Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done…

08 Dec Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done…

By Phil Waldron, CEO

December 31^st is fast approaching. That is not too far in the future from this writing. In terms of our year end annual fundraising campaign though, we are a “loong way” from making our goal. It has been an interesting year end. Unlike any that I can remember in the last 15 years. Perhaps it is due to the abysmal news that our news sources report on a daily basis that are causing fear, anxiety, and discouragement. What sources of news do you use to stay abreast of what’s going on the world?

Just today, on the Fox News app that I have on my phone, I read about the following discouraging events: a Catholic group being targeted by the FBI for monitoring for terrorist activity, horrible acts committed by HAMAS against hostages, JP Morgan making grim predictions about the stock market, etc. Where can one turn to for good news? All we hear, regardless of the source of news media or social media, is bleak and dreary. And on top of the horrible news confronting us on all sides, no one can even agree on whether any of these sources are credible. One news source blasts another news source as being completely spurious in its intentions and sources, and the discouraging cycle repeats itself: around and around and around again.

If the popular mediums of staying informed are the only sources that we listen to, it is no wonder we are all worried and concerned about our futures…about our finances…about our ability to pay for health care and other things as we grow older in an economy that is spiraling out of control.

The good news in the midst of all of this is that God’s kingdom is advancing. Jesus promised that the Gates of Hades would never prevail against its advancement. In spite of things being dark and dreary in our present circumstances, our eyes need to be focused on Jesus and the coming of His kingdom. Time is rushing forward to an event that God foreordained since before the foundations of the world. The specific day and time of which only He knows. Our inability to see into the future and know “the when” of this day of judgement when He will judge the living and the dead does not for a second diminish the truth of its coming.

We began our Year End Fundraising Campaign, entitled GPS for God Positioning System, by releasing a video talking about our struggles from year to year in funding our various ministries. In that video, I mentioned that thanks to your donations God’s kingdom is advancing day by day here in our region. It is truer than ever before that God’s kingdom is the “rule of God in the hearts of men.” We have shared in our 2024 calendar just twelve stories of lives that have been changed by God’s working through various ministries of Mission UpReach. This is a very good example of God’s kingdom coming on earth as it is in heaven. As more and more people are converted to Christ and learn to live under His lordship, God’s kingdom is advancing. These transformed individuals make up the church. Apostle Paul wrote this about the church (literally the assembly of the saints) in Ephesians 3:10 ESV: “so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.” His delight in using the church to “show off” His manifold wisdom assures us that what is important, no matter what comes, is that His kingdom continues to advance and will not be stopped.

Come recessions, government persecutions, betrayals, or whatever… If God’s kingdom is advancing, how can we then be anxious?

Please search your heart and see what God might be asking you to do in consideration of our request that you make a generous donation by December 31^st of this year. Our commitment is to steward your gift to the best of our abilities to maximize the kingdom impact that your gift will have. Give now while there is still time to take advantage of the 2023 tax year, or make a pledge to be given over the next twelve months. Either way, please let me know what you will be doing this year to help by writing me personally at: [email protected]