A YEAR OF PURE MISSION
Celebrating the Lord's blessings!
Posted 01/27/2011
Psalm 77:11-14 "I will remember the LORD'S works...I will reflect on all you have done...God, Your way is holy...You are the God who works wonders; You revealed Your strength among the peoples."
God is at work and, His blessings are abundant. Pure Mission has launched in a mighty way! The first ministry Pure Mission has chosen to partner with and support is Esther's House in Malawi. As we celebrate everything God has done for us this past year, let us also celebrate all of the victories that have taken place in 2010 for Pure Mission and the ministry in Malawi, Africa.
- Pure Mission online: Since puremission.org's launch we have had people visit the site from 74 countries. Through this website, people are learning how to get involved with partner ministries making a difference for Christ. Pure Mission allows people to advocate for, contribute to and go serve around the world. Additionally, Pure Mission began a Facebook page that currently has over 17,300 fans, adding awareness to the challenges and victories faced by those serving abroad.
- Full-Time Missionary In Malawi: God began to call Cindy House in 2003 to minister to the people in Malawi. This year she fully surrendered to that call by moving in faith to serve as Director of Operations at Esther's House for a two-year commitment. God has physically provided for Cindy in the form of both housing and transportation and He continues to bless the ministry as it grows.
- Short-Term Servants: A great number of people have given their time and resources by traveling to Malawi to serve this year. Over thirty people have served on short term expeditions conducting medical clinics, camps, village discipleship, evangelism, church planting and construction projects. Three of these servants extended their stay beyond the team commitment to assist in various needs of the ministry. Two college interns traveled to Malawi to give eight weeks of their summer as short-term missionaries. Also, church collaboration continues to increase with participants traveling from eight churches in four different states.
- Children at Esther's House: The Malawian government granted approval for children to come and live at Esther's House. Each of these children are a huge blessing, and it is an honor and privilege to provide each of these orphans with love, food, medical care, education and an environment in which they can learn and grow in their faith.
- TV Show Aired: A six-week reality mini-series highlighting challenges faced by the daily lives of Malawians and one American family's real-life cross-cultural experience was aired, giving Esther's House Ministries further exposure to people around the world.
- Clean Water at Esther's House: A water chlorination system was donated and installed on the well at Esther's House, providing safe drinking water to the children, staff and traveling teams.
- Medical Training Center and Lodging: Currently, over half the funding need has been provided for an initiative offering desperately needed medical care and training to a network of clinics in central Malawi. The initiative will also provide a place of lodging and respite for traveling teams, missionaries and medical professionals. Dr. Allan Martin, an American physician, who has served in Malawi for years has completed medical licensing requirements and will help oversee the Medical Center as it goes from blueprint to reality.
- Expansion of the Ministry: Area feeding centers have grown to average 2,000 undernourished children daily and Esther's House now provides education and a bible to all non-residential children enrolled in sponsorship programs.
- Church Plants and Professions of Faith: There have been three new churches planted in this past year in the villages surrounding Esther's House, leading to over 1,200 recorded professions of faith. Also, an uncountable number of people have been exposed to the gospel of Christ through mission teams and the distribution of Bibles and Proclaimers (solar-powered audio Bible in the local language).
- God's Grace in Times of Difficulty: A storm caused major damage to the roof of the girls' dormitory at Esther's House, but because of God's amazing provision, the damage was completely repaired before any additional heavy rains. Storms have come in other forms as well, some through battles of sickness and lack of adequate health care. Esther's House suffered the loss of one of our orphans, one of our widows and the newborn son of a couple serving as house parents. Yet through it all, God is good, and has given His people not a spirit of despair but one of hope, which the people in Malawi demonstrate with admirable determination.
As Esther's House missionary Cindy House commented, "it is so motivating to see all of this put down in a list that is so God-sized".
To everyone who has given, gone, prayed and served over the past year, well done! It's because of you and your obedience this amazing work continues.
Thank you for your commitment and may the Lord do even greater things in 2011.
