Stuffing our schedules like a Thanksgiving turkey

Do you agree that sometimes we stuff our schedules like a Thanksgiving turkey … to appeal to our appetites for anything new, different and wonderful? We move on to the next bite of excitement too quickly … not savoring the wonder we just tasted …

The internet can tell you all sorts of reasons why your mom was right when she said, “chew your food” (avoid indigestion, burn calories) or how many times to chew (up to 30!). The Bible can tell you all sort of reasons you will benefit by not just gulping down the blessings that come your way (When I think on my ways, I turn my feet to your testimonies. Ps. 119:59)

How about this . . . While chewing on that turkey this Thanksgiving, reflect a bit by going around the table and letting people identify some things they are thankful for in each person (but too easily take for granted). You might even do that for some missing family members as well. Then, if you want to take it to a more advanced level, ask if anybody would like to name something distasteful in their own lives that God, in his grace, has redeemed and somehow made them the better for it. Be ready to start that one off with your own personal reflection (like the apostle Paul did with his thorn in the flesh 2 Cor. 12:7-10).

Reflecting on our lives and thanking God for his blessings is a key to living a more satisfied life. God told his people through the prophet Haggai that the reason they found life so unfulfilling (and the “bag” they put their wages in always seemed to have a hole in it) was because they had neglected the place of worship in their lives (Haggai 1:4f).
Well, that is something Nancy and I will be chewing on this Thanksgiving … and reflecting on how thankful we are for each of you!

Quick Hits:
~We are reminding you of Giving Tuesday, November 28^th, but for us every day is a giving day … because of your generous and faithful support.
~Our August visit to Chicago was a rich time of fellowship with so many of you.
~After a very busy summer, September was a “catch up” month, and in October very exciting board meetings resulting in welcoming three new board members.
~Appreciate Muriel Elmer’s endorsement (above) after assessing one of our weeklong training modules.
~Please pray for this next week – several colleagues are coming to town to pray and to plan. Each day packed with prayer and strategic planning for Entrust teams … Asia briefing, executive team, communications team, Women-to-Women Ministry leadership team. 

This announcement from our daughter Jessica and her husband Joey says it well! So many of you have been praying with us for this miracle.

Our whole family echoes Hannah’s sense of gratitude and wonder. 

November 28 is Giving Tuesday, a day to encourage giving back by supporting charities. This is the fifth year Entrust is participating. Each dollar received on Nov. 28, toward our support or any Entrust project, online as well as funds sent by check (postmarked by Nov. 28 and marked for Giving Tuesday), will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to at least $21,000, thanks to the blessing of a matching grant. Each matching dollar will support the overall work of Entrust.

This year we are praying for $100,000 in total income for Entrust on Giving Tuesday. Last year God did so much more than we could imagine, with gifts that day (including the matching grant of $51,232) of just under $165,000! Thirty-four staff members and seven projects were blessed! You can choose from specific projects at varying donation levels. Full details are listed at www.entrust4.org/GivingTuesday.

Please mail gifts to:
Entrust
PO Box 25520
Colorado Springs, CO 80936-5520
Enclose a note: "For David & Nancy Goodman, M125"
Thank you for partnering with us in ministry and for your prayers!

Apt Questions

I keep six honest serving-men
(They taught me all I knew);
Their names are What and Why and When
And How and Where and Who.
     —RUDYARD KIPLING, The Elephant Child

What do you think of Kipling’s assertion about the critical importance of questions? Another way to ask this question (about questions) is this … is there anything worth knowing that does not answer a question?

I would say no. Even a truth you might judge unworthy of knowing, will answer a question. For example: “-40 degrees” answers this question, “At what temperature are Celsius and Fahrenheit equal?” I personally find that an interesting question, though I will likely have forgotten the answer in a week’s time. Others, like my wife, would say this is a useless piece of information. I could hardly disagree.

It is the importance we attach to the question a truth answers, that determines whether or not we care to know that truth.

I was once invited by some university students to accompany them to a taping of The Late Show with David Letterman in Chicago. As we waited in line, four people with megaphones approached and started blaring out the answer to the question, “How can you go to heaven instead of hell when you die?”

Is that an important question? I would say it is the most important question any of us ever face. The problem was, few in that line were inclined to ask that question at that particular time and as the spectacle continued they were even less willing to even think about it. Any communicator with an important, life changing truth to convey must first consider, “What question in the listener’s mind does this truth answer?” and, “How can I frame that question in a manner which will persuade the listener to consider my answer?”

Back to standing in line for the David Letterman show. How could those well-meaning and indeed brave evangelists have been more effective in that situation? Not easy. Pass out tracts, perhaps? Hmm … maybe, if they were cleverly written with Letterman-type humor. Or maybe they could have stepped into different places in line and struck up individual conversations utilizing probing questions, questions leading to hearing people’s thoughts, opening the possibility of sharing their own. It might have been difficult to find people willing to enter into conversation, but, we waited in that line a long time.

If a conversation (or presentation) about one’s eternal destiny is going to have an impact, Kipling’s “honest serving men” have to figure in somewhere. There is so much to know in this world, none of us has time for anything that doesn’t answer an intriguing question. Sometimes all we need is to have a question reframed in a way that leaves us searching. In the words of U2’s Bono, “We thought that we had the answers, it was the questions we had wrong.” (11 O’Clock Tick Tock, from Under A Blood Red Sky, 1983)

by David G. Goodman

Please mail gifts to:
Entrust
PO Box 25520
Colorado Springs, CO 80936-5520
Enclose a note: "For David & Nancy Goodman, M125"

Thank you for partnering with us in ministry and for your prayers!

A Summit, True Bravery and Infinity

We are on our way to Chicago—for those of you in the area, we hope to see you if you are in town!

In Ministry: As we write this we are preparing to make an online (secure) connection with one of our staff members in a closed country. This young woman grew up in a remote village, got a temporary work permit for the U.S., ended up with a Christian family who encouraged her to develop her faith and even go to seminary. She has now returned to her homeland because of the huge need to train church leaders there. We are currently arranging partnerships to allow us to have maximum impact in this needy area.

Our national staff are some of the bravest people I know, whether it is staring down ISIS or waking up every morning to a loudspeaker that proclaims anti-Christian messages in the most oppressed cultures. I admire their courage and dedication to spread the Good News fearlessly to people who all their lives have heard Christianity linked to the very worst aspects of Western culture.

Nancy continues her work with Entrust’s “state of the art” women’s leadership training. She loves the way this ministry equips women to use their gifting as leaders within their churches and communities and to multiply passionately as disciple makers around the globe.

In our April prayer letter, we announced a new staff couple, Mark and Kim Huffman (pictured above with other training graduates giving David a hard time). David is grateful to mentor Mark, who is confidently assuming his responsibilities as COO. Mark and Kim are a tremendous gift to us. We thank the Lord for their enthusiasm and many contributions these first months. Kim serves with Nancy on the Women to Women Ministry leadership team.

Thank you for praying for the requests we sent in April—we saw God work in so many ways at the All-Staff Conference, energizing and inspiring us to strategize on how to “set the table.” “For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.” (Luke 22:27) As we wrote then, we introduced 20 new Entrust staff and we continue to see God growing our staff to accomplish the ministry expansion of Entrust.

Some exciting things are happening. At this moment, some of our staff are beginning a series of workshops with seminary professors (also in a country unnamed for security purposes). Our staff is training them how to bring the “ivory tower” of seminary training down to the “street level.” In that country, the clear majority of church leaders do not even have the equivalent of a high school education. In a country with virtually no middle class, some argue that a seminary education actually makes pastors less able to communicate and relate to their congregations. Really, we need all levels of training, but sometimes the greatest needs are in the practical training for the evangelists and church planters who comprise most of the church leaders in some countries. One of Entrust’s values is making our training accessible so leaders can immediately put it into practice.

For those of you in the Chicago area, we want to let you know we are coming to town for the Global Leadership Summit at the Willow Creek North Shore location and will be in town almost two weeks, August 9-23. We know you are busy, the school year is launching and you may be taking some vacation time about then, but we will be available to get together with you. Perhaps some informal gatherings, grab some coffee, whatever works for you! We look forward to seeing you! We want to hear how God is working in your lives, share updates from our ministry, and pray together … please call, text or email us to set up a time to get together!

Our gratitude and love to you for your friendship… we look forward to seeing you soon! 

David and Nancy

P.S. - Infinity . . . that is the accurate measure of life, not the proverbial three score and ten we commonly think of. We've just returned from two unexpected trips – two deaths in our families within a week’s time. First to D.C., to celebrate the life of Nancy’s older brother and then to Dallas to honor the life of our 35 year old niece, daughter of David’s younger brother. Both lived their lives for Jesus, sharing the hope of the gospel. We are reminded life is about forever and the real meaning of our time walking this earth is to prepare us for that. Time is short and the Good News is infinitely important for the lives you help us reach all around the world . . . as well as for you and your friends and family.

Please mail gifts to:
Entrust
PO Box 25520
Colorado Springs, CO 80936-5520
Enclose a note: "For David & Nancy Goodman, M125"

Off to the All-Staff Conference!

Dear Friends,

We thank you for your constant love, prayers and support. This is a hurried update because in two days, we leave for Loutraki Korinthias (Corinth), Greece for our “once every three years All-Staff Conference” for Entrust staff and their families. "As One Who Serves" is our conference theme: For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. Luke 22:27

There will be about 110 traveling from CA, TX, MD, CO, MA, GA, IL, ND, Canada, Asia, Middle East, Hungary, Austria, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Netherlands, Thailand, Russia, Africa, and Spain, which includes a volunteer worship team from California, and Kaleidoscope, a ministry that provides a children’s program for missions conferences. We are excited to be introducing 20 new staff to Entrust!

We can only do this in the power of the Lord, and dependence upon Him! Pray that David and I would keep our eyes on Him, following His direction and having His wisdom for this work He has called us to.

Three of our staff women have been invited to meet with a group of dedicated Christian women in the Middle East. Pray for safety for all the women, and for wisdom and unity regarding leadership training opportunities in this region. For encouraging relationships developed over their days together and that our team will be effective listeners. Another couple is already in the Middle East teaching a week-long class at our Bible Institute. Other staff have been in Romania encouraging church leaders before the conference.

JANUARY– APRIL 2017
Our grandchildren like to play “high – low.” At the dinner table each person shares a high and a low from their day. Here are a few ministry and family highs - and just one low .

HIGHS:

Hungary, Austria, Romania – David co-leading the men’s training summit, and meeting with European staff.
Colorado – Nancy co-leading/hosting a working retreat week for Women-to-Women Leadership Training facilitators from four organizations, three countries and five states. All women serve locally and globally!
New Staff Leadership arrives – Welcome to Mark and Kim Huffman after ten years of their serving in Ukraine! Mark will work directly alongside David. So excited they are here!
New Staff Orientation week – David participating
March 25; welcome Marigold Sarai Goodman – joining Matt, Monika, Olive, Rockwell (pictured at right: Olive and Marigold)

Our “LOW” was when David was hospitalized with pulmonary embolisms and pulmonary edema following his trip to Europe early 2017 (he had something similar 18 months ago after two back to back trips to Asia). The hospitalization was for meds treatment and observation in a telemetry unit where they could monitor every detail. He is back on Xarelto with no travel restrictions…we are confident in this medical counsel - you can pray that God will protect him from more blood clots in his lungs as we travel to Greece, then also when he travels to Singapore and Thailand May 16–27.

Please see our prayer requests in the right-hand column. We appreciate your prayers!

From both of us – with love,

David & Nancy Goodman