Merry Christmas

Video version HERE.

Merry Christmas Guys. And a Happy New Year as well. I'm not going to take a lot of time here today, I just have a few things to let you know and talk about.

First, we have a couple of new newsletters out, since the last time I posted. The most recent one focuses on Christmas and our role as Christians in it. Basically, we are to be Christmas lights. No, I don't mean we should be brightly glowing, electrically charged, blazing filaments. Rather that, we are to embody the concept of turning back the darkness.

It is not by chance that Christmas occurs so close to the winter equinox that was revered by many pagan cultures that eventually turned to Christ. The idea that the longest night of the year would begin to give way to ever increasing light served to depict what Jesus did on the cross.

And that is what we are; Christmas lights. We live and breath the light of Christ and push back the shadow of sin, greed, pride and selfishness. Our purpose is to illumine the night and reflect the glory of the Lord. It is an awesome thought that we human beings get to bear the light of God to our world.

Speaking of spreading the light, RMW has been working closely with The Liberia Project, an organization who's mission it is to bring the lights of Liberia together, so that they can pierce the darkness of their region.

Churches coming together and working together is an awesome sight to see. In January of this year they brought together over 150 pastors for a 3 day workshop on Discovering the Heart of God. This coming February they are expecting over 300 pastors to converge on their facility for three days learning about the Heart of a Servant.

We will be sending Duane to represent RMW as a speaker and helper. Also a very talented photographer Mike Fietchner will be going to photograph and video the progress. We also have a bulldozer operator and a heavy equipment instructor going to begin work on the roads and to train Liberians in this skill.

As much as I would like to go, the resources are simply not there at this point. Nonetheless, I am going to continue to prepare to go up until the last minute. Also, we will have daily, if not hourly updates from the field on this trip via internet, so I will be able to comment from home, in my pajamas.

Oh! I almost forgot. The Liberia Project is delighted to announce that they have a bulldozer purchased and it will soon to be on its way to Liberia. God really is making this a nail-biter.

On a personal note, I am done with school for this semester and am enjoying some much needed quality time with my family. In fact, tomorrow begins a four day weekend. So looking forward to it.

Finally, I have a comment question for you. What is the first name of the person who, this year, shared the light of Christ with you, the most? Leave your comment in the space below.

Well, that it for me. I'm Locke Morgan with Restoration Ministries Worldwide. Thanks for watching, have a merry Christmas and a happy new year.

Late Update - TXT

Hi Guys.

Well, is has been a while since I've done one of these but I thought I would catch you up.

After I went to Liberia in January, I came home and hit the ground running with speaking and fundraising for next year's project over there. You can watch a presentation (slash) report of the trip by clicking the link below. You can also click on the link to The Liberia Project's website and get the details on next year's mission

Anthony Sackor and I are still working on this but the highlights are: We have raised over $20,000 and have a $30,000 matching fund to double any contributions. So that leaves us with less than $30,000 to raise in the next couple of months. Now that Fall is in the air, we are lining up speaking at various churches and will be in Port Angeles and Seattle during the next week.

Also, I have links to two newsletters that we have published since the last time I posted. I have been doing a lot of thinking about the nature of the Church and how its people interact. We have problems in the Church that need to be addressed. Pretending like they are not there, is only a recipe for bigger issues down the road. Take a look at those two, I would love to hear any feedback you might have.

RMW has been taking on some projects of its own by partnering with area churches to help hurting families. Through the Shepherd's Call ministry Duane is facilitating the finishing of an addition on one home and the roofing of another. We are delighted to be working alongside Bayside Community Church and Saint Olaf's Catholic Church for these two projects.

Duane is also working with Eglon Community Church to help them acquire a building from Kingston Lumber. It involves disassembling a metal structure and moving it to another location. He has already coordinated with the local Labor Training Union to finish the project in the next week or so. Duane has also been made a pastor of Eglon Community Church and he is obviously enjoying the work.

On a personal note, I am starting a new semester at seminary this week and will once again be buried in theological studies. I'll be making a trip to Western Seminary in Portland every other week this Fall, so I have a lot of long days ahead of me. Also I'm looking for positions at churches and if you have a recommendation, that would be welcome.

Susanna and the kids are doing well, there's a great picture of children in the last newsletter.

Well, I'll keep it short here. Thanks for praying for us.

Oh, before I go. I do have a comment question for you. "What inspires you the most in your faith?"

I'm curious and really want to know. Leave your remarks in the comment section below. I'm Locke Morgan with Restoration Ministries Worldwide, have a great day!

Liberia Presentation
The Liberia Project Website
Newsletter 1
Newsletter 2
Newsletter 3