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|| Newsletter Archive ||
August/September, 2005
Dear Partners In Ministry,
Ever felt like you are technologically “all thumbs”? Praise God for the body of believers! All of us, with differing abilities, put together, complete the body. It should not be considered an inferior thing to be dependent. To be dependent on the body is part of being in the body. It is to understand the grace of receiving as well as the grace of giving. This “giving and receiving” relationship in the body is a sign that the body is functioning as it should. So - we thank God for the other “body parts” we have received grace from in dealing with vehicle issues, computer glitches, video editing, graphic designing, and a host of other things we lack the personal know-how for (since I think we are only a nose, and a Norwegian one at that). We couldn’t make it otherwise - and maybe that is what the Creator knew all along!
August found the Zak-Pak having a week of relaxation at a cabin on Lake Anne in northern Minnesota with Grandma and Grandpa Zak. Then we had meetings in Baptist churches in Spring Valley, MN, New Ulm MN, Harvest Hills Baptist in Oklahoma, Westbrook, MN, and Prior Lake, MN. Kevin also spent some quality time with the Freshman Class at Pillsbury Baptist Bible College speaking 3 times to help kick off a great school year of studies and ministry.
September was packed with meetings in First Baptist of Baxter, MN (also getting to address the Christian high school there at their annual camp at the beginning of their school year), preaching in North Carolina; Fon du Lac, Wisconsin; Cornerstone Baptist in Pine Island, MN; and Faith Baptist in Lakeville, MN. We are so thankful for the support, prayers, and generous giving to our family and to the churches and pastors faithfully doing God’s work in South Africa.
October finds Kevin teaching a 7 week Bible Institute course on Missions at Prior Lake Baptist Church as well as a packed schedule of meetings you can see in the itinerary below. Dad and Mom Miller are maintaining their sanity after having their house full again with the Zak 9 after getting use to the empty nest. We thank God for their encouragement, love and assistance during our time here in the States.
Rarely have I written about finances on a personal level. I have a Muellerish part in me that just wants to cast need on the Great Need-Meeter and just leave it in His hands because He surely can handle it. Sometimes, however, I don’t let the Body know because I just don’t want to admit need - pride. I think there is a balance where we do let the Body know - as God often meets need through the Body - all the while trusting in the Great Need-Meeter explicitly Who has promised that “all these things shall be added unto you.” Let me honestly tell you where we are at.
When we left for South Africa in 2003 we were at 100% support. This past 12 months we have been at an average of 69% support. The exchange rate going from 10 Rand per dollar down to under 6 at one time (now it is around 6.5) is the main reason for the percentage drop. This is a reality missionaries are facing around the world. Please pray with us that we will trust God to bring, in His time and in His way, 100% support by the time we go back January 28th, 2006.
It is interesting to gain a perspective on giving that Paul seems to make evident in II Corinthians 9. When God blesses us with means to give, and we give to the work of God, it evidences God’s unspeakable gift of grace poured out in our lives. The Giver actually becomes the Receiver - “You (Givers) will be enriched in every way for all your generosity…”(9:11). Missionaries are not exempt from this enrichment gained through giving “because they are so poor and needy“. Missionaries actually might glimpse their riches in a far greater light when they compare what they have with the abounding poverty surrounding them, and might give all the more.
So - if we really want to see God’s grace evident in multiple ways in our lives so that we will abound in every good work - we will Give (9:8); if we want to see the needs of the saints supplied - we will Give (9:12); if we want God to be glorified and we long to have others offer thanksgiving and prayers to God on our behalf - we will Give (9:13,14). In our giving we receive much more than our gift! And through it all, a biblical reversal takes place. It is not the needy who are asking anymore. It is the one with much who is asking, “Where is the greatest need so that I CAN give?” And, in so doing, he gains an unspeakable gift at the end of the day, Grace. And he is the one giving thanks.
Thanking God for His Grace,
The Zak Pak
Kevin, Sarah, Benjamin, Nathanael, Caleb, Luke, Cortney, Jacob, & Josiah
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African Churches Rooted and Built up in Him. - Col. 2:6,7
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