Paul writes in Philippians 1:3-6, “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, in view of your participation in the gospel from the First Day until now.  For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”

Paul had the opportunity to share the gospel with the people of Philippi on his second missionary journey.  Ten years later, the apostle Paul wrote Philippians, a letter of joy!  In the first chapter of this letter, he says that he thanks God every time he thinks of the church at Philippi from the first day he met them until now!  The people of Philippi backed Paul from the very beginning.  They want to see the gospel spread and by their prayers and contributions, they became partners in sharing the gospel.  Even though the people of Philippi didn’t travel with Paul, the work would not have been accomplished without their wiliness to pray and give.

I thank God for your partnership! Because of your willingness to participate with us in spreading the gospel, we have seen God do amazing things this year and eagerly expect all He will do in the years to come!

What a great year 2012 was for First Day Ministry!  With your partnership, we were able to bring water to two different villages in Hagere-Marium, Ethiopia.  We also launched a new training school in Fortaleza, Brazil.  The highlight of our year was witnessing the graduation of 285 pastors in Southern Ethiopia.  As you know, these pastors are now fully equipped to share the gospel boldly in the horn of Africa.  Now, we look with anticipation at 2013 to see where God is leading us!

In 2013, First Day Ministry will strive to equip and encourage more pastors and help more churches go to the mission field through short term trips.  We will be continuing the Bible training started last year in Fortaleza, Brazil, with two trips: one trip in the spring and one in the fall.  Our fall trip will be in September, and we will be taking teams of people to work in medical clinics as well as to teach VBS and to share through other ministries such as women’s, men’s, sports ministries. 

We will also begin a new training school in Dilla, Ethiopia.  Dilla is located in central Ethiopia.  Now that we have covered the southern region with 285 trained pastors, we are moving a little north.  We are expecting 150 pastors for our trainings beginning in June, and we will have a larger group trip in October.  We will also be exploring the possibility of beginning a training school in Tanzania.

We have many opportunities for you to join us on one of our trips.  We are always looking for pastors to teach in our training schools, medical professionals to work in village clinics, people to share Bible stories with children, and anyone else who is excited about sharing God’s love to use your gifts.

In 2013, we are aiming big, but we cannot hit our target without you!  It is your gifts and the power of God that have enabled so many people to drink water freely!  You are the reason people were able to receive medical treatment this year.  You are the reason that men preach the gospel boldly in Southern Ethiopia!  Please pray about and consider how God wants you to be involved with First Day  ministry this year!

On a mission,

Michael Edwards

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”   John 3:16

 Who doesn’t love John 3:16?  What an amazing verse!  God loves us so much that He did what?  He gave.  He didn’t give a cheap gift or run to the store at the last minute; He gave us what He treasured most…His Son.

 I did not fully understand the magnitude of His gift until I had one of my most wonderful gifts, my son, Zac.  We prayed for 22 months for God to bless us with a child, and it was the longest 22 months of our lives.  Month 16 was the worst one; it was the month that we lost our first child to a miscarriage.  So, when Zac was born just 4 days before Christmas, he was, and forever will be, the most wonderful Christmas gift we have ever received.  I remember holding him on Christmas morning in awe because I could not understand how God could have sent His son to earth, especially when He knew all that would happen to Jesus.  It truly is unfathomable to us, but it doesn’t change the fact that He did it.  He gave because He loves us!

Today, focus on the fact that God loves you so much that He gave His son for you!  What are you doing to love and give to others?  What can you give in the coming days?  Pray and ask God who He has placed in your life right now that you can give and minister to.  No one else is gifted just like you and no one else has had the same experiences as you.  God can use you in incredible ways to minister to others. 

Thank you for the gifts you have given to First Day this year through financial support, prayers, and encouragement! By partnering together, we are looking expectantly to 2013 to see all that God can do through us to minister to others.  He is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask for or even imagine!

Merry Christmas!

Thank you so much for your commitment to First Day Ministry!  We are excited that God has placed us on your heart!

First Day Ministry exists to equip pastors in third world countries and to help churches mobilize their people for short term missions to the field.  We have had an exciting year! 

 Because of your prayers and support of First Day Ministry in 2012, we were able to complete 2 water wells in Southern Ethiopia in May, to purchase over 1000 books that were used and given to pastors in our training schools, and to treat over 400 people in medical clinics. First Day Ministry also started a new training school in Fortaleza, Brazil in September.  We had 150 pastors begin training courses.   We are planning over the next 18 months to have them fully equipped and ready to share Christ.  But our biggest news of the year was the completion of training for 285 pastors in Hagere-Marium, Ethiopia! The First Day team completed the training by teaching Church History and Missions and Evangelism.  The graduation was a great time of celebration!  One spectator recounted her experience in Ethiopia this year-

“One aspect of this trip that really stands out to me is the reaction of the people.  From women who literally hit the ground out of excitement for receiving a Bible to grown men who had tears in their eyes as they received their certificates of completion, our graduates and their families were truly grateful and overwhelmed.  It is amazing to see God work and bring to completion this first Bible Study Institute class.  We look forward to leading many more classes through graduation ceremonies like this one!”

 God is also opening the doors in several other places.  In 2013, we are preparing to start training schools in Central Ethiopia in Dilla and Northern Ethiopia in Gondar.  We will also be seeking God’s guidance about the possibility of beginning pastor training in Tanzania.   Please continue to pray that First Day is able to help the pastors in these countries as well as the ones we have already been training.

Again, thank you so much for your support.  First Day cannot reach people for Christ without your help.  Your support is making a difference in people’s lives now and impacting their lives for eternity!