One Hope Outreach THE HUB Newsletter October 2024

Read the October 2024 issue of THE HUB from One Hope Outreach here.

One Hope Outreach THE HUB Newsletter October 2024.pdf

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Dear friends and partners:

Greetings in the mighty name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.

To all of our friends and partners, the team of One Hope Outreach Ministry wants to thank you for your prayers and generous giving. Your prayers and gifts enable us to continue sharing the gospel around the world.

After the impact of hurricane Helene, Mitch Elder, with Destiny Ministries, led the efforts as One Hope Outreach teamed up with him, other ministries, and individuals to send a huge dump truck and a 26-foot-long U-Haul truck packed with relief supplies to Fitzgerald, Georgia. Your generosity, acts of kindness, and compassion was much needed and appreciated by those battling the aftermath of the storm.

It is heartwarming to see and hear of the outpouring of support from the citizenry of honest, hardworking, God-fearing people. In these times we get a glimpse of the heart and soul of the American people working together in troubled times for a better United States.  

The need is still so great and our relief efforts will continue. Once again, thanks for helping with your support through ministries and as individuals to those that were hit so hard with the two recent hurricanes.

As we work to relieve the suffering of storm ravages and natural dangers all around, we must continue so, with our eyes turned heavenward for there is where our help comes from.

The 40th President of the United States, Ronald Reagan, once said, “America was founded by people who believed that God was their rock of safety. I recognize we must be cautious in claiming that God is on our side, but I think it’s alright to keep asking if we’re on His side.” And again, to quote the same President, “The time has come to turn to God and reassert our trust in Him for the Healing of America-our country is in need of and ready for a spiritual renewal."

-Marvin Smith 

One Hope Outreach THE HUB Newsletter September 2024

Read the September issue of THE HUB from One Hope Outreach here.

One Hope Outreach THE HUB Newsletter September 2024.pdf

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Dear friends and partners:

You are a valued partner with One Hope Outreach Ministry. Thank you for your prayers and financial support. It is a great privilege to work together with so many in the ministry that the Lord has entrusted to us.

Persistent in prayer:

As Christians, prayer must be at the forefront of all that we do. There is no principle in scripture more strongly urged than, men ought to always pray.

In a parable Jesus said - " men ought to always pray and not faint.” {Luke 18:1-8}.

Jesus further teaches in this parable that because of the persistence of a defenseless, persistent widow before an unjust judge, her request for justice was granted and just as this widow was persistent in her pursuit of a favorable conclusion, we as Christians are to be persistent and consistent in our prayers as we pursue God’s plans and purposes here on earth.

The widow appealed to a judge which had no reverence for God, which consequently resulted in his disregard for her rightful appeal before his court. The widow simply wished to have her case fairly evaluated and justice to be served. The widow, because of her persistent appeal, gained a ruling in her favor from an unjust man that, otherwise, she would not have obtained.

God, on the other hand, is not an unjust judge that must be pestered until he grants a petition that he is not inclined to grant. Rather, He is eager to grant our request that is presented before him in all honesty and purity of heart and in alignment with His word.

However, we do have an adversary, the devil, who opposes all that is good, honest and fair. We are to be persistent in pressing through the unseen realm of darkness which seeks to prevent the rule of God’s kingdom in the lives of men and women everywhere.

Persistence in many cases is the requisite for effectual prayer. As the people of God are persistent in prayer, we should expect circumstances and situations to change for the better and that our prayers will bring about a more desired result or outcome altogether for family, friends and our nation.

Today is a good time to begin persistent praying for God’s kingdom to come and that His will be done on earth as it is in heaven; that is; that the influence of God’s rule will govern the affairs of men everywhere, and, “That we live a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.” {I Tim. 2:2}.

-Marvin Smith

One Hope Outreach THE HUB Newsletter August 2024

Read the August issue of THE HUB from One Hope Outreach here.

One Hope Outreach THE HUB Newsletter August 2024.pdf

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Dear friends and partners:

Thank you for your prayers and financial support of One Hope Outreach Ministry. It is a great privilege to work together with so many in the harvest fields, as we continue to carry the gospel message of hope to the world.

Have you been born again?

In the gospel account according to the apostle John, Jesus said to a man named Nicodemus; “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3 KJV)

Being born again is the regeneration of the human spirit and this is referred to many times as being saved. Being “saved” means something far more than a recitation of a meaningless prayer. It is more than a verbalization of words or a “confession” of faith. It is more than a symbolic gesture of good intentions and it is more than lip service to what we claim to believe.

The born-again experience is not just an intellectual belief. The characteristics of being born again is the belief of God’s word and then to obey the commands of His word.

We are “saved” from God’s judgment and penalty for sin by God’s gracious gift to us. We receive His gift of salvation by faith---trusting only in Him-- not anything else.

Becoming a Christian is not based on our wise choice of good behavior and exemplary character. We can only be right with God by believing in Jesus Christ as Savior.

A person becomes a Christian through the work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the agent that brings new life into the one who trusts in Jesus.

Being born again is to be baptized [INTO] Christ. This baptism into Christ is the one baptism that all men must have to be saved. This baptism cleanses from sin and makes one a new creation in Christ Jesus. “Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Cor. 5:17 (KJV).

When Jesus was crucified on the cross, He paid the penalty for sin and our debt of sin was paid in full. The sacrifice of His life on the cross was to pay the redemptive price for the salvation of mankind. Jesus was baptized into death and raised to new life.

Before we believed in Christ to be born again or “saved” [baptized into him] our nature was evil. We were held captive to our sin nature.

Baptism into Christ signifies the death and burial of the old way of life, followed by the resurrection to new life with Christ.

The power of sin has been broken and we need no longer to live under its power. Our evil desires, bondage to sin, and love for sin died with Christ.

Our baptism into Christ signifies our cutting off from the kingdom of sin and the control of Satan. We are dead to the power of sin’s dominion and by our union with Christ we are alive in Him.

To be alive in Christ is to have our affections and desires alive to God. And there is no living unto God without living through Christ and there is no living through Christ without the transforming power and dynamic working of the Holy Spirit in the born-again experience.

What about you, have you been born again?

-Marvin Smith

[ Editor’s Note: This article was adapted from the article “Baptized into Christ” which appeared in the August 2023 edition of “The Hub” newsletter]