July 2021 Newsletter

 

Dear Friend of FOA, 

In a few of my previous letters I mentioned about some lessons learned from the garden – from planting to cultivation.  But when it comes to a garden, I think most people enjoy the harvest the most.  Over the past month we have enjoyed the harvest from our physical garden – from squash, zucchini, cucumbers, beans, peas and most recently some sweet corn.  In fact, as I write this letter, we are right in the middle of what I call “corn week”.  From picking at sun up, to processing throughout the day, we use this week to try and get around 300 gallons of corn in the freezer to last us until next summer.  It takes a team effort from all of our guys as we work together to get the task accomplished.  We have plenty of work to accomplish at FOA but on “corn week” we all focus together on the task at hand.  Some pick, others shuck and silk.  Some cut corn while others clean up.  Everyone has a job to accomplish.  I have been thankful for how our guys have been working together.

 The Body of Christ is very similar.  In God’s sovereign plan, everyone who is a believer in Christ is placed into the body of Christ at the moment of salvation.  God’s Word makes it clear to us that Christ is the Head and believers make up the body of Christ.  Every believer has been gifted by God with spiritual gifting to be used to glorify God and to build up the body.  We are not all the same.  He gifts us differently and places us throughout the world to be used for His purposes.  For us to function properly we have to be dependent on our source – the Head, Jesus Christ.  Without Him we can do nothing.  Our staff at FOA is thankful to be used by the Lord at this ministry as we have the opportunity to share the truth of the Word of God with each man the Lord brings our way.  It is our desire that they too would be a part of the body of Christ and functioning in dependence upon Jesus Christ.  Thank you for praying for our staff as we desire to be used of the Lord each day.  Thank you for praying for our students that they would receive the truth of the Word of God.

 In my last letter I asked you to pray for one of our volunteer staff members, Duane Girton, concerning his physical health.  I am thankful to report that Duane went through a procedure to help this problem and is doing better and recovering.  Please continue to pray for him and his wife. 

 Depending on Jesus Christ,  

 Aaron Bonner