Hark the Herald Angels Sing

 As we approach our Christmas celebration I am reminded of the difficult times Mary and Joseph must have faced. Roman oppression, the whispering of scandal concerning Mary’s pregnancy, being forced to move to Bethlehem for the census… no room at the inn… Mary about to give birth, contractions getting closer and closer together, the uncertainty, the lowliness of a stable, surrounded by an audience of farm animals… and then, in an instant… the Scripture of Isaiah is fulfilled: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Meanwhile a short distance away the heavens were ripped open, a host of angels invaded the fields announcing the good news of the incarnation, the Word becoming flesh… As I write this, the words of a familiar Christmas carol flood my mind… Too often we are only familiar with the first verses of our Christmas hymns, but take a moment right now… Can you hear the melody carrying the words… Now imagine yourself out in those fields…  the illumination of the supernatural stirring your spirit, warming your heart! Now you’re ready…  Read them with me slowly, thoughtfully, carefully… meditating on each word as the full blown symphony continues to play in your head…

Hark the herald angels sing

Glory to the newborn King!

Peace on earth and mercy mild

God and sinners reconciled

Joyful, all ye nations rise

Join the triumph of the skies

With angelic host proclaim:

Christ is born in Bethlehem

Hark! The herald angels sing

Glory to the newborn King!

Christ by highest heav’n adored

Christ the everlasting Lord!

Late in time behold Him come

Offspring of a Virgin’s womb

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see

Hail the incarnate Deity

Pleased as man with man to dwell

Jesus, our Emmanuel

Hark! The herald angels sing

Glory to the newborn King!

Hail the heav’n-born Prince of Peace!

Hail the Son of Righteousness!

Light and life to all He brings

Ris’n with healing in His wings

Mild He lays His glory by

Born that man no more may die

Born to raise the sons of earth

Born to give them second birth

Hark! The herald angels sing

Glory to the newborn King!

In the midst of a very difficult year we are all experiencing feelings of being disconnected, and isolated. May the words of this great hymn permeate the depths of our souls. His light still shines in the darkness and the darkness has not (and never will) overcome it (John 1:5). Hark the herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King! 

Ministry Update: 

Your support of our ministry continues to fund younger staff who are not able to effectively raise their own support. While I may be only part-time, there is now MORE ministry happening than ever before. This year we have been able to strategically sponsor Brittany, Jaylyn, Kayla, Noah, Abby and Nora! And this was critically important during the pandemic. As an adjunct professor, I have been able to be on campus, however meeting in-person with students under covid restrictions has been crippling. So we shifted almost entirely to on-line versions of ministry. The creativity of our younger staff and their ability to merge technology with ministry has been so important. In October we had our first “virtual retreat” with people logging in over the weekend from MA, NY and OR !   While ministry has been slow, we couldn’t have done it without them and now we are well posed to further post-pandemic ministry because of them. 

Sponsoring multiple staff this way is something I see as critical and necessary for the continuation of missionary work. In my experience here’s why:

• Most new and younger staff are not able to raise support from their peers because there is no passion or understanding of missions. 
• Many new and younger staff today are not coming from Christian homes where there is potential family and home Church support.
• Most new and younger staff have to work outside of ministry limiting their availability to be in ministry and support-raise. 
• Most new and younger staff resign due to not being able to raise their support and the support that may have been raised is lost and not reinvested back into funding future staff. As I write this Brittany has already resigned and the funds from our ministry account was immediately redirected to other staff unlike the traditional support raising model. 

Annie and I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Thank you for helping us continue to reach a “Generation in Need.”

Merry Christmas !  

=== Joe ===

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Please check out our website to read more about Jaylyn, Kayla, Noah, Abby and Nora www.CampusOne80.com. If this newsletter leaves you with any questions or a need for clarification, please don’t hesitate to email or call.  % of support raised – 92%