Dear Malachi Network Friends,
As you get this letter we will be counting down the days until our country’s election. For those of us who are trying to hold on to Kingdom values, it is hard to have much hope. As we follow the news cycle of the last weeks we seem to be faced on the one side with immorality and on the other with criminality. It truly is an unprecedented time in our nation’s history.
There is an alternative focus. . .we really are not forced to depend on either immorality or criminality. I encourage you to focus your mind and your heart on this: Sovereignty.
Jesus is right now on a throne. He is not twiddling His thumbs nor is He wringing His hands. He is not disinterested or disengaged. He cares deeply for us. He has all the power in heaven and on earth. His sovereign power enabled Him to use both Daniel and Nebuchadnezzar to fulfill His purposes on this earth. He is faithful to use both blessing and judgment to bring about His goal of a radiant Bride preparing for His glory to flood the earth as the waters cover the sea. Our Sovereign God delights in allowing His children’s light to shine the brightest when there is much darkness.
His purposes are not captive to human initiative and earthly government. We are citizens of a Kingdom and our King is alive, engaged, perfect, and powerful. Christians. . .listen to Him, do what He says, stand your ground and be ready to surrender everything for his purposes on this earth. There is a day coming when our faithfulness in the midst of immorality and criminality will be rewarded by a Sovereign King.
We are so thankful for your faithfulness to our family and to our ministry with the Malachi Network. Our summer focus with Avalon Beach Church was the best yet. The first year we averaged about 30 people each week. Last year we averaged about 50 people. And this year we averaged about 70 people worshipping Jesus on the 30th Street beach. We baptized 9 believers in the ocean following our services. And we prayed with many for salvation and healing. What joy to ministry with 3 generations of Stevensons in what has to be the most beautiful sanctuary of all!
We would also like to thank many of you who shared your love with us during the passing of Tania’s father, Dr. Robert R. Moore. What a great man of God! He served faithfully as a pastor and professor at Asbury University. Please continue to pray for our family, especially Tania’s mother, Tillie.
Our Fall has been filled with ministry opportunities. I was able to meet with an amazing church planter in Barcelona, Spain. He is looking for connection and we are praying about the possibility of partnering with his work in Europe. I will also be traveling in the next weeks for ministry in California, Pennsylvania and Maryland. Thank you for the way you cover us in prayer.
We are also very grateful for your faithfulness in supporting us financially. We never take your sacrifices lightly. We are very aware of how many people it takes to fulfill our ministry purpose: “Making the Name of the LORD great among the nations.” Last month we hosted one of our most gifted families for a week. This couple, along with their 4 children, are serving Jesus in a very hard place in the middle east. As I fell in love with them again through our time together, I felt huge compassion for their parents/grandparents! The whole extended family sacrifice greatly for the cause of Christ. Thank you for helping us make such sacrifice possible. Please continue to support our ministry with great generosity.
In His Amazing Grace,
Rich and Tania Stevenson
(You can send checks marked “Stevenson” to The Malachi Network – PO Box 368 – Avalon, NJ 08202 or give online at http://www.malachinetwork.org by going to the MN Family page and clicking “Donate” by our name)
richstevenson.org 