News and Updates
March 1, 2012
David Copeland · March 1, 2012
Newsletter · Volume: 12 Issue: 3
Romans 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
Over the last several years, we have seen so much uncertainty develop and increase, that many people have lost hope. When hope is lost, the will to live can be lost also.
For the world, hope is an emotion or an attitude that is filled with anxiety, fear and more uncertainty. I hope ____works out; I hope I don’t loose my job; I hope war doesn’t break out; I hope I don’t die before my time… These are all phrases we often hear people speak. This kind of hope is an attribute of the flesh that is actually based in unbelief.
The Spirit Filled Life Study Bible defines hope as a confident expectation based on solid certainty. Hope is in reality the future tense of faith!
We all know people who have experienced great trauma, loss of a loved one, or loss of a job that seems to have lost hope. This may have even happened to someone reading this newsletter. Their will power is gone; their courage to live is shattered. All of us know someone whose desire to live for God is lost because of a loss of hope.
But I want to remind you: our God is THE God of hope!
The last several months, Pam and I have endured some infirmities in our bodies. The physical pain we have both experienced has shown us how people can become addicted to pain killers and alcohol. We know first hand that death can really be your friend and not your enemy.
Now the God of hope…
Paul prayed this God of hope would fill you with all joy and peace in believing…
Galatians 5: lists joy and peace as the second and third attributes of the Holy Spirit working in our lives. No one in their right mind likes testing and trial. When a physical or emotional test continues over a period of time, it can damage or even kill the remaining hope you have for a breakthrough.
But Paul doesn’t simply pray for the Romans to receive just a small portion of hope; he asks God to cause them to abound in hope! This comes from the Power of the Holy Ghost; and by focusing our trust on Jesus, not on the government, the world system or our own ability or resources. (Read verse 12)
Pam and I are praying for you today! No matter where you are or what you are going through, our God is still the God of all hope! May God give you great joy and peace today that is birthed out of a confident expectation, based on solid certainty. Our God has never lost a battle; and He is still answering prayer!
March 27th, Pam and I will return to Kenya for 28 days of intense ministry. We will conduct our Spring session of the Maasai Vocational Training Centre and will also be the main speakers at a Youth Camp sponsored by the Pentecostal Assemblies of God of Kenya. Kathleen Gage from Houston Texas will also be joining us on this journey.
The cry from the Turkana region to help establish pastors training seminars is getting louder. They need us to come along side them at this hour, to give pastors who are not affiliated with any major denomination some basic skills to grow their ministries.
In February, Pam and I met with a couple from Uganda that has been conducting crusades in South Sudan. They have given us an invitation to join them in establishing our pastors training for the leaders in South Sudan.
We are thanking God for every open door to the nations! These endeavors take time (which we are very willing to give), and a lot of resources. We appreciate our partners who are so faithful to support us on a regular basis. The in country expenses for these trips can average (not including our plane tickets) between $6,000 - $10,000 US dollars per trip, depending on how long we stay. If you can sow a special seed toward our Pastors training or the Youth Camp this month, it would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for helping us reach souls for Jesus. Thank you for helping us to go and encourage pastors and leaders all over the world.
And thank you for helping us fulfill our part of the Great Commission!
David & Pam