Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your loved ones!
Renee and I wanted to reach out and simply say thank you for the love, prayers, and support you’ve shown to this ministry. Because of you, our ability to reach others with the love and gospel of Jesus Christ — and to bring instruction, encouragement, and hope from His Word — has expanded farther across the world than we ever imagined. It would not be possible without people like you, and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
In 2018, Fresh Manna continued to go out four times each week. It now reaches into 217 countries, which is still mind-boggling to us.
I have now been writing Fresh Manna for 18 years. Between the devotionals and the daily scripture encouragement shared on Twitter, our global reach has grown to between 4–6 million people daily — and at times, up to 8 million. I could fill a book with the notes we receive: appreciation, testimonies, life-change stories, and salvations from people touched by Fresh Manna or social media Scripture posts.
When I first began writing, I knew I was planting seeds into the lives of many who had never opened a Bible. But never did I imagine this kind of fruit. To God be the glory.
I spend an average of 14 hours each week writing Fresh Manna, and another 16 hours writing, encouraging, and responding to people on social media. This has been a deeply fulfilling way to serve in this new season of life since resigning after 35 years of pastoring.
Renee and I continue to minister in churches, and I do limited church consulting. Renee also leads missions trips — several of which I’ve joined her on. Our ministry impact continues to increase around the world. With the partnership of our precious friends Pastors Dave and Jeanne Kaufman of Brookings, South Dakota, we are now reaching not only Peru but also India and Africa. We also support an incredible inner-city outreach in Sioux Falls with Pastors Mike and Vicki Bang.
Additionally, we worked with our business/missionary friends Jeff and Lauren Matt, who recently ministered among the poor in India. Through your giving, we were able to provide 100 blankets that were taken to the homeless on the streets. All of these efforts align with our heart: reaching the world with the gospel and ministering to the unsaved, the hurting, and the impoverished with the love of Jesus Christ.
I have said this before and will continue to say it because it is often on people’s minds: we do not take a salary from this ministry. In fact, we personally contribute to it. Every penny you donate goes directly to missions — helping missionaries, funding outreach, and meeting the needs of the impoverished in the nations we serve.
We keep administrative costs as low as possible so that every dollar given is truly about the Great Commission. The fruit we see each day is your fruit as well.
We expect 2019 to start strong. Missions trips to Peru and India are scheduled for January, and we believe many will be blessed through them.
Our prayer for you is that 2019 overflows with God’s joy and goodness.
1 Peter 1:8 — “Whom having not seen, you love; in whom, though now you see Him not, yet believing, you rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.”
We pray daily for you and your loved ones — asking God to bless you abundantly for your generosity. We pray that He speaks clearly to your heart, guiding your steps in the days ahead. We pray that His favor and grace help you overcome every obstacle, and that you will bear much fruit in all He has called you to do.
Thank you again for your generous gift. May God bless you richly.
Proverbs 19:17 — “Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD, and He will repay him for his deed.”
