Dear brothers and sisters in the Lord,

Our purpose in highlighting these missions is two-fold: we want to create a greater awareness, and thus the opportunity for some new partnerships between these missions and congregations; and we want to encourage congregations to collect funds for these works, to brings those funds to Chicago Celebration on November 15th, and then to give those funds to these missions upon their arrival at Chicago Celebration.

Take a moment and let your imagination take you to some new experiences.  Imagine what it would be like for your congregation, over the next 2 months, to collect funds (however, you deem best), to pray for these missions and the people who will be touched by them, to decide how you would distribute your money among the three missions, and then to show up on November 15th and go , not just a few of you...but the whole church, to those mission tables and give to them the funds you have collected for them, and to pray for them while you are there.  Imagine the impact that could have on your congregation. Imagine the impact you would have on those serving in these missions.
    
Or imagine the glory God will receive when we take the initiative to seek out good mission works and instead of waiting for them to seek us out, "begging for funds”, we seek them out to bless them with offerings.  What would such an offering smell like to our God in heaven?  Can you imagine that?
    
This is what we have the opportunity to be a part of. Will you prayerfully join us in this?
 
You can look on the mission websites to find out more information.  We have been given some special needs from the Orphans' Lifeline of Hope International.  For them, all the funds will go for orphans who are old enough to leave the orphanages in order to give them training in international hotel management.  This allows these orphans to break free from the caste system that has oppressed them in their youth. $1,500.00 will pay for one orphan's complete training.
   
Brothers and sisters, what we are attempting to do is something new for us, but it can be something very special for some good people in other parts of the world and good for us.  It does not matter if we have not come together very often in the past, it does not matter if the economy is in a recession.  It does not matter if we have not budgeted to help these good works.  What matters is if we have faith in God to join in something good.  Whatever we are able to bring to these missions on that day will be to His glory.  I, and the others working with me on this, pray that you will embrace this opportunity before you and join in. 

Finally, if you bring your donations in the form of checks, make those checks payable to the respective missions. 

a fellow servant in the Lord,