Truth 4 Utah Mission Update #23– January & February 2023
Then Job answered the Lord and said:
2 “I know that You can do everything, And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.3 You asked, ‘Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’
Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. 4 Listen, please, and let me speak; You said, ‘I will question you, and you shall answer Me.’
5 “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear,
But now my eye sees You. 6 Therefore I abhor myself, And repent in dust and ashes.”
–Job 42:1-6
Dear Family & Friends,
These verses humble me. As AnneMarie and I read Job last month, we listened to a podcast from a Bible college class. The primary thing that stood out to us was how the teacher noted that most people treat Job primarily as a book on how to suffer. His understanding of the book was that more importantly God was making the point that He is the greatest, most powerful, and most wonderful thing in life. His claim is that regardless of how our life goes, God is enough. He asked the question...
“Would you continue to do what’s right even if you knew you’d never get caught for doing what is wrong?”
Not sure where your life is currently but, as a friend shared with me in a recent conversation, do we believe and live like God is the substance and satisfaction of our lives? To be honest for me,t hat answer is too often no. I know the correct answer but the process of God refining my desires and decisions is still ongoing.
May we cling to Him through the good times and the hard times.
General Update
Sorry it has been so long since the last update. Life has been busy, to say the least. Christmas 2022 was good but hard as it was our 1st Christmas apart from any extended family. It was hard emotionally and yet God is faithful. For the first time we had people from our church family over for Christmas dinner. It was a blessing. They can never replace our family whom we love and miss dearly, yet God blessed us in spite of that difficulty.
The pace is moving quickly still, and we work to be disciplined to slow down and invest in the kids emotionally and spiritually.
Brendan, Patrick, and Daniel just finished up playing on the same basketball team. AnneMarie got permission for Patrick and Daniel to play up in the age bracket so the boys could be on the same team. We weren’t sure how it would go, but Brendan was one of the better players on team and the twins definitely held their own. It’s fun to do that stuff together.
Emmie, Brendan, and Alana had birthdays recently, and we are so blessed that each one of them have friends to celebrate with. Alana and Brendan in particular have had a hard time missing their friends from New Mexico and so it encourages us to see how God has provided for them relationally here.
AnneMarie’s parents came for a visit in January, which was a huge blessing! They’re such a blessing, and we were so grateful to have the time with them.
There are plenty of challenges raising kids. Some days, it just seems so overwhelming and you’re not sure how you’ve survived, but God’s grace is fresh, and they are such a joy. It is a great blessing to raise them, even though it is also a tremendous responsibility.
Family life has its challenges, and we’re constantly in need of God’s wisdom, grace and mercy to help us, but these kids bring joy, and they are a gift from the Lord!
Gospel Seeds & Opportunities
AnneMarie recently had the opportunity to go spend some time with the wife of her first patient here in Utah. She was doing home hospice care, and after he died, AnneMarie has had a couple of chances to go visit with his wife. They are a very committed mormon family, but God has given her Gospel opportunities on various occasions. She is also volunteering at the Pregnancy Resource Center here. It has been something she’s wanted to do for years. She gets to go twice a month and has had some really cool ministry and Gospel opportunities. Also making good connections with other believers too! She also is building a new relationship with a mormon neighbor of ours.
We’re still working to maintain connections with our neighbors, although in the winter months it’s much harder. Our neighbors that are about to have their 1st baby came over for a few hours last month. It was a spontaneous invitation and God granted us the most clear and deep conversation about the differences between mormonism and biblical Christianity and about the truthfulness and reliability of the Bible. We’ll see what God does.
The Gospel opportunities at my job with both co-workers and the students are many. It’s amazing how much God loves these people. It’s a blessing to know two other believers at my work that God is using to shine truth into a religious culture of lies. I’m so thankful for them and their faithfulness and encouragement. These kids need truth so desperately, and I pray God causes His truth to resonate with them in the small windows of time He gives me with them.
TruthPoint Apologetics is a lot of work and we’re thankful that God is doing a work in us and through us in this venture. Still watching to see how God will develop and lead this ministry, but we’re blessed to see Him beginning to expand the work of His kingdom in this as well. We’re continuing the radio work here locally, doing a live Q & A on social issues and current events at our church weekly, getting some conferences set up for this year, and desperately clinging to God in the midst of these things that we could never do apart from Him!
Please pray and please be sure to check out our online resources as well! If you have questions or topics you’d like to see us address, feel free to reach out so we can consider and pray over them to help equip believers and engage the culture! https://www.youtube.com/@TruthPointApologetics
Wrap-up
Remember to be daily in God’s Word, deeply in prayer, diligent in God’s service, and declaring God’s Gospel! Many blessings to you all in the Lord our God! CONTEND FOR THE FAITH & PREACH THE GOOD NEWS!!
In Light of Eternity,
Corry, AnneMarie, Brendan, Alana, Patrick, Daniel, Emmie, Micah, & Noelle