Dear Friend,
"For [the Father] so loved the world, that he gave his only Son,
that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)
We trust you had a Merry Christmas and are looking forward to the New Year!
At this time of year, we rightly focus on the incarnation, the coming of the Lord in human form. But Christmas also reminds me of fatherly love. First, I see our Heavenly Father, whose perfect love compelled Him to send His one and only Son to reveal Him to a broken world. I also recall Joseph, the adoptive human father of baby Jesus who chose love over any embarrassment he may have felt.
The love of these fathers highlights the great need everyone has for fathers—both physical and spiritual. A3 is committed to help train up a generation of leaders across Asia who can serve as spiritual fathers to a new generation of believers and leaders for the Church. And we are exceedingly grateful to you, because your prayers and gifts are essential to this ministry.
Yet as we look to 2013 and beyond, we know there is much work to be done. One A3 national director told me: "The young church in my country is like a hospital now, full of young wounded soldiers with no older friends or spiritual fathers to care for them." Please join me in praying for more spiritual fathers and friends for pastors in Asia. As they ask us to come alongside of them, would you prayerfully consider a special year end gift to invest in them as leaders of the Church across Asia.
If you wish to give online, click here to make a gift (or click the blue button in the left sidebar). Your gift by midnight on December 31 may be tax deductible as allowed by law. But next year your gift may not be tax deductible if you are in one of the higher tax brackets. So you may want to consider giving some or all of next year's gift now while you can still be sure of the tax benefit.
Know that your partnership with A3 is a blessing to hundreds of pastors, who are becoming spiritual fathers to younger believers. I pray you enjoyed a blessed Christmas and have a joyous New Year.
In Christ,
Joe Handley
President, A3
(310) 787-3321
