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Dear Friends:

As I Corinthians 1:18 states, The message about the cross is foolishness for those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 

Just in case you wonder why Global Ministries continues forward in new areas of its ministry of Critical Presence despite adverse circumstances in the United States/Canada and beyond our border; or just in case you wonder why Global Ministries appointed seven new missionaries to serve around the world in the last year; or just in case you wonder why Global Ministries took a fresh look at the themes of Partnership at its most recent board meeting last month . . . let us share a story with you.

The former pastor of my (David's) congregation in Indianapolis, Reverend Hilario Nuñez, was born and grew up in a very poor family in the Dominican Republic.  His relatives remain in D.R., including his brother Alberto, who also is a minister.  Alberto is a pastor in one of the poorest communities of this hemisphere, in a village known as Pedernales, in the western part of the country, very close to the border with Haiti.  Reverend Hilario told me several years ago that he tried to convince Alberto to move from the inhospitable and dangerous village of Pedernales to a more comfortable place, preferably in the capital city of Santo Domingo, where he could start what surely would be a successful new church ministry.  My pastor even promised his brother that he would help him financially so that Alberto could resettle in the capital city.  To the surprise of my pastor, Alberto's immediate response was Yes, my dear brother, I understand your concern and proposal.  But in Pedernales, people also live there.  In Pedernales, people also live there.  

Dear Friends:  even in 2009 when all are faced with economic, physical, and spiritual uncertainty, Global Ministries continues to face the challenge of being where many may think is foolish to be.  One reason is, as Alberto responded to his brother, because people also live there.  In Pedernales, that remote and poor village in the Dominican Republic, and in many other "valleys of the shadow of death" throughout the world, people also live there.  In places isolated from the rest of the world in Cuba, Afghanistan, and Gaza, people also live there.  In areas of devastation in China and Indonesia, people also live there.  In areas of conflict and violence in Sri Lanka, Colombia, and Zimbabwe, people, God's children created in God's image, also live there!

It may appear foolish to ask you at this uncertain time to give a generous gift for the work of Global Ministries.  However, we do just that.  We invite you to join us in response to the message of the cross – foolishness for those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God -- with a resounding Here I am, Lord.  We look forward to hearing from you!

In Christ,