tax documentation for the 2023 tax year will be available on SecureCloud.

April 8-12, 2024 – Family Fellowship Week at Caraway Conference Center in Sophia, NC.

Year-End Prayer Letter Services

If the office assists in mailing your prayer letters through PrayerLetters.com, please send us your information by December 5th for your recipients to receive it before Christmas.

If we assist with your MailChimp emails only, please get us your information by December 18th in order for your recipients to receive them by the end of the year. Please be aware that letters received in our office after these days may experience delays due to the holidays. Please plan the timing of your letters accordingly, and contact the office if you have any questions. Thank you!

Our Office will resume processing prayer letters on January 2, 2024.

New Missionaries

Stephen and Jenifer Minion have been accepted with World Wide as our newest missionaries to Brazil. They are sent out of the Maranatha Baptist Church in Shelby, NC, with Pastor Jim Davidson. The Minions are graduates of Ambassador Baptist College, and Stephen has served as an assistant pastor at Maranatha BC for the past five years. They have three daughters: Shiloh (4), Tirzah (3), and Keziah (1). Stephen is brother-in-law to our former Office Assistant Holly Minion. Jenifer is sister to our missionary Jed Duarte. Their goal is to begin deputation early next year. Please pray for them as they transition to this new ministry.

Uplift Podcast

Family Fellowship Week – The Gospel’s Hope by Tim Daniel

Family Fellowship Week: A Door of Hope by John O’Malley

God is our Refuge by Cody Carden

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What Have I Learned in 39 Years of Ministry?

by John O’Malley

Thirty-nine years ago this month, I began in ministry. On the anniversary of this event, I decided to write what I learned. I wrote these lessons to help me process, reflect, and remember the goodness of God over these years.

I know I can say with confidence thirty-nine years later:

    1. I chose not to see the scars, just the grace applied.
    2. I decided not to feel the bruises, just the mercy received.
    3. I chose not to remember pains, just the healing.
    4. I stood by gravesides and knew God’s comfort.
    5. I sat with the dying and knew hopeful sorrow.
    6. I sat with the grieving and saw their grace in grief.
    7. I was blessed to have friends and receive their forgiveness.
    8. I was blessed to walk the most challenging paths but was never alone.
    9. I was blessed to know a real friend.
    10. I learned that an enemy’s view of me is not God’s.
    11. I learned those who made themselves enemies can become teachers, helpers, and friends.
    12. I received mercy when I erred with friends.
    13. I received grace for my faults and failures from friends.
    14. I saw betrayal and loyalty from the same person.
    15. I learned hurt can become hope.
    16. I learned disappointment can become a classroom.
    17. I learned that the truth from the inner circle is better than flattery from any source.
    18. I knew love because of my wife.
    19. I held life’s greatest joy: the birth of a child.
    20. I saw God enlarged my heart when I met our daughter-in-law.
    21. I shed unfamiliar tears upon the news of a granddaughter joining our family.
    22. I learned life’s greatest treasures are the relationships made.
    23. I learned the greatest gift you can give your spouse, family, ministry, and supporters is being mentally and emotionally healthy and self-aware.
    24. I learned prayer is the best response.
    25. I learned it is best to believe in others.
    26. I found forgiveness is better.
    27. I found life is too precious to spend time pouting.
    28. I learned when uncertain to do the next right thing.
    29. I discovered a child’s smile is life-giving.
    30. I learned failures are not final.
    31. I learned forgiveness is a choice.
    32. I learned I do not need a man’s approval.
    33. I learned holding the same doctrinal position is more straightforward than changing positions.
    34. I learned a friend stays.
    35. I learned that when God pauses my plans, He works out His plan.
    36. I learned believing in people inspires them.
    37. I learned responding in kind is different from responding with kindness.
    38. I learned the cruelest and kindest words can come from the same people, including me.
    39. I learned childhood wounds do not have to hinder you; they can help you.
    40. I learned that I choose when I can get over whatever hurt me.
    41. I found remembering the delights of the Lord is better than remembering life’s disappointments.
    42. I learned the hope of watching God work tomorrow is better than today’s frustration.
    43. I learned discouragement is a luxury I cannot afford.
    44. I know God is faithful.
    45. I know God gives emotions.
    46. I know God can.
    47. I know God uses afflictions.
    48. I know God’s word is true.
    49. I know to everything, there is a season.
    50. I know applying grace is easier than holding a grudge.

Does one of these lessons resonate with you? What lessons have you learned that you want to share with me? I would love to read them.

Yours for the harvest,
John O’Malley

If this article has been an encouragement to you, you can email Bro. O’Malley to let him know.