Spring is Here!

It is that time of year when we like to reflect on the changing of the season - as spring starts to show up and winter loosens its grip - and how this so perfectly reflects the redeemed Christian life.

Spring has begun to POP here in the mountains of North Carolina.  There is that subtle red of the budding trees, painting the sides of the mountains.  Soon red will be bursting into, a not so subtle green as the buds change into leaves.  The grass is once again beginning to grow and change from the brown of winter’s grasp and be freed into the green of springtime.  We even have some cheery daffodils in the yard which greeted us as we returned from our three-and-a-half-week trip to Birmingham, Alabama.

As this visual evidence of life returns all around us, after a long winter, we can’t help but compare this to a redeemed life in Christ which also blooms magnificently after Christ calls one to Himself. 

How can something that is dead be made alive again?  The Book of Romans gives us a picture of how God makes this possible...

"(4)...just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.  (5) For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.  (6) We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.  (7) For one who has died has been set free from sin.  (8) Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.  (9) We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.  (10) For the death he died, he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives, he lives to God.  (11) So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus" (Romans 6:4-11, English Standard Version, bold added for emphasis).

This is true freedom.  This is the message of the cross.  What a privilege for every Christian to share this most precious message of salvation in Christ!

Financial Update

We Grottons are very eager to share this message of hope and salvation to the blind who are among the “least of these” in Chile.  We are getting nearer to that goal but still need your help!

Last month, we reviewed our budget with our mission agency, MTW, and as you would expect a couple of items outside our control have increased slightly.  Despite those adjustments, MTW has confirmed that through generous financial partners, God has provided 72% of our monthly need! 

Now we look to you, dear friend, to pray, to give, to speak up on our behalf, to get involved in the Lord’s work in Chile.  Help us find the remaining 28% who will partner with us!

Here is a quick breakdown of what we need pledged:
28% of our budget = $36,000 / year
$36,000 / 12 = $3,000 / month

We need:
25 families at $100 / month = $2,500 / month
2 churches at $250 / month = $500 / month

We are praying for a departure date in August.  A bold prayer, perhaps, but would you pray it with us?