Volume 14 Issue 4 - April 1999 THE PROMISE LAND "But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24: 15b) April’s newsletter will be somewhat unique. The entire presentation will be devoted to sharing with our mailing list a miracle that is in motion. I pray you will take the time to prayerfully consider your part into turning a 10 year dream into a reality for the Thomas family. We have just concluded the production of "The Promise" to commemorate Resurrection weekend and now are preparing to embark on a month of intensified ministry. In a couple of days, I will leave for Florida, come home for a day, then head to New York to fulfill what I believe will be major dates with destiny. Most of April, I will be gone from my family to take my position in a battle that truly belongs to the Lord. Like Paul of old, I beseech you to pray for us and to seek the Lord concerning your participation in the content of this vision. May the Lord richly bless you and yours!
Vision Statement For The Thomas Family "And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it: because it will surely come, it will not tarry." (Hab.2:2,3) The following is a vision statement that I've had burning in my heart for many years. I've sought it diligently through prayer, but the Lord in His good Providence has not seen fit to answer my heart's desire, at least, not yet. What I share with you, I do not speak solely as a minister of the Gospel, nor as a prophetic evangelist to our nation. This comes from a much deeper calling than these. I write this as a devoted husband to one wife and a loving father of seven children. My heart's desire is to seek the Lord to provide a "Hiding Place" for my family and I. A place of refuge for the Thomas Tribe. A home with an acre of land, we can call our own. As stated before, this desire has been a dream for many years and many times I've tried through traditional means to make this dream a reality for my loved ones, only to come away with a deep sense of disappointment and our hopes dashed. I'm convinced, at least at this point, that the current world system is not God's sole way to meet the need to provide this miracle for our family. As a result, we are appealing to a greater system and a Higher Authority, one my family has faithfully served for the last 15 years, the Lord Jesus Christ and His Kingdom. We recognize that He alone is our ultimate source, though He does use His Body as vessels to provide. Thus the reason for this letter. Enclosed are copies of a fundraising letter written by Bill Darr, a good friend and Elder at a Church in Tulsa, OK. called the CitiChurch, who are heading up our fundraising efforts. The breakdown of the budget for the home we are seeking to build are also included. By God's grace, an acre of land has already been donated as we press forward to now establish a home on that piece of "promise land." Would you please consider being a part of this miracle that is in progress to make this dream for the Thomas Family become a reality? Would you, your family, or your church consider treating this as a mission? The bottom line is, the Thomas Family needs a lot of help if our dream is to come true. We beseech you to pray for us and seek the Lord concerning your possible participation in this miracle that is in motion for the Thomas Family. Though I know it is improper to blow our own horn, suffice it to say that my family has sacrificed much to serve the Lord and I pray that the Lord now sees fit to grant us a much-needed harvest to provide us a home. Thank You!!! Budget Breakdown For Our New Residence Prepared By Don Gaylor, General Contractor 1) Concrete Slab_________________________$9,000 2) Framing Material (exterior doors, windows, and roofing)_______$27,000 3) Framing Labor_________________________$7,500 4) Plumbing (labor & material)______________$4,800 5) Sheetrock (labor & material)______________$3,200 6) Wall Insulation_________________________$800 7) Ceiling Insulation_______________________$800 8) Electrical (labor & material)______________$4,500 9) Brick, Sand, Mortar, & Labor______________$5,800 10) Texture______________________________$1,200 11) Painting______________________________$3,000 12) Floor Covering________________________$4,000 13) Formica______________________________$500 14) Cabinets_____________________________$5,500 15) Central Air & Heat_____________________$4,000 16) Septic Tank___________________________$5,000 17) Mirrors & Tub Doors___________________$800 18) Appliances____________________________$1,200 19) Light Fixtures__________________________$1,000 Total_____________________________$89,600 Here is a little note that brother Don Gaylor, our general contractor, sent with his budget breakdown for our new home.
With the Lord and friends like Don Gaylor, Bill Darr, and others, dreams do come true, praise be to God!
YOUR RESPONSE
We are in the month of April and we are believing the Lord to start breaking ground in a couple of weeks. Your prompt response would be greatly comforting and highly appreciated as we start this great adventure. Please mark the items you plan to support and return this response sheet in the enclosed envelope. We praise the Lord and thank you in advance for being a part of answering over a decade of prayers that we have cried before the Throne of Grace. May God’s richest blessings be yours and may you reap many miracles as you sow into ours. IN KING JESUS’ SERVICE, Rusty Lee Thomas |