Kelly....From My Heart

Dear Friends and Ministry Partners,

God has placed this ministry vision on my heart. He has called me to it and will be faithful to complete it. Hope 4 Liberia is ever growing. We are beginning a new campaign called “180° Legacy”. I will be telling you more about that in the coming weeks. For now, I want to speak from my heart….

In the last few days, I have had a keen sense that the Lord is calling me to ABIDE in Him more. Abiding, or remaining in Christ means… believing, trusting, or welcoming Christ. It is fully attaching myself to Him and drawing my necessary life force from Him. The Bible talks about abiding in Christ throughout the New Testament. John 15:1-11 spoke vividly to me in my devotions and prayer time today:

1“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2“Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. 3“You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. 5“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. 6“If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. 7“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8“My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. 9“Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. 10“If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. 11“These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.

As I pondered what it is the Lord is requiring of me to fully abide, I have felt prompted to do a social media and technology fast (except for ministry uses) from February 22 to March 16th; immersing myself in deep prayer daily, asking the Lord to consecrate me and to use me however He desires, whatever the cost and that I might ABIDE in Him faithfully.

As our children were growing up, I read this prayer to them. In fact, it is posted in the beginning of our Australia ministry photo album as a reminder of the commitment to surrender:

"Lord, I give up all my own plans and purposes

All my own desires and hopes and accept Thy will for my life.

I give myself, my life, my all

Utterly to Thee to be Thine forever.

Fill me and seal me with Thy Holy Spirit

Use me as Thou wilt, send me where Thou wilt

And work out Thy whole will in my life at any cost now

and forever."

By Betty Scott Stam

Betty prayed this prayer often. In fact, it is said that she said these words while she and her husband were being led down the street in China, to be decapitated for preaching the Gospel, while her baby girl lay sleeping in the crib in their home.

Oh, that I would live in this heart position that Betty lived out to her last breath. When I faulter, I pray the Lord will be faithful to pull me back in line and remind me of what is eternally important.

Beginning March 1st, Ashley and I will be traveling and sharing our ministry vision for Hope 4 Liberia in five states… (Iowa, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania) We are praying for the Lord to lead us to perspective ministry partners to fulfill the calling He has given us. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills and will be faithful to provide for it. I’m excited to share this vision on our journey. Would you pray for us for traveling mercies and for God to show us who it is we are to put the need in front of us to provide for the orphans in Liberia as it pertains to Hope 4 Liberia? We count it an honor and a privilege to be the vessel God has chosen for such a mission.

Thank you for your prayers. Thank you for partnering with us to change the legacy of orphaned children. You are a vital piece to bringing them to Jesus.

In Christian love,

Kelly