February Newsletter

Dear friends,

Mark Thrash(CRM Development), Will and Maggie Brooke
(CRM Board), Norris Williams(CRM Middle East Director),
Sam Metcalf(CRM President) enjoying the Mediterranean
during our recent trip to Beirut. 

Last February, I left for Memphis, Tennessee to start my new role as Sam Metcalf’s assistant. I was excited and nervous about all of the unknowns, but I had no idea what God had in store for me. As I look back, it has been an amazing year where God has worked in my life, but also in the lives of other people. So today I would like to share one story about the impact God has had in the life of a young Chinese man. 

But first I want to just say that we serve an amazing God who deserves all of the glory and praise. A God who from the beginning has longed to bring the nations closer to Him, through intense dedication to this plan God has consistently sent out and established servants to be messengers for Himself. From Abraham to Jesus and now to us we have all played apart in bringing God glory through reaching the world for Christ. So thank you for actively being apart of God’s heart to bring the nations into His kingdom and may you be blessed with the same promises God made to Abraham!  

 Michael

In a simple Chinese apartment, a small group of young individuals meet to hear the testimony of two visiting Thai woman. It was in this setting that I met Michael a young college student with a passion for soccer. Our conversation was limited because of the language barrier, but we connected over sports. It sounds trivial, but that led us to hang out a few times while I stayed in China.

Some of the CRM board members and CRM staff in front of
 John Bunyan's grave. Taken in London during our Conext
meetings.

Over the next few weeks we met only a couple of times and it is an amazing blessing to have had some influence on God working in Michael’s life. Despite my short stay and limited language, some how God used me and other people to bring him to a relationship with Jesus. This is an email I received from Michael shortly after I left China.

…”Anyway, you impressed me deeply, glad to know you, some things happen to me, I have followed Jesus.

 I feel good! and I made a lecture about reading the Bible yesterday, another guy translated for me, I look up to Jesus!”

What a privilege to see God working in a young Chinese leader and I pray the God will continue to use Michael to bring a message of hope to his country.

In the upcoming months Sam and I will be coming up to Spokane. I am really excited about this opportunity and I hope you are as well! We have a number of meetings planned with local pastors and community leaders, but my parents are going to be hosting an event on Sunday March 4^th at 1pm where you are all invited to come and hear Sam share about how God is using CRM around the world. It is not everyday that the president of a missions organization comes to your hometown so I feel quite honored to be hosting him. I hope you will take advantage of the opportunity to meet the man I have spent the last year with!

St. Paul's Cathedral in London where we
participated in Remembrance Day. 

In other news, I am getting settled into Long Beach and have started meeting new people. Although it is hard with a busy schedule God is beginning to open doors. But soon Sam and I will be off to Nigeria where we will be visiting our Conext Partners. Please be praying for this trip since there has been sporadic violence in the country!

I am deeply grateful for each of you and look forward to another God filled year!

Wherever He leads,

Josh Altmeyer