If you can answer this question well it could change your perspective on next year. The problem is that if you’re like me, you get so focused on the present and involved with planning for the future it’s easy to blow by this kind of question.
2015 year-end giving
So what’s the question that you need to answer?
The Question:
What amazing things did God do in and through me last year?
I don’t know exactly how your year went but most likely there were some difficult times, there were times when you lost hope, there were times when you weren’t sure what to do.
Despite the difficulties in your life I know one thing for sure, God was at work!
So why should you ask yourself the above question? Here are a few reasons.
It will help you develop a grateful spirit.
There are few other things in life that can change your perspective more than a grateful spirit. Unless you stop to look back and see the gifts God has given you it’s almost impossible to develop that spirit of thanksgiving that you’ll need throughout the next year.
It will train you to see God’s hand in your life.
The more you look and see how God has led you in the past the easier it will be to recognize how he’s leading you in the present. Understanding His leading helps you to respond quickly, not become discouraged, and to be more effective in ministry.
It will remind you that God does some of his greatest work through hardship.
Think of the life of Naomi, she lost it all, her husband and her sons. Yet God was at work in her life in a way she couldn’t have imagined. God gave her a son and a place in the line of the Messiah!
Look back and see how God has used hardships in your life. Let those experiences be a reminder that when life is difficult you shouldn’t be discouraged because God is probably preparing you for things you never could have imagined.
It will refocus your life on divine priorities.
Maybe one of the most important reasons for looking back and asking this question is to re-focus your priorities. Life hits us hard and fast and if we’re not careful it destroys good priorities. But dear friend God did not put you on this earth simply to have a good job, build a nice house, and live the American dream.
By asking what God has done in your life it helps you to remember the priorities that God has given you, priorities of faith, love, godliness, the church, and the gospel.
Here’s a Few Amazing Things God Did in Our Lives Last Year
Okay so now that I’ve told you why you should answer that question let me give it a shot.
I’m grateful that God continues to use us, By that I mean Christina and our family, to serve him here in Ukraine.
- In January God used us and our Church, Hope for People, to put on an outdoor Christmas reenactment and festival for over 2000 people in our area of town.
- Throughout the year we were able to be part of the Ukraine Crisis fund along with our other teammates and Ukrainian pastors. This fund gave aid to thousands of believers, and dozens of Churches from Eastern Ukraine who have been directly affect by the war. Stories like this one were common.
- God allowed me to start up a new theological website/blog in Russian language http://bogoslovie.net. The site reached tens of thousands of readers with solid Biblically based articles on how theology intersects with our daily lives.
- God gave us the opportunity to also launch an online theological training program this year. We had 60+ students register in our first year from about a dozen different countries. We completed 3 courses.
- In April God used our Church to reach out to the community again. This time through a special outdoor Easter evangelism.
- God also set our marriage on fire in April by allowing us to get away to a marriage conference for a few days.
- In May God saw fit to allow me to take part in a pastor’s conference in Bela-Tserkov with several hunderd church leaders. I was also able to take a small group from our church to a conference on effective evangelism.
- June was difficult, Christina lost her uncle to cancer, nevertheless God used us and I was able to conduct a Good Soil evangelism seminar at Grace Church in Nickolaev.
- This past summer we started working regularly with refugees who are living in a Sanatorium a few miles from us. We had no idea how God was going to multiply that ministry when we started with a handful of people just about 6 months ago.
- In August God put us along with a group of our students in a village called Lemani for several days. We visited nearly every household and shared the Gospel
- In September God gave me the privilege of speaking at the graduation for several of our students from our 1st level program.
- In October God allowed me to help organize and speak at our institute’s annual conference for Bible School directors and teachers.
- Throughout the Fall God grew our ministry with the refugees to of group of around 60-70.
- In November God gave me the opportunity to take a group of Ukrainian pastors on a missions trip to the country of Georgia, it was eye-opening and inspiring for them to experience missions first hand.
- I don’t want to forget how God has used Christina last year. She has a vital role in our kids schooling and she works with our translation team.
- God crushed my expectations in December as I helped organize and spoke at our winter’s conference for Church leaders in Bela Tserkov.
What about you?
We’d love to hear how you answer the question. Tell us what amazing things God did in and through you last year!
Send me a note or just leave a comment on this post.
Year End Giving
If you still would like to donate towards our ministry in 2015 here’s some info below.
How Year End Giving Helps
Special gifts at the end of the year go a long way to help with ministry.
These include things like outreach to local refugees, mission trips for Ukrainians, helping local church planters, and providing solid Biblical based theological education that is accessible for all.
Year end gifts also help you with your 2015 taxes!
Please consider giving a special gift before the end of 2015. If you have any questions let us know.
How Year End Giving Works
To assure your gift is credited in the correct tax year, please observe these processing requirements.
* All gifts must be postmarked 2015 to receive a 2015 tax deduction.
* Online giving is available until midnight December 31, 2015.
Give online
Securely give via credit/debit card or bank account
Give by mail
Note account # 0133543 and send to:
ABWE PO Box 8585
Harrisburg, PA 17105
Give by phone
ABWE USA (800) 901-2293
Please request funds be sent to Caleb and Christina Suko account # 0133543
All gifts are tax deductible.
floyd
December 30, 2015A ton of wisdom in your words. None of us like the tough times, but that’s what it takes to toughen us up to do the will of our Father and be His light in a dark world. Praying for you guys!
Caleb
December 31, 2015Yes, and I think it really makes a difference when we understand how God uses these circumstances in our lives. Instead of running from them we walk with God through them.