Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow…

“Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside! Great is thy faithfulness!, Great is thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see; all I have needed thy hand hath provided. Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!”

Thomas O. Chisholm was born in 1866 in a Kentucky log cabin. Even though he never had a formal education, Thomas succeeded academically. Beginning work at the age of sixteen, Thomas became a schoolteacher in the same schoolhouse that he was educated.

He later became associate editor of the local newspaper and moved on to be an editor of the Pentecostal Herald in Louisville, Kentucky. He also made some poetical contributions of his own to other local newspapers.

At the age of 26, Thomas made one of the most important decisions that he would make in his life when he accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior in 1893. In 1903, he was officially ordained a minister, but was forced to limit his years of service due to his poor health.

Throughout his life, Thomas wrote hundreds of poems. One such poem was based in Lamentations 3:22-23 where it says, “It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness."

Although Thomas Chisholm had suffered under poor health throughout his life, God’s faithfulness was evident to him. God has been faithful in the past, is faithful in the present and will continue to be faithful till the end of the age.

These words have been a constant source of blessing and encouragement to us as we look back on another year on ministry. Not only has the Lord given us strength for each day as we have faced some difficult times, He has also give us a “bright hope for tomorrow.”

In so many ways and in so many different circumstances we have seen God’s faithfulness to us through His provision, His protection and His guidance. Let me share some of those blessings with you:

Personal Blessings:

•   Joanne and I celebrated our 30th Wedding Anniversary in November. What a wonderful blessing it has been to be on this journey together.

•   Joanne celebrated her 50th birthday this year!

•   Our three children have all completed their tertiary studies this year and are establishing themselves in their chosen fields.

•   After two CT Scans this year, Graham is still cancer free after being diagnosed with colon cancer in 2021.

•   We thank the Lord for His “strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow” as we continue to adjust to life without our oldest son, Daniel, who died from Luekemia in 2021.

•   Joanne and I got to take a road trip together to Zimbabwe to conduct a Teacher Training Workshop there in October.

The Peter Project Initiative Zimbabwe:

We have been so encouraged to see the Lord opening up Zimbabwe to the Peter Project Initiative. After two exploratory trips in 2022 we have now trained 8 national pastors who in turn will begin training a group of student pastors and church leaders in January 2023. (2 Tim:1-2)

20 students have enrolled so far to be part of the training and equipping we offer through our ministry. We are confident that this number will increase before classes begin in 2023.

The Peter Project Initiative Ghana

During a June visit I was able to see firsthand the work being done there to train and equip pastors and church leaders. 35 students are currently attending classes in 4 different centres in Ghana. (Taking into account the 20 students enrolled in Zimbabwe we will have 55 students in the program!)

I was able to teach a course on the Biblical Principles of Finances to a group of 45 students during my visit in June.

One of the students in the Takpo centre recently had his motorbike stolen. Not wanting to miss any classes, he now walks 6 miles to class twice a week! (We would like to help him purchase a new motorbike. If you would like to contribute to the $1000 needed please send your gift to IFM marked: “Peter Project Motorbike”

Plans for 2023:

•   January 2023: Zimbabwe trip to launch classes.

•   March 2023: Ghana trip to visit classes and meet with teachers as we look to expanding the Peter Project Initiative to new areas.

•   September to December 2023: We are planning a short furlough to visit supporting churches and new churches to share our ministry of training pastors in Africa. Please contact us or the IFM Office if you would like to schedule a visit to your church.

We realise that we would not be able to do any of this without you walking beside us through your prayers and financial support. We’re so grateful for your faithfulness and for your interest in our ministry. Thank you for holding our family up in prayer through the year. 

We pray that you will see God’s faithfulness in your lives and to look forward to the “bright hope for tomorrow” He has in store for each of you.

Onward and Upward!

Graham & Joanne