Dear Partners,

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11, NKJV).

God does not have any bad plans for your life! It really doesn't matter where you have been, what you have done or what has been done to you, God still has a consistently good and glorious plan for your life. Maybe you've strayed from God's best for your life. Maybe you've fallen into rebellion. Maybe your recent history has been full of hurts, pain, suffering and stress. No matter-God has a good plan for you!

It's interesting to me that the above scripture was spoken by God through the prophet Jeremiah to a group of people who were in captivity as a result of their sin. They had broken God's covenant and lived in idolatry, that is, putting other things before God. As a result, judgment had come upon them and they were carried away captive into Babylon. But God in His mercy had a word for them, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11, NKJV).

God also knows the thoughts he has toward you. He is not confused or double minded about His plan for your life. He has thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. That hope is Jesus Christ and God's plan of redemption in your life. Perhaps you have sinned, and you think there is no future for you. Perhaps someone has done you wrong and you feel hurt and defeated. Perhaps life has dealt you a cruel blow, and you don't know where to turn. Turn to the Lord, He will redeem your life from destruction.

Seek the Lord with all your heart and you will find Him at your point of need. Turn away from selfishness, bitterness, fear and every negative thing. Begin to believe to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. (Psalm 27.13) Start sowing seeds of faith in the soil of a loving heart. Start giving of you talents, your time, your finances, let compassion flow and release your faith. Plant your seeds toward God, because He is the source of your life and the source of your deliverance. Don't worry about what you don't have; use what you do have to bring glory to God. In this way, you will connect with God at your point of need. You will find His nature taking over in your life.

As you release your faith, God will turn away your captivity. He will launch you into your future. He will open new doors of opportunity and victory in your life. He will set you free from the captivity and begin to teach you walk in a new way of living. As you delight yourself in the Lord, He will give you the desire of your heart. (Psalm 37:4) Begin to get positive with God. Get honest with Him about your faults and trust in His mercy and grace through Jesus Christ. He has a glorious future for you!

Reports from Kenya
I would like to share with you two letters from a minister from Kenya who wrote to share the results he has seen in the Litein, Kenya area as the result of our crusade and pastor's seminar. The first letter was received shortly after we returned:

First I must thank God for having used you and for having agreed to be used as God's vessels. I must thank you for the Crusade and Seminars we had together. It was such a blessing that I am more than sure that I am many steps forward in my faith, brother. Brother, it was blessing, strengthening and anointing that nobody could ever convince me that God was not honored from that moment, we expanded our work with brothers from other countries and given a revelation to form Interdenominational Evangelical Ministry, to spread the Gospel. Greet the church each one with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

This second letter arrived more recently after we had sent this man some Gospel materials to help him with his ministry:

I would like sincerely to thank you for the gift which I received on 11 Sept. 99. Since you left many people continue to receive Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. God has enabled us through our Lord Jesus Christ to expand the work of His kingdom miraculously using me as His vessel. Through me and other brothers our Lord has started six home fellowships in the town Litein and surrounding villages three revival meetings farther afield. We held three large meetings in these fields every month. Pray for me and the brethren I work with, David A Chepkwong and David Keech including my wife Emily Samich. God is doing wonderful things in my life, as I work as an evangelist. Pray for us as we face the following problems: famine, devil worship and female circumcision, a form of idol worship in Kenya. I have never stopped praying for you since you left.
Yours in Christ,
George C.A.Samich
Faith Church, Litein
Kenya East Africa

With your help we can continue to reach out with the love of God through missions, crusades, pastor's seminars, traveling ministry, tapes, literature and media ministry. It is our desire to expand our ministry for the purpose of reaching as many people as possible with the Good News of Jesus Christ through these means.

We have decided to continue our world-outreach ministry under the name "Tom Shanklin Ministries," so if you desire to help us with this work, please use that name on your checks. All gifts are tax-deductible. Together, we are making a difference!

Yours for the harvest,

Tom Shanklin