Partners on Mission

Greetings!

Yesterday was the 1 year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. What a year this has been. Time after time, God has demonstrated His power and provision for the people on the Gulf Coast expressed through the Church. Many of you have been part of that provision. God bless you for that.

My guess is that you all have seen the recent national news broadcasts on Katrina ... in my view, the issues they are raising are ... "Will the coast survive this devastation ... can it be restored.... should it be restored?" ... the problem is so big ... the progress is so slow ... the cost is so high... the local governments are so inept.... ("we are like grasshoppers" ... Numbers 13) .... Is it worth it?

Because it has been a year, some have suggested that people will "most likely" lose interest in volunteering on the Gulf Coast and refocus on other things ... fresher issues .... our culture has A-D-D .... how long can you expect people to help with something like this? I must admit, and think that you would agree, the fact that volunteers have continued to be engaged on the Gulf for a year is amazing. Unprecedented ..... but I believe the reason so many volunteers have come and continue to come is because God has stirred their hearts and not just because they are "do-gooders". He is the "force" that has been driving the assistance to the people on the Gulf Coast for this past year. [At a memorial service in Waveland yesterday, the mayor thanked the faith based organizations and then referred to a "higher power" -- I suppose in an effort to not offend anyone - but I knew who He was talking about -- His name is Jehovah, the God of heaven and earth]

Nearly everyday, people encourage us by telling us that they are praying for Pathfinder and for the people on the Gulf Coast. And folks, that is why I believe help will continue to come. This is a spiritual battle that must be fought with spiritual weapons (For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 2 Cor 10:3-4) So what it really boils down to is "Do we believe God will do what He said "He" would do and are we willing to walk in obedience to what He has told "us" to do?)

I was reading in Matthew 14 this morning about Peter getting out of the boat and walking to Jesus. When he began to sink, Jesus asked "Why did you doubt?" In other words, "Why did you stop trusting that I would provide what you needed when you needed it and start trusting in yourself again." The process of turning our trust to ourselves and away from God is an insidious - slow one. The place of our trust will most often be exposed in the midst of a crisis ..... like realizing that God has you out of the boat and that you are walking on the water ... Which everyone in their "right" mind knows they can't do! (Henry Blackaby called that a crisis of belief) Jesus had and has a way of getting to the heart of the matter by asking Peter and us .... "Why did you doubt?" Martie and I are not immune to this struggle of trust. As you know we have been called out of the boat, just as you have. And when we are out there walking a little voice whispers in our ear " Did God really tell you to get out of the boat?" Did He really tell you to sell your house? To start a ministry? To lay your life down for Him? Haven't you done enough? That my friends is the point of the battle ... at that precise moment .... that we are tested to either look to God or to ourselves? (Think about Jesus in the desert) You might be wondering, "Do I really need to go back to the Gulf .... haven't I done enough?" (John 15:13 suggests an answer) At one moment we can be so confident that we are walking in His will and at the next moment we are like the man who was looking in the mirror (James 1:23).

Yesterday we delivered pods to 8 families. Two of the deliveries were to widows. They talked of the struggles they have had over the past year. They have help from their families, but most help has come from volunteers ... just like you ... volunteers from faith based camps. As I talked and prayed with these women, my mind went to James 1:27. And I asked myself, how can we not help them?

Well, as God often does when He wants to reinforce a point He is making to me, I received an e-mail with the following quote .........

By Roy Lessin, Co-Founder, DaySpring Cards

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

God has a plan for your life. He brought you into this world to fulfill that plan. It is the best plan that anyone could ever make for you. It is a plan that will bring Him the greatest glory and you the greatest good. From the beginning of this calendar year until its end, God is working out His plan.

As you follow God's plan for your life, you do so by faith. It is important to remember that He is the Guide and you are the follower. He does not need to bring you into His planning room as a consultant to help Him decide what is best for your life. God has called you to trust Him and to take the next step of obedience according to His will. God has said, "I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, And crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, And not forsake them." Isaiah 42:16 NKJV

Here are some ways that God is working out His plan:

He is your Shepherd—He is leading you.
He is your Provider—He is taking care of you.
He is your Strength—He is enabling you.
He is your Counselor—He is speaking to you.
He is your Shield—He is protecting you.
He is your Comfort—He is encouraging you.
He is your Father—He is blessing you.

*********** end of quote ***************

With those words in mind, on this one year anniversary Martie and I are encouraged to continue to place our trust in our Father in heaven. To walk on the path that He has set our feet on. To know that what He has called us all to is always going to be bigger than we are, but not bigger that He is. That we would rather have Jesus than anything. And to walk with Him on the water, by faith, for even one day is worth laying everything down every day. How about you?

Please join with us in prayer for:

Jimmy McDermotte, Bowmar Baptist Church, Vicksburg ... his mother has terminal cancer. Jimmy and Debbie are flying to England to see her.

Bob Caslen, United States Military Academy, West Point, New York .... his mother has terminal cancer

Alan Cross, Pastor - Gateway Baptist Church, Montgomery ... his youngest son is undergoing radiation treatments for cancer

Because His name is Jehovah - ROPHE (The Lord Who Heals)

The people on the Gulf Coast

Because His name is EL SHADDAI (God All Sufficient)

Strength and wisdom as we lead this ministry into the next year.

Continued support for Pathfinder mission and our personal needs.

Because His name is Jehovah - JIREH (The Lord will provide)

Thank you for your partnership and friendship in this ministry.

Charley

Charley & Martie Elgin

Pathfinder Mission

Waveland, Mississippi

^{http://www.pathfindermission.org}

^{(228) 493-1081

Isa 58:12…. you shall raise up the
foundations of many generations; you shall be called the
repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in.}

	Greetings! Yesterday was the 1 year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. What a year this has been. Time after time, God has demonstrated His power and provision for the people on the Gulf Coast expressed through the Church. Many of you have been part of that provision. God bless you for that. My guess is that you all have seen the recent national news broadcasts on Katrina ... in my view, the issues they are raising are ... "Will the coast survive this devastation ... can it be restored.... should it be restored?" ... the problem is so big ... the progress is so slow ... the cost is so high... the local governments are so inept.... ("we are like grasshoppers" ... Numbers 13) .... Is it worth it? Because it has been a year, some have suggested that people will "most likely" lose interest in volunteering on the Gulf Coast and refocus on other things ... fresher issues .... our culture has A-D-D .... how long can you expect people to help with something like this? I must admit, and think that you would agree, the fact that volunteers have continued to be engaged on the Gulf for a year is amazing. Unprecedented ..... but I believe the reason so many volunteers have come and continue to come is because God has stirred their hearts and not just because they are "do-gooders". He is the "force" that has been driving the assistance to the people on the Gulf Coast for this past year. [At a memorial service in Waveland yesterday, the mayor thanked the faith based organizations and then referred to a "higher power" -- I suppose in an effort to not offend anyone - but I knew who He was talking about -- His name is Jehovah, the God of heaven and earth] Nearly everyday, people encourage us by telling us that they are praying for Pathfinder and for the people on the Gulf Coast. And folks, that is why I believe help will continue to come. This is a spiritual battle that must be fought with spiritual weapons (For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 2 Cor 10:3-4) So what it really boils down to is "Do we believe God will do what He said "He" would do and are we willing to walk in obedience to what He has told "us" to do?) I was reading in Matthew 14 this morning about Peter getting out of the boat and walking to Jesus. When he began to sink, Jesus asked "Why did you doubt?" In other words, "Why did you stop trusting that I would provide what you needed when you needed it and start trusting in yourself again." The process of turning our trust to ourselves and away from God is an insidious - slow one. The place of our trust will most often be exposed in the midst of a crisis ..... like realizing that God has you out of the boat and that you are walking on the water ... Which everyone in their "right" mind knows they can't do! (Henry Blackaby called that a crisis of belief) Jesus had and has a way of getting to the heart of the matter by asking Peter and us .... "Why did you doubt?" Martie and I are not immune to this struggle of trust. As you know we have been called out of the boat, just as you have. And when we are out there walking a little voice whispers in our ear " Did God really tell you to get out of the boat?" Did He really tell you to sell your house? To start a ministry? To lay your life down for Him? Haven't you done enough? That my friends is the point of the battle ... at that precise moment .... that we are tested to either look to God or to ourselves? (Think about Jesus in the desert) You might be wondering, "Do I really need to go back to the Gulf .... haven't I done enough?" (John 15:13 suggests an answer) At one moment we can be so confident that we are walking in His will and at the next moment we are like the man who was looking in the mirror (James 1:23). Yesterday we delivered pods to 8 families. Two of the deliveries were to widows. They talked of the struggles they have had over the past year. They have help from their families, but most help has come from volunteers ... just like you ... volunteers from faith based camps. As I talked and prayed with these women, my mind went to James 1:27. And I asked myself, how can we not help them? Well, as God often does when He wants to reinforce a point He is making to me, I received an e-mail with the following quote ......... By Roy Lessin, Co-Founder, DaySpring Cards "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11 NIV God has a plan for your life. He brought you into this world to fulfill that plan. It is the best plan that anyone could ever make for you. It is a plan that will bring Him the greatest glory and you the greatest good. From the beginning of this calendar year until its end, God is working out His plan. As you follow God's plan for your life, you do so by faith. It is important to remember that He is the Guide and you are the follower. He does not need to bring you into His planning room as a consultant to help Him decide what is best for your life. God has called you to trust Him and to take the next step of obedience according to His will. God has said, "I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, And crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, And not forsake them." Isaiah 42:16 NKJV Here are some ways that God is working out His plan: He is your Shepherd—He is leading you. He is your Provider—He is taking care of you. He is your Strength—He is enabling you. He is your Counselor—He is speaking to you. He is your Shield—He is protecting you. He is your Comfort—He is encouraging you. He is your Father—He is blessing you. ********* end of quote ************* With those words in mind, on this one year anniversary Martie and I are encouraged to continue to place our trust in our Father in heaven. To walk on the path that He has set our feet on. To know that what He has called us all to is always going to be bigger than we are, but not bigger that He is. That we would rather have Jesus than anything. And to walk with Him on the water, by faith, for even one day is worth laying everything down every day. How about you? Please join with us in prayer for: Jimmy McDermotte, Bowmar Baptist Church, Vicksburg ... his mother has terminal cancer. Jimmy and Debbie are flying to England to see her. Bob Caslen, United States Military Academy, West Point, New York .... his mother has terminal cancer Alan Cross, Pastor - Gateway Baptist Church, Montgomery ... his youngest son is undergoing radiation treatments for cancer Because His name is Jehovah - ROPHE (The Lord Who Heals) The people on the Gulf Coast Because His name is EL SHADDAI (God All Sufficient) Strength and wisdom as we lead this ministry into the next year. Continued support for Pathfinder mission and our personal needs. Because His name is Jehovah - JIREH (The Lord will provide) Thank you for your partnership and friendship in this ministry. Charley Charley & Martie Elgin Pathfinder Mission Waveland, Mississippi ^{http://www.pathfindermission.org} ^{(228) 493-1081 Isa 58:12…. you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in.}

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	228-469-0507

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