Amazed by God’s goodness to us this Christmas. We saw over 1,000 people Christmas day in Bonton with 300 volunteers and 70 salvations. This is a beautiful picture of what God is doing in and through H.I.S. BridgeBuilders. Clothes, toys, and food were donated but most of all on a cold winter day in Dallas the gift of Christ was experienced by all who were gathered together. We are humbled to do our work unto the Lord. There were no cameras or famous people congratulating us on what we were doing just servants joyfully serving the King. Interesting that much of what we do for the least and lost will never be acknowledged by men as of great importance. But to God it was worth sending His Son that first Christmas morning.

I watched as people waited in line for a coat in the cold, Mothers giving their coats to their children, and thought I have never done this one day in my life.  There is something so pure and undefiled about serving the least. There is no earthly reward only the heavenly.

Praising God for the hundreds served in San Antonio, Galati’s Romania, and Bridgeport West Virginia. Thousands have given their time talents and treasures to this movement of God. No other birth in history is marked by such love for others and compassion for the poor. Clearly the Lord is working mightily and we long to give Him praise. You are each a great gift from God and we thank God for each of you and how you are a part of this movement of God called H.I.S. BridgeBuilders!

Looking forward to the coming year and all that God has planned as He Multiplies the Harvest!

I am reminded this Christmas season of the great blessing of giving to others.  God so loved us He gave His only Son, that we might have everlasting life.  Jesus gave His life for us, even though we were sinners and completely undeserving.  Throughout the scriptures we see stories of giving that model the great sacrifice that Jesus made for all mankind.  The little boy with the lunch of fish and loaves for his provision, prepared for him by his mother.  Can you imagine a strange man coming up and asking one of our children for their lunch to feed people they had never met, who could probably have brought their own meal had they planned better?  The gift is precious, because it is first given to the Lord and then entrusted to Him to distribute as He sees fit.  The boy’s gift fed thousands with abundance because he gave unconditionally, the same way God gave His Son for us.

Several days ago I received a call from a brother in Christ who lives in Austin. He asked what we needed for the children on Christmas day.  When I shared the need, he said “let’s do ten times that, the check will be there tomorrow”.  I was driving, and was speechless by this unbelievable act of generosity from someone, who does not live in our city, doesn’t know the families in the inner city and has no reason, other than the love of Christ, to give such a tremendous gift.  When we went to WalMart to purchase coats and toys for the kids, the staff of the entire store helped us with our purchases.  The employees immediately asked, “What church is this?” as they knew we were purchasing the items for the poor.  We linked the shopping carts together to leave, while the entire store watched. Another shop owner in WalMart began bringing donations from his store to give to the poor.  Clearly, these baskets of blessings will be used this Christmas day in BonTon, to express, to all who come, that God loves them and sent His Son for them, to meet their every need.  We are humbled by the hundreds of volunteers, churches and corporate partners that enable us to share Christ’s love with the poor on Christmas day, and every day of the year.  Please join us at 1:00pm on Christmas Day – 6508 Canaan Street – Dallas 75215

The other evening I woke up and was a little cold. I pushed a button on my thermostat and instantly the heat came on, blowing through the vents and I felt warmer.  As I was preparing to go back to bed, the Lord put on my heart our precious brothers and sisters in Christ who live in Romania.  The Gypsies live in a valley in a large city, that typically floods, in shacks with mud or concrete floors.  There is no insulation or carpets, simply cold, barren houses that provide covering.  They typically have a little wood stove  that provides heat for their families and a place to cook their meals.  Each night someone has to get up during the night to keep the wood fire going so they don’t freeze from the cold.  The question for most is, will they have enough wood?  It is amazing that they seek to keep the fire burning to sustain their lives, yet we have fires for enjoyment.  The world needs the wood for the warmth to live and they need the Word to live eternally.  The fire of the Gospel brings hope to their cold and hopeless hearts and the firewood protects them from the cold.  It is amazing how Jesus changed everything when He was here.  Our spiritual and societal needs are all met in Christ.  He has blessed us to be a conduit of the Word and has given us wood to bring the fire of revival and life.  We cannot share the Gospel to the least if they are dead from the cold.

Please do not judge the reason they are in the position they are in until you have walked among them.  Jesus seldom spoke a harsh word to the poor or afflicted, but often spoke harshly to the Pharisees, who thought they were guides to the blind and yet were blind to Him and His gospel.  I encourage you to travel globally, for it will give you new insight to the blessings God has given you and help you understand how a simple gift of firewood can open doors to eternal life.  Please pray for our ministry in Romania.

Mike in Romania during winter

Bogdon and Clifton in Romania

Firewood for winter