I hope this letter finds you and yours in good health and strong faith. As for me, I am currently living in Ephraim, Utah and am nearing the completion of my second year at Snow College. I have been pursuing an Associates degree in Music Performance but I’ve decided to change my major to Elementary Education and also to transfer to a Christian college.

I have been working as a substitute teacher at the schools in Sanpete County and at Wasatch Academy. I am very grateful for this job as it gives me a bit of experience in teaching and confirms that I want to be a teacher. It has also been very rewarding as I have been able to build relationships with many of the students. While in Ephraim I have attended Ephraim Church of the Bible and been involved in the college, music and youth/children’s ministries. Well, that’s my life in a small nutshell. Let’s move on to the main reason for this letter.

I have been accepted to the Virginia Beach summer mission through Campus Crusade for Christ. The mission extends from May 25th through August 10th, 2002. 73 other college students and several Campus Crusade staff members will accompany me. Our goal is to reach people for Christ so we will be using short questionnaires, the four spiritual laws booklets and of course the Bible. We will plan events like beach olympics, sand castle contests, etc. to get the beach-goers interested and involved.

It is required that the students get jobs during the summer. This gives us the opportunity for relational evangelism and keeps us from getting distracted by our environment. While we work during the day we have several meetings in the evenings. These vary from lectures to separate men and women’s times to leadership trainings to bible studies. Halfway through the summer the staff leaves and the students run the mission for the rest of the summer

I recently heard a Christian missionary speak on the topic of “Why Missions?” His answer was simple. He said, “Because God is worth it.” Every time someone receives Christ as Lord or a Christian who has become stagnant in his or her walk begins again to live for Jesus, God is glorified.

Why do we support missionaries with our prayers and finances? Not because they are good people or because they have good intentions but because we are all part of the Great Commission. Jesus asked that if we love him we are to feed his sheep. He told us to go out among the nations and spread the good news that “God so loved that world that he gave his one and only Son that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life”(John 3:16). The good news is that Jesus Christ, Immanuel, “died for our sins according to the scriptures, that he was buried, that he rose again on the third day according to the scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).

Through prayer we can individually be an active part of the evangelical effort of the body of believers known as the church. This being the case, I ask you to pray for me as I go out this summer to spread the good news to a world hungry for God. Pray that God would use me and the other students to reach the lost and the hopeless, for protection from spiritual attack and that we will all grow closer to him in the process.

As you pray I would ask you to consider giving financially to my mission. In order to go to and remain at Virginia Beach, I need to raise approximately $2,000 by July 2002. This will cover the expenses of rent, supplies, etc. Any amount, no matter how great or small helps. If the Lord lays it on your heart to give you can make checks out to Campus Crusade for Christ or myself, or you can send cash. You will receive a receipt in the mail for tax purposes no matter what form of money you use.

Thank you for supporting me in this. I have enclosed an addressed envelope in which to send monetary support and a slip of paper, which indicates if you would like to be updated through regular mail or email. If you have any other questions, concerns or comments please feel free to contact me. I look forward to hearing from you!

“The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace”. (Numbers 6:24-26)

In Christ,

Mary Beth

email-- MARYBETHJF@hotmail.com